I grew up in a small home in Central Texas. The house left much to be desired-it had four walls and a roof, but there was joy. My mom was a penny-pinching single mother who was forced to do it all on her own after my father walked out before my second birthday. Together, we made a home. We didn't have much, but I didn't know the difference. Mom had the grace to keep the financial burden to herself- there was always food on the table and I wanted for nothing. As she struggled to keep it together, I flourished as a precocious and carefree little girl who believed she could be anything she wanted to be.
It was not until I became of age that I realized how hard it must have been for my mom to provide for me on a teacher's assistant salary, but she did and watching her journey left an indelible imprint on my soul. I may not have been aware of her influence as a child but growing up with her conditioned me to the idea that an individual can get through anything with sheer power of will.
I've since grown into an ambitious 29-year-old woman, and a part of me wonders if I would have the same amount of ambition had I been bred in a different environment. If I had everything handed to me would I appreciate what I have now? I would like to think so, but I will never know. My adult life has not been easy. I know what it's like to be hungry, I know what unemployment feels like, and I know what it's like to wonder where you're going to live. But over the years I've noticed that I push harder when I'm forced to sink or swim. There's Herculean strength that comes from pulling yourself up from the gutter all by yourself, and I feed on this feeling. I often remind myself that in the face of adversity I have two options: I can allow it to make me miserable, or I can use it as a chance to learn and grow. I choose the latter. The thing about life is that it's messy, beautiful, and hard all in one. The key to getting by is fine tuning your perspective- it's about how you choose to view things. Sometimes the circumstance of the choice can make it difficult to see and think straight, but in the end we always have a choice. And I'm grateful for it.