"The pain of alcoholism is not just the addicts burden to bear, but also the weight carried by their loved ones." -unknown This quote sadly hits very close to home. My dad, a person I held high respect for. He was in the Coast Guard for 23 years, he had seen lots of things nobody could even fathom to see. But like most people who deal with tough times and not much support, he turned to alcohol thinking it would solve all of his problems. I was about 13 when I realized what he was doing and how his behavior was changing as a person. Not only was I scared but he didn't even know what he was doing to me. I had severe anxiety as a 13 year old and didn't have a role model to look up to. My parents got into a divorce because of this illness and I felt like I was left in the dust. As years went on I matured more and more and looked for the help I needed by going to a therapist. This had a huge impact on me, by the way I thought of myself and the way I thought of my dad. Instead of distancing myself I decided I needed to help my dad get through this illness. About a year went by and I had been helping him but nothing had changed so I decided to primarily stay at my moms house and give my dad a break. He noticed that he was losing the people he loved so he begin to sober up, he has now been sober for about 3 years. As I look back, I have learned so much and have also gained so much. I have become the person that is calm in stressful situations and patient in times of craziness. When times are tough I tend to be very resilient and optimistic. This struggle has taught me the importance of setting boundaries, practicing self-care, and seeking support from others. I have also gained a deeper understanding of addiction, mental health, and the complexities of family dynamics. Although this was a very stressful and sad time, I am almost glad that I got to experience it at such a young age because I got to mature faster and now my friends and family come to me when they are struggling with any hardships. This hardship has opened my eyes up to the healthcare field, where I have hopes of becoming a therapist. I believe this is the perfect career for me because I have gone through a hardship in my young life and I believe I am very well suited because I have learned so much. Resilience, heightened awareness, communication skills, compassion, forgiveness, growth, self-care, gratitude, and empathy; these are all things I have learned and hope to transfer to my professional life.