How do people grow up? How do people mature? Through my life even though it has only been a rather short one I have found that people grow and mature from their adversities and challenges. As we go through hard times, we figure out things that are essential for life. It’s weird to think that by going to hell you can come out a better person than before. This week as we were at clear creek I told Doug that if I could’ve picked anyone to be my father I would’ve picked him. With the help of Jennie I realized that because of the fact that my dad was never around and I can only remember about three times that I actually saw him. It has helped me greatly in life.

Also even though my mom hurt and crushed me constantly, that also was a great blessing in my life. When I was little, my dad never cared enough about me or my mom to stick around. He is always in jail and so is my mom. He tried a couple of times to see me but my grandma wouldn’t let him because she knew how dangerous he is. My dad is a very abusive and mean person. If he wouldn’t have been in jail while my mom was pregnant with me, I would either be dead or retarded. When I was a little kid and my grandma told me how my father is, I hated him even more. I promised myself that I would never ever hit a girl because that is one of the lowest most pathetic things you can do. When you grow up without a father it hurts. It hurts to know that your dad is a pathetic wash up and doesn’t give a crap about you. That he would rather be off doing whatever it is he does rather than being with his own son. Rather than being with his own blood. Its not just him though it’s my mom too. It think that hurt the most because she would come around from time to time and seeing her brought so much joy and hope, then she would leave and I would be crushed. My mother would rather be doing drugs and having sex than watch me grow up. It sucks so bad not having parents around especially when they have the choice to be or not. I remember lying in bed crying myself to sleep praying to God that my family would come together and wishing that my mom and dad would just be there to love me. I wish I would’ve been more important than drugs.

Going through these hard times ever since I can remember has made me who I am today. I’m not saying I’m anything special because I’m not. I’m no better than the next person but I have learned so much. I have learned that you always need to have your guard up and you need to really learn how to read people. I’ve learned to love as much as you possibly can because you never know when it’ll be gone. I’ve learned how to overcome adversity and challenges and I’ve learned that you can’t just leave it up to other people to figure it out on their own because everyone needs help and love. Through my struggles I’ve made two major promises in my life. To never hurt a girl and the most important in my life: to always be there for my family. No matter what is going on in my life, no matter what struggles I’m going through I will always be there to love and take care of my family. My friends and my family are the most important things in my life and I will never let another human being down. I will not walk down the same road my parents did and I will always try to make other people feel how loved and special they really are. I never want anyone to feel the pain that I have felt. I never want to be the cause for someone to cry themselves asleep, especially if it’s something so easily preventable. I will try my hardest to help someone else to the top.

Alex