Who am I? To be honest, I don’t think I really know. anymore. That is the question everyone sits in the mirror and stares back at themselves asking. Who am I? Who says we should know? Teenagers have this weird connotation that we need to have our whole life planned out for us by the time we walk across that stage for graduation. Do we think so? I don’t think we do. I, for one, know that life is what it gives us; it’s one day at a time. I have learned not to dwell in the future. We can’t change what has not happened yet, and we can’t change what has happened, so; we continue day by day. Its not necessarily the fact that I am clueless as to who I am, but more clueless as to who I should be. I know who I want to be. I have this person in my mind that I idol, that I want to set myself up to be. But is that who I should be? Is that who everyone wants me to be? My name is Sydney Mihalchik. I grew up below the poverty line, moving from house to house after we lived in a trailer home: living with my uncle to an apartment. Then we moved to another apartment, and to another. My father worked all the time and far away, so he was never home. My mother worked twelve hour days. I was in daycare for the majority of my childhood until I was twelve to be exact. I would wake up at 5 AM for my mom to bring me to Tiny Town by 5:30. I wouldn’t leave there until 6:30 PM at night – everyday. Yet we were still broke, with both of them working twelve hour days. I never was one of the kids with new shoes, or fancy clothes, but I was clean and fed and that is all that mattered. I never had a college fund or anything like that. Who thinks of college funds when you have to figure out how you’ll put food on the table the next day? It was day by day. It’s hard as a little kid, wondering why the girl sitting next to you has the new light up Sketchers or what not, and you have the Payless version of them. Money is a concept hard to understand, but it was one I had to learn fast and early. Understanding why the fridge is empty or why we had to walk instead of drive is part of my experience. Understanding why your best-friend's fridge was full and not yours was my reality. That is the true manifestation of having money and not. We still struggle financially to this day. My father is sick; he’s had two back surgeries, neck surgery and is on countless medications, all in a matter of months. My mom works non-stop, and so do I. I work nine hour shifts when I can, either after school or on the weekends. Being tired is an understatement. But the worst part about it is that I know people have it far worse than us, and I want to help them, so I shouldn’t complain. However, I want to help my family too. When I started writing this essay, I thought I had my life together and planned out. But now, as the days go by, I realize I am still figuring out who I am. I am Sydney Mihalchik, track and field thrower, musician, and artist. I’m strong, and I will make my voice heard.

Who am I? To be honest, I don’t think I really know. anymore. That is the question everyone sits in the mirror and stares back at themselves asking. Who am I? Who says we should know? Teenagers have this weird connotation that we need to have our whole life planned out for us by the time we walk across that stage for graduation. Do we think so? I don’t think we do. I, for one, know that life is what it gives us; it’s one day at a time. I have learned not to dwell in the future. We can’t change what has not happened yet, and we can’t change what has happened, so; we continue day by day. Its not necessarily the fact that I am clueless as to who I am, but more clueless as to who I should be. I know who I want to be. I have this person in my mind that I idol, that I want to set myself up to be. But is that who I should be? Is that who everyone wants me to be? My name is Sydney Mihalchik. I grew up below the poverty line, moving from house to house after we lived in a trailer home: living with my uncle to an apartment. Then we moved to another apartment, and to another. My father worked all the time and far away, so he was never home. My mother worked twelve hour days. I was in daycare for the majority of my childhood until I was twelve to be exact. I would wake up at 5 AM for my mom to bring me to Tiny Town by 5:30. I wouldn’t leave there until 6:30 PM at night – everyday. Yet we were still broke, with both of them working twelve hour days. I never was one of the kids with new shoes, or fancy clothes, but I was clean and fed and that is all that mattered. I never had a college fund or anything like that. Who thinks of college funds when you have to figure out how you’ll put food on the table the next day? It was day by day. It’s hard as a little kid, wondering why the girl sitting next to you has the new light up Sketchers or what not, and you have the Payless version of them. Money is a concept hard to understand, but it was one I had to learn fast and early. Understanding why the fridge is empty or why we had to walk instead of drive is part of my experience. Understanding why your best-friend's fridge was full and not yours was my reality. That is the true manifestation of having money and not. We still struggle financially to this day. My father is sick; he’s had two back surgeries, neck surgery and is on countless medications, all in a matter of months. My mom works non-stop, and so do I. I work nine hour shifts when I can, either after school or on the weekends. Being tired is an understatement. But the worst part about it is that I know people have it far worse than us, and I want to help them, so I shouldn’t complain. However, I want to help my family too. When I started writing this essay, I thought I had my life together and planned out. But now, as the days go by, I realize I am still figuring out who I am. I am Sydney Mihalchik, track and field thrower, musician, and artist. I’m strong, and I will make my voice heard.

Who am I? To be honest, I don’t think I really know. anymore. That is the question everyone sits in the mirror and stares back at themselves asking. Who am I? Who says we should know? Teenagers have this weird connotation that we need to have our whole life planned out for us by the time we walk across that stage for graduation. Do we think so? I don’t think we do. I, for one, know that life is what it gives us; it’s one day at a time. I have learned not to dwell in the future. We can’t change what has not happened yet, and we can’t change what has happened, so; we continue day by day. Its not necessarily the fact that I am clueless as to who I am, but more clueless as to who I should be. I know who I want to be. I have this person in my mind that I idol, that I want to set myself up to be. But is that who I should be? Is that who everyone wants me to be? My name is Sydney Mihalchik. I grew up below the poverty line, moving from house to house after we lived in a trailer home: living with my uncle to an apartment. Then we moved to another apartment, and to another. My father worked all the time and far away, so he was never home. My mother worked twelve hour days. I was in daycare for the majority of my childhood until I was twelve to be exact. I would wake up at 5 AM for my mom to bring me to Tiny Town by 5:30. I wouldn’t leave there until 6:30 PM at night – everyday. Yet we were still broke, with both of them working twelve hour days. I never was one of the kids with new shoes, or fancy clothes, but I was clean and fed and that is all that mattered. I never had a college fund or anything like that. Who thinks of college funds when you have to figure out how you’ll put food on the table the next day? It was day by day. It’s hard as a little kid, wondering why the girl sitting next to you has the new light up Sketchers or what not, and you have the Payless version of them. Money is a concept hard to understand, but it was one I had to learn fast and early. Understanding why the fridge is empty or why we had to walk instead of drive is part of my experience. Understanding why your best-friend's fridge was full and not yours was my reality. That is the true manifestation of having money and not. We still struggle financially to this day. My father is sick; he’s had two back surgeries, neck surgery and is on countless medications, all in a matter of months. My mom works non-stop, and so do I. I work nine hour shifts when I can, either after school or on the weekends. Being tired is an understatement. But the worst part about it is that I know people have it far worse than us, and I want to help them, so I shouldn’t complain. However, I want to help my family too. When I started writing this essay, I thought I had my life together and planned out. But now, as the days go by, I realize I am still figuring out who I am. I am Sydney Mihalchik, track and field thrower, musician, and artist. I’m strong, and I will make my voice heard.

Who am I? To be honest, I don’t think I really know. anymore. That is the question everyone sits in the mirror and stares back at themselves asking. Who am I? Who says we should know? Teenagers have this weird connotation that we need to have our whole life planned out for us by the time we walk across that stage for graduation. Do we think so? I don’t think we do. I, for one, know that life is what it gives us; it’s one day at a time. I have learned not to dwell in the future. We can’t change what has not happened yet, and we can’t change what has happened, so; we continue day by day. Its not necessarily the fact that I am clueless as to who I am, but more clueless as to who I should be. I know who I want to be. I have this person in my mind that I idol, that I want to set myself up to be. But is that who I should be? Is that who everyone wants me to be? My name is Sydney Mihalchik. I grew up below the poverty line, moving from house to house after we lived in a trailer home: living with my uncle to an apartment. Then we moved to another apartment, and to another. My father worked all the time and far away, so he was never home. My mother worked twelve hour days. I was in daycare for the majority of my childhood until I was twelve to be exact. I would wake up at 5 AM for my mom to bring me to Tiny Town by 5:30. I wouldn’t leave there until 6:30 PM at night – everyday. Yet we were still broke, with both of them working twelve hour days. I never was one of the kids with new shoes, or fancy clothes, but I was clean and fed and that is all that mattered. I never had a college fund or anything like that. Who thinks of college funds when you have to figure out how you’ll put food on the table the next day? It was day by day. It’s hard as a little kid, wondering why the girl sitting next to you has the new light up Sketchers or what not, and you have the Payless version of them. Money is a concept hard to understand, but it was one I had to learn fast and early. Understanding why the fridge is empty or why we had to walk instead of drive is part of my experience. Understanding why your best-friend's fridge was full and not yours was my reality. That is the true manifestation of having money and not. We still struggle financially to this day. My father is sick; he’s had two back surgeries, neck surgery and is on countless medications, all in a matter of months. My mom works non-stop, and so do I. I work nine hour shifts when I can, either after school or on the weekends. Being tired is an understatement. But the worst part about it is that I know people have it far worse than us, and I want to help them, so I shouldn’t complain. However, I want to help my family too. When I started writing this essay, I thought I had my life together and planned out. But now, as the days go by, I realize I am still figuring out who I am. I am Sydney Mihalchik, track and field thrower, musician, and artist. I’m strong, and I will make my voice heard.

Who am I? To be honest, I don’t think I really know. anymore. That is the question everyone sits in the mirror and stares back at themselves asking. Who am I? Who says we should know? Teenagers have this weird connotation that we need to have our whole life planned out for us by the time we walk across that stage for graduation. Do we think so? I don’t think we do. I, for one, know that life is what it gives us; it’s one day at a time. I have learned not to dwell in the future. We can’t change what has not happened yet, and we can’t change what has happened, so; we continue day by day. Its not necessarily the fact that I am clueless as to who I am, but more clueless as to who I should be. I know who I want to be. I have this person in my mind that I idol, that I want to set myself up to be. But is that who I should be? Is that who everyone wants me to be? My name is Sydney Mihalchik. I grew up below the poverty line, moving from house to house after we lived in a trailer home: living with my uncle to an apartment. Then we moved to another apartment, and to another. My father worked all the time and far away, so he was never home. My mother worked twelve hour days. I was in daycare for the majority of my childhood until I was twelve to be exact. I would wake up at 5 AM for my mom to bring me to Tiny Town by 5:30. I wouldn’t leave there until 6:30 PM at night – everyday. Yet we were still broke, with both of them working twelve hour days. I never was one of the kids with new shoes, or fancy clothes, but I was clean and fed and that is all that mattered. I never had a college fund or anything like that. Who thinks of college funds when you have to figure out how you’ll put food on the table the next day? It was day by day. It’s hard as a little kid, wondering why the girl sitting next to you has the new light up Sketchers or what not, and you have the Payless version of them. Money is a concept hard to understand, but it was one I had to learn fast and early. Understanding why the fridge is empty or why we had to walk instead of drive is part of my experience. Understanding why your best-friend's fridge was full and not yours was my reality. That is the true manifestation of having money and not. We still struggle financially to this day. My father is sick; he’s had two back surgeries, neck surgery and is on countless medications, all in a matter of months. My mom works non-stop, and so do I. I work nine hour shifts when I can, either after school or on the weekends. Being tired is an understatement. But the worst part about it is that I know people have it far worse than us, and I want to help them, so I shouldn’t complain. However, I want to help my family too. When I started writing this essay, I thought I had my life together and planned out. But now, as the days go by, I realize I am still figuring out who I am. I am Sydney Mihalchik, track and field thrower, musician, and artist. I’m strong, and I will make my voice heard.

Who am I? To be honest, I don’t think I really know. anymore. That is the question everyone sits in the mirror and stares back at themselves asking. Who am I? Who says we should know? Teenagers have this weird connotation that we need to have our whole life planned out for us by the time we walk across that stage for graduation. Do we think so? I don’t think we do. I, for one, know that life is what it gives us; it’s one day at a time. I have learned not to dwell in the future. We can’t change what has not happened yet, and we can’t change what has happened, so; we continue day by day. Its not necessarily the fact that I am clueless as to who I am, but more clueless as to who I should be. I know who I want to be. I have this person in my mind that I idol, that I want to set myself up to be. But is that who I should be? Is that who everyone wants me to be? My name is Sydney Mihalchik. I grew up below the poverty line, moving from house to house after we lived in a trailer home: living with my uncle to an apartment. Then we moved to another apartment, and to another. My father worked all the time and far away, so he was never home. My mother worked twelve hour days. I was in daycare for the majority of my childhood until I was twelve to be exact. I would wake up at 5 AM for my mom to bring me to Tiny Town by 5:30. I wouldn’t leave there until 6:30 PM at night – everyday. Yet we were still broke, with both of them working twelve hour days. I never was one of the kids with new shoes, or fancy clothes, but I was clean and fed and that is all that mattered. I never had a college fund or anything like that. Who thinks of college funds when you have to figure out how you’ll put food on the table the next day? It was day by day. It’s hard as a little kid, wondering why the girl sitting next to you has the new light up Sketchers or what not, and you have the Payless version of them. Money is a concept hard to understand, but it was one I had to learn fast and early. Understanding why the fridge is empty or why we had to walk instead of drive is part of my experience. Understanding why your best-friend's fridge was full and not yours was my reality. That is the true manifestation of having money and not. We still struggle financially to this day. My father is sick; he’s had two back surgeries, neck surgery and is on countless medications, all in a matter of months. My mom works non-stop, and so do I. I work nine hour shifts when I can, either after school or on the weekends. Being tired is an understatement. But the worst part about it is that I know people have it far worse than us, and I want to help them, so I shouldn’t complain. However, I want to help my family too. When I started writing this essay, I thought I had my life together and planned out. But now, as the days go by, I realize I am still figuring out who I am. I am Sydney Mihalchik, track and field thrower, musician, and artist. I’m strong, and I will make my voice heard.

Who am I? To be honest, I don’t think I really know. anymore. That is the question everyone sits in the mirror and stares back at themselves asking. Who am I? Who says we should know? Teenagers have this weird connotation that we need to have our whole life planned out for us by the time we walk across that stage for graduation. Do we think so? I don’t think we do. I, for one, know that life is what it gives us; it’s one day at a time. I have learned not to dwell in the future. We can’t change what has not happened yet, and we can’t change what has happened, so; we continue day by day. Its not necessarily the fact that I am clueless as to who I am, but more clueless as to who I should be. I know who I want to be. I have this person in my mind that I idol, that I want to set myself up to be. But is that who I should be? Is that who everyone wants me to be? My name is Sydney Mihalchik. I grew up below the poverty line, moving from house to house after we lived in a trailer home: living with my uncle to an apartment. Then we moved to another apartment, and to another. My father worked all the time and far away, so he was never home. My mother worked twelve hour days. I was in daycare for the majority of my childhood until I was twelve to be exact. I would wake up at 5 AM for my mom to bring me to Tiny Town by 5:30. I wouldn’t leave there until 6:30 PM at night – everyday. Yet we were still broke, with both of them working twelve hour days. I never was one of the kids with new shoes, or fancy clothes, but I was clean and fed and that is all that mattered. I never had a college fund or anything like that. Who thinks of college funds when you have to figure out how you’ll put food on the table the next day? It was day by day. It’s hard as a little kid, wondering why the girl sitting next to you has the new light up Sketchers or what not, and you have the Payless version of them. Money is a concept hard to understand, but it was one I had to learn fast and early. Understanding why the fridge is empty or why we had to walk instead of drive is part of my experience. Understanding why your best-friend's fridge was full and not yours was my reality. That is the true manifestation of having money and not. We still struggle financially to this day. My father is sick; he’s had two back surgeries, neck surgery and is on countless medications, all in a matter of months. My mom works non-stop, and so do I. I work nine hour shifts when I can, either after school or on the weekends. Being tired is an understatement. But the worst part about it is that I know people have it far worse than us, and I want to help them, so I shouldn’t complain. However, I want to help my family too. When I started writing this essay, I thought I had my life together and planned out. But now, as the days go by, I realize I am still figuring out who I am. I am Sydney Mihalchik, track and field thrower, musician, and artist. I’m strong, and I will make my voice heard.

Who am I? To be honest, I don’t think I really know. anymore. That is the question everyone sits in the mirror and stares back at themselves asking. Who am I? Who says we should know? Teenagers have this weird connotation that we need to have our whole life planned out for us by the time we walk across that stage for graduation. Do we think so? I don’t think we do. I, for one, know that life is what it gives us; it’s one day at a time. I have learned not to dwell in the future. We can’t change what has not happened yet, and we can’t change what has happened, so; we continue day by day. Its not necessarily the fact that I am clueless as to who I am, but more clueless as to who I should be. I know who I want to be. I have this person in my mind that I idol, that I want to set myself up to be. But is that who I should be? Is that who everyone wants me to be? My name is Sydney Mihalchik. I grew up below the poverty line, moving from house to house after we lived in a trailer home: living with my uncle to an apartment. Then we moved to another apartment, and to another. My father worked all the time and far away, so he was never home. My mother worked twelve hour days. I was in daycare for the majority of my childhood until I was twelve to be exact. I would wake up at 5 AM for my mom to bring me to Tiny Town by 5:30. I wouldn’t leave there until 6:30 PM at night – everyday. Yet we were still broke, with both of them working twelve hour days. I never was one of the kids with new shoes, or fancy clothes, but I was clean and fed and that is all that mattered. I never had a college fund or anything like that. Who thinks of college funds when you have to figure out how you’ll put food on the table the next day? It was day by day. It’s hard as a little kid, wondering why the girl sitting next to you has the new light up Sketchers or what not, and you have the Payless version of them. Money is a concept hard to understand, but it was one I had to learn fast and early. Understanding why the fridge is empty or why we had to walk instead of drive is part of my experience. Understanding why your best-friend's fridge was full and not yours was my reality. That is the true manifestation of having money and not. We still struggle financially to this day. My father is sick; he’s had two back surgeries, neck surgery and is on countless medications, all in a matter of months. My mom works non-stop, and so do I. I work nine hour shifts when I can, either after school or on the weekends. Being tired is an understatement. But the worst part about it is that I know people have it far worse than us, and I want to help them, so I shouldn’t complain. However, I want to help my family too. When I started writing this essay, I thought I had my life together and planned out. But now, as the days go by, I realize I am still figuring out who I am. I am Sydney Mihalchik, track and field thrower, musician, and artist. I’m strong, and I will make my voice heard.

Who am I? To be honest, I don’t think I really know. anymore. That is the question everyone sits in the mirror and stares back at themselves asking. Who am I? Who says we should know? Teenagers have this weird connotation that we need to have our whole life planned out for us by the time we walk across that stage for graduation. Do we think so? I don’t think we do. I, for one, know that life is what it gives us; it’s one day at a time. I have learned not to dwell in the future. We can’t change what has not happened yet, and we can’t change what has happened, so; we continue day by day. Its not necessarily the fact that I am clueless as to who I am, but more clueless as to who I should be. I know who I want to be. I have this person in my mind that I idol, that I want to set myself up to be. But is that who I should be? Is that who everyone wants me to be? My name is Sydney Mihalchik. I grew up below the poverty line, moving from house to house after we lived in a trailer home: living with my uncle to an apartment. Then we moved to another apartment, and to another. My father worked all the time and far away, so he was never home. My mother worked twelve hour days. I was in daycare for the majority of my childhood until I was twelve to be exact. I would wake up at 5 AM for my mom to bring me to Tiny Town by 5:30. I wouldn’t leave there until 6:30 PM at night – everyday. Yet we were still broke, with both of them working twelve hour days. I never was one of the kids with new shoes, or fancy clothes, but I was clean and fed and that is all that mattered. I never had a college fund or anything like that. Who thinks of college funds when you have to figure out how you’ll put food on the table the next day? It was day by day. It’s hard as a little kid, wondering why the girl sitting next to you has the new light up Sketchers or what not, and you have the Payless version of them. Money is a concept hard to understand, but it was one I had to learn fast and early. Understanding why the fridge is empty or why we had to walk instead of drive is part of my experience. Understanding why your best-friend's fridge was full and not yours was my reality. That is the true manifestation of having money and not. We still struggle financially to this day. My father is sick; he’s had two back surgeries, neck surgery and is on countless medications, all in a matter of months. My mom works non-stop, and so do I. I work nine hour shifts when I can, either after school or on the weekends. Being tired is an understatement. But the worst part about it is that I know people have it far worse than us, and I want to help them, so I shouldn’t complain. However, I want to help my family too. When I started writing this essay, I thought I had my life together and planned out. But now, as the days go by, I realize I am still figuring out who I am. I am Sydney Mihalchik, track and field thrower, musician, and artist. I’m strong, and I will make my voice heard.

Who am I? To be honest, I don’t think I really know. anymore. That is the question everyone sits in the mirror and stares back at themselves asking. Who am I? Who says we should know? Teenagers have this weird connotation that we need to have our whole life planned out for us by the time we walk across that stage for graduation. Do we think so? I don’t think we do. I, for one, know that life is what it gives us; it’s one day at a time. I have learned not to dwell in the future. We can’t change what has not happened yet, and we can’t change what has happened, so; we continue day by day. Its not necessarily the fact that I am clueless as to who I am, but more clueless as to who I should be. I know who I want to be. I have this person in my mind that I idol, that I want to set myself up to be. But is that who I should be? Is that who everyone wants me to be? My name is Sydney Mihalchik. I grew up below the poverty line, moving from house to house after we lived in a trailer home: living with my uncle to an apartment. Then we moved to another apartment, and to another. My father worked all the time and far away, so he was never home. My mother worked twelve hour days. I was in daycare for the majority of my childhood until I was twelve to be exact. I would wake up at 5 AM for my mom to bring me to Tiny Town by 5:30. I wouldn’t leave there until 6:30 PM at night – everyday. Yet we were still broke, with both of them working twelve hour days. I never was one of the kids with new shoes, or fancy clothes, but I was clean and fed and that is all that mattered. I never had a college fund or anything like that. Who thinks of college funds when you have to figure out how you’ll put food on the table the next day? It was day by day. It’s hard as a little kid, wondering why the girl sitting next to you has the new light up Sketchers or what not, and you have the Payless version of them. Money is a concept hard to understand, but it was one I had to learn fast and early. Understanding why the fridge is empty or why we had to walk instead of drive is part of my experience. Understanding why your best-friend's fridge was full and not yours was my reality. That is the true manifestation of having money and not. We still struggle financially to this day. My father is sick; he’s had two back surgeries, neck surgery and is on countless medications, all in a matter of months. My mom works non-stop, and so do I. I work nine hour shifts when I can, either after school or on the weekends. Being tired is an understatement. But the worst part about it is that I know people have it far worse than us, and I want to help them, so I shouldn’t complain. However, I want to help my family too. When I started writing this essay, I thought I had my life together and planned out. But now, as the days go by, I realize I am still figuring out who I am. I am Sydney Mihalchik, track and field thrower, musician, and artist. I’m strong, and I will make my voice heard.