At the age of 9, there was only one word standing in my way of becoming the fourth-grade spelling bee championship. “Kleptomania.”. “Klep- tow- may- nee- uh.” Of the vast vocabulary I’ve acquired in my nine years of life, that word wasn’t one I recognized. “Definition?” I asked, hoping that the meaning of this would be the key to its spelling. According to the Merriam- Webster dictionary, kleptomania is described as a persistent neurotic impulse to steal especially without economic motive. My teeth gnawed at the sensitive skin of my lower lip, hoping that the letters would just appear, saving me from losing the first-place title. Unfortunately, they didn’t and that is how I came in second place in the spelling bee. At the age of eleven, I never would have thought I’d have to face the one word that led to my fourth-grade demise ever again. This time, rather than merely hearing the definition of kleptomania, two years later I truly understood the meaning as I witnessed my mom being taken away in handcuffs as my younger brother and I desperately pleaded for her to stay. From that day on, I was no longer just an 11-year-old child. I became a caretaker at home, cleaning, and cooking for my brother while our dad took on extra shifts at work. I became a therapist for my family, helping them stay sane throughout all the turmoil. And when she was finally released, I became a spy in supermarkets, monitoring my mom’s every action to make sure she wouldn’t end up in prison and leave us again. But most importantly, I became brave. At the age of twelve, I still lived my life on a tightrope, balancing responsibilities, hoping that I wouldn’t just tip over and fall. Often it seemed like my mom and I switched roles, and I would have the adult responsibilities placed on me. I was the one questioning where she got a certain item from or searching for where receipts were but because of this, I gained a strong sense of responsibility that has continued with me throughout all these years and is evident in many aspects of my life. At this time, I started to become more independent. If I could prevail through the challenges I faced throughout my mom’s imprisonment, then I certainly could become a leader in school. That is when I found Brave Club.. Thanks to this club, my formerly shy self, evolved into a very outgoing person who is no longer afraid to speak my mind. At the age of 17, I have regained my balance. As I move on to the next step in my educational career, I hope that I will carry on the valuable lessons I’ve learned thus far, especially bravery. Upon entering college, I want to be brave in broadening my comfort zone. I want to be brave in my independence. And I want to be brave in staying true to myself while recognizing the opportunity for more growth.