One of my most firm beliefs is that we, as a human race, are able to rise above and conquer any situation. As it stands, nobody truly knows the meaning of life; why we’re here, what we are here to do, and more. As we live and as we go through different scenarios, we realize more and more the fact that life is not a cakewalk. What is more important, however, is the fact that life is not meant to be a cakewalk. One of the most crucial points in the turning point of my perspective of life was the afternoon of December 9th, 2020. It was a day that began like many others and yet ended so differently than I could have ever imagined. This was a day for which I was admittedly unprepared. It was roughly one in the afternoon, and my parents came home from work and were visibly shaken. They sat me down and told me something I never thought I would hear; that they were not my biological parents. The words didn’t register. I heard what they were saying, but surely this is some sort of misunderstanding. This couldn’t be real. After all, these are the people who took care of me when I was sick and helped me up when I was down. It was so much emotion and turmoil thrown at me all at once. So many questions, so much confusion, so much pain flowing through my mind and spirit. For months I felt overwhelmed and questioned who I was. I had so many people, friends and foe alike telling me how I should feel, but not being really sure how I felt. Then as quickly as the confusion started it ended just as fast. I realized my parents saved me from an uncertain future. I call them my parents because that is who they are. I realized that blood does not make a family, but rather love is what makes a family. I realized that I had so much love and encouragement from my parents, friends, and teachers that I knew who I was. I was the same person I was on December 8th, 2020. The same person who wants to make a difference in this world and leave it a better place than when I found it. Instead of this day crumbling my own identity, I allowed it to do the opposite. I used the information that I learned and added it to who I was. Although that day may have left me shattered for a moment, it helped me grow. My life is a life that I want to live. Every day that I wake up, I am relentlessly grateful for the fact that I am able to live another day. Another day of learning about new things. Another day to meet new people. Another day to appreciate the fact that, even though life wasn’t tailored to be easy, I will continue to keep going. Life was never meant to be void of obstacles and hurdles. The more difficult days in life are the ones that should encourage you to keep going. Each moment is a moment that you should savor and appreciate. The “bad” parts of life are the parts that allow you to learn the most. December 9th, 2020 was a day that was certainly an obstacle. One thing is for sure, however: it was an obstacle that isn’t stopping me in the slightest.

On December 9th, 2020, I found out that I was adopted. It was so much emotion and turmoil thrown at me all at once. So many questions, so much confusion, so much pain flowing through my mind and spirit. For months I felt overwhelmed and questioned who I was. Then as quickly as the confusion started it ended just as fast. I realized my parents saved me from an uncertain future. I call them my parents because that is who they are. I realized that blood does not make a family, but rather love is what makes a family. I realized that I had so much love and encouragement from my parents, friends, and teachers that I knew who I was. I was the same person I was on December 8th, 2020. The same person who wants to make a difference in this world and leave it a better place than when I found it. Instead of this day crumbling my own identity, I allowed it to do the opposite. I used the information that I learned and added it to who I was. Although that day may have left me shattered for a moment, it helped me grow. My life is a life that I want to live. Every day that I wake up, I am relentlessly grateful for the fact that I am able to live another day. Another day of learning about new things. Another day to meet new people. Another day to appreciate the fact that, even though life wasn’t tailored to be easy, I will continue to keep going.

On December 9th, 2020, I found out that I was adopted. It was so much emotion and turmoil thrown at me all at once. So many questions, so much confusion, so much pain flowing through my mind and spirit. For months I felt overwhelmed and questioned who I was. Then as quickly as the confusion started it ended just as fast. I realized my parents saved me from an uncertain future. I call them my parents because that is who they are. I realized that blood does not make a family, but rather love is what makes a family. I realized that I had so much love and encouragement from my parents, friends, and teachers that I knew who I was. I was the same person I was on December 8th, 2020. The same person who wants to make a difference in this world and leave it a better place than when I found it. Instead of this day crumbling my own identity, I allowed it to do the opposite. I used the information that I learned and added it to who I was. Although that day may have left me shattered for a moment, it helped me grow. My life is a life that I want to live. Every day that I wake up, I am relentlessly grateful for the fact that I am able to live another day. Another day of learning about new things. Another day to meet new people. Another day to appreciate the fact that, even though life wasn’t tailored to be easy, I will continue to keep going.

Louis Brandeis, former Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, once said that “If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you.” One of the most important realizations that I’ve ever made is that life is supposed to be challenging. As one truly lives and puts forth their finest effort, they will soon realize that living life to the fullest was never something that was destined to be easy nor simple. One of the most crucial points in the turning point of my perspective of life was the afternoon of December 9th, 2020. It was a day that began like many others and yet ended so differently than I could have ever imagined. This was a day for which I was admittedly unprepared. It was roughly one in the afternoon, and my parents came home from work and were visibly shaken. They sat me down and told me something I never thought I would hear; that they were not my biological parents. The words didn’t register. I heard what they were saying, but surely this is some sort of misunderstanding. This couldn’t be real. Afterall, these are the people who took care of me when I was sick, and helped me up when I was down. It was so much emotion and turmoil thrown at me all at once. So many questions, so much confusion, so much pain flowing through my mind and spirit. For months I felt overwhelmed and questioned who I was. I had so many people, friends and foe alike telling me how I should feel, but not being really sure how I felt. Then as quickly as the confusion started it ended just as fast. I realized my parents saved me from an uncertain future. I call them my parents because that is who they are. I realized that blood does not make a family, but rather love is what makes a family. I realized that I had so much love and encouragement from my parents, friends, and teachers that I knew who I was. I was the same person I was on December 8th, 2020. The same person who wants to make a difference in this world and leave it a better place than when I found it. Instead of this day crumbling my own identity, I allowed it to do the opposite. I used the information that I learned and added it to who I was. Although that day may have left me shattered for a moment, it helped me grow. My life is a life that I want to live. Every day that I wake up, I am relentlessly grateful for the fact that I am able to live another day. Another day of learning about new things. Another day to meet new people. Another day to appreciate the fact that, even though life wasn’t tailored to be easy, I will continue to keep going. Life was never meant to be void of obstacles and hurdles. The more difficult days in life are the ones that should encourage you to keep going. Each moment is a moment that you should savor and appreciate. The “bad” parts in life are the parts that allow you to learn the most. December 9th, 2020 was a day that was certainly an obstacle. One thing is for sure, however: it was an obstacle that isn’t stopping me in the slightest.

It was roughly one in the afternoon, and my parents came home from work and were visibly shaken. They sat me down and told me something I never thought I would hear; that they were not my biological parents. The words didn’t register. I heard what they were saying, but surely this is some sort of misunderstanding. These are the people who took care of me when I was sick, and helped me up when I was down. I realized my parents saved me from an uncertain future. I call them my parents because that is who they are. I realized that blood does not make a family, but rather love is what makes a family. I realized that I had so much love and encouragement from my parents, friends, and teachers that I knew who I was. I was the same person I was on December 8th, 2020. The same person who wants to make a difference in this world and leave it a better place than when I found it. Instead of this day crumbling my own identity, I allowed it to do the opposite. I used the information that I learned and added it to who I was. Although that day may have left me shattered for a moment, it helped me grow. My life is a life that I want to live. Every day that I wake up, I am relentlessly grateful for the fact that I am able to live another day. Another day of learning about new things. Another day to meet new people. Another day to appreciate the fact that, even though life wasn’t tailored to be easy, I will continue to keep going. One thing is for sure, however: it was an obstacle that isn’t stopping me in the slightest.

Our Beautifully Flawed Lives One of my most firm beliefs is that we, as a human race, are able to rise above and conquer any situation. As it stands, nobody truly knows the meaning to life; why we’re here, what we are here to do, and more. As we live and as we go through different scenarios, we realize more and more the fact that life is not a cakewalk. What is more important, however, is the fact that life is not meant to be a cakewalk. Louis Brandeis, former Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, once said that “If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you.” One of the most important realizations that I’ve ever made is that life is supposed to be challenging. As one truly lives and puts forth their finest effort, they will soon realize that living life to the fullest was never something that was destined to be easy nor simple. One of the most crucial points in the turning point of my perspective of life was the afternoon of December 9th, 2020. It was a day that began like many others and yet ended so differently than I could have ever imagined. This was a day for which I was admittedly unprepared. It was roughly one in the afternoon, and my parents came home from work and were visibly shaken. They sat me down and told me something I never thought I would hear; that they were not my biological parents. The words didn’t register. I heard what they were saying, but surely this is some sort of misunderstanding. This couldn’t be real. Afterall, these are the people who took care of me when I was sick, and helped me up when I was down. It was so much emotion and turmoil thrown at me all at once. So many questions, so much confusion, so much pain flowing through my mind and spirit. For months I felt overwhelmed and questioned who I was. I had so many people, friends and foe alike telling me how I should feel, but not being really sure how I felt. Then as quickly as the confusion started it ended just as fast. I realized my parents saved me from an uncertain future. I call them my parents because that is who they are. I realized that blood does not make a family, but rather love is what makes a family. I realized that I had so much love and encouragement from my parents, friends, and teachers that I knew who I was. I was the same person I was on December 8th, 2020. The same person who wants to make a difference in this world and leave it a better place than when I found it. Instead of this day crumbling my own identity, I allowed it to do the opposite. I used the information that I learned and added it to who I was. Although that day may have left me shattered for a moment, it helped me grow. My life is a life that I want to live. Every day that I wake up, I am relentlessly grateful for the fact that I am able to live another day. Another day of learning about new things. Another day to meet new people. Another day to appreciate the fact that, even though life wasn’t tailored to be easy, I will continue to keep going. Life was never meant to be void of obstacles and hurdles. The more difficult days in life are the ones that should encourage you to keep going. Each moment is a moment that you should savor and appreciate. The “bad” parts in life are the parts that allow you to learn the most. December 9th, 2020 was a day that was certainly an obstacle. One thing is for sure, however: it was an obstacle that isn’t stopping me in the slightest.