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Tyra Gonzales

10/5/20

Period 3

Ms. Acosta

Growing From What You Know

Growing up, I lived a normal life, I learned many things from my family and I got used to

it as I thought I’d have them forever. Little did I know, that would change and everything I knew

would change so fast.. Going from rock bottom to one of the highest moments in my life, you

will follow me through what she went through in order to get here. I grew up with my mom and

sister for a majority of my life. I was taught so many great lessons in life on how to succeed and

to make a good career for myself. At a very young age I already had a set plan in life with what I

wanted to do, all with the help of my mom. My mom was the one thing that shaped me into the

person I am today. Not because of what she continues to do, but because of what I have learned

from her in the past and what I can apply to myself today.

When I was younger I had to do a lot for my little sister as my mom was at work, this

being said, I learned a lot of housekeeping skills at a very young age.

Before going to work my mom would say, “I’m leaving now.” As she rushed down the

stairs, “Make sure to watch your sister.”

I was irritated, since all I wanted to do was play or watch tv, I did what she said. I would

cook for my sister, clean the house, and if I had a little extra time, I would get to have fun myself

too. This went on for a majority of my life. But, along the way I was taught a lot of great
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skills. There was one point in time where we were struggling financially, this wentto show me

the ways of life, and how when you grow up there are a lot of things to take care of. I had already

known that there were certain bills you had to pay but I got more of an explanation.

As we sat down at the kitchen table, it was late at night, I could see outside it was pitch

black and my sister had already been asleep my mom spoke, “Now, this is a long ways away but

you have to start planning for your future, you need to have a job that you love that can always

support you so you never have to worry about where money is coming from.”

This talk spoke hard to me as I was very worried, but at the same time I was almost

curious as to how I would grow up and what I would want to do as my career. Every day seemed

to be the same to me, I was almost getting tired of it as I felt that I am a kid, I shouldn’t have to

do these things as I felt they were a “parents job.” But, I would never say this outloud, I just

continued on listening as I knew my mom needed help. Everything from then on seemed pretty

stable. Until a big incident happened and my life changed very fast and very suddenly. I basically

had the life I knew stripped from me and had to grow from what I knew from here on out. After

this incident, I had to move in with my grandparents. I was completely not myself during this

time. It felt as if everything I knew turned to grey and I had just felt complete sadness. The

person that I was had to change and I had to rebuild myself into the person I am today. The one

thing that helped me through that was the thought of my mom and what she would tell me to do

in certain situations. My mom was a major part in shaping me into the person I am today. Even

throughout my life now, I still look back to the stories I was told and just the things I had learned

from watching her.

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As I go through life I think to myself, “What would she do? What should my next move

be to become a better person.”

From having to grow up without her now I have been through a major struggle trying to

find myself after. I had to stop feeling bad for myself and realize that life was still going on.

During this time, I had started high school. It was a very surreal moment because I still seemed

to be very gloomy, and just never feeling myself. Things didn’t start to look up until I moved in

with my uncle and aunt. I also had to change schools which I was very worried about.

All I could think about was how my mom would say, “Never try to impress people, just

be you and if they don’t like that then it’s their problem.”

This was a very scary experience for me as I am not the most outgoing person. As I

slowly started to develop friends I was hesitant to allow them into my life, especially with the

thought that anything could happen and my life would change again. But the thought of how

secure I used to feel made me want to allow people in. Growing from what I knew really shaped

me into who I am today. I remember all the happy memories, even the sad ones and apply that to

my life today for the decisions I make. Although it was a very sad experience, if it hadn’t

happened I am unsure what kind of person I would be today. Since I had gone through this

traumatic experience of losing my mom after it felt as if she was that only person I had, it made

me a stronger person overall. Without this, I probably would still be a lot more shy than I am, I

wouldn’t have the will to stick up for myself at times, and overall just feel as if I am weak in this

huge world we live in. Going through that hurt allowed me to go through a lot of pain, but also

allowed me to grow personally and allow myself to dive deep into my emotions. This amount of

hurt allowed me to experience emotions I would not have ever thought of going through.
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My aunt will sometimes sit down with me and say, “The things you have been through

have made you into a stronger person, there isn’t much you can do besides think back to the

happy times and apply that to your life.”

Although I don’t like talking about this subject very much, I simply just smile and reply,

“Thank you.” As if I am unbothered. I had to just brush it off and act like it makes me feel better

although at the same time it didn’t really help at all.

So, going back, the things that have happened and what I still know shaped me into the

person I am today. I am able to go back and not get sad, but be glad at the thought that I have

become a better person than I was before. At times I find myself in those deep thoughts at how

much I miss my mom. But, I have successfully grown into the thought that I am very strong,

much like my mother, and can be able to take care of myself from the things I was taught at a

young age.