I believe that life is like a camera. You have to focus on what is important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things do not work out, take another shot. Life is not about being perfect because in reality, no one is; it’s about going out in the world and figuring out who you are as a person and where you fit in this world. That was my problem, I tried too hard trying to see what kind of person society wanted me to be and failed to be myself. I let everyone, including myself, believe that I am the type of person who just follows the crowd and settles for the ordinary. I let people push me around as they told me who I should be and I did nothing when they bullied me as I tried to be who I really was. Life's a journey, and along my journey I have made many mistakes, but I’ve learned twice as much as I have failed. They told me family is the best thing that anyone could ever have. They said that family will be there for me during my ups and downs and love me no matter what. I agree; however, I have not always believed it to be true. As I grew up it was hard for me to stay positive because I was never able to vent to my family about anything going on in my life. Both my parents did not have much money or support from their parents as they grew up so they always talked about how they wanted to give my older sister, younger brother, and I more than they ever had. They have succeeded, but it took me a while to realize it. I was bullied. There was not much physical abuse; however, the verbal abuse was something that changed my life forever. I am not what people would consider a “normal girl” because I was a tomboy. My classmates called me names that are no longer clear in my mind because I have chosen to leave that behind me. It bothered me, and I was not sure how to handle it and I felt like I could not talk to my mom about it because she always thought I was the bully. Ignoring it and not letting it get to me became a bigger challenge when I got to middle school. The people I called friends would boost my confidence so high, only to bring me down. They began to assume things about my sexuality and tease me about it even though it was not true. It was hard for me to take it all in. I had no idea what to do. I felt like I had no one to go to for help. The world I came from had a population of one. I spent so much time alone until I found comfort from a friend, who happened to be a girl Then it hit me: Maybe my friends were not wrong. At this point I really had no idea what to do. Even though I was scared, I went to my mom for support. It broke me when she told me that she did not accept my sexuality. Once again, I was lost. Two years passed before I was able to completely shut out the negative and focus on what made me happy. Two years passed before my mom learned to accept me for my sexuality. I learned that opening up to someone might not be the easiest thing, but it will pay off. Having my mom there for me emotionally now definitely boosted my confidence in a positive way and has allowed me to express myself freely. My past is hard to think about, but I am grateful it happened. I am who I am because of the support of my mom through those troubling times. I am a stronger person because of my past, and with the positive mindset I have now, I believe that I am capable of accomplishing anything I desire.