By definition, family is "a group of people who all come from the same ancestor." But is this always necessarily true? When people say family, they usually think of their direct family, those who they share common blood with. But for me, that doesn't always necessarily hold true. Family is not who you share blood with, rather who has your back when you can't have your own. Throughout my life, being forced in different situations has forced me to adapt to my surroundings and open myself up to new people. Going from a small middle school to a high school of over 1,500 people, I knew little to no one. But as time went on, I found my way, found myself and found out who my real friends were who would soon become my family.

My "family" are a group of people who I care very strongly for and who I know will always be there. I have told them secrets that I haven't even told my biological family. They've seen me at my worst and pushed me to be my best. I consider them closer to my heart then my real family is. Some people may look at this and snot understand that, but that's OK. Biological family does not always come first. Family comes first, but the family that comes first for me isn't my biological family.

The quote, "Blood is thicker than water," doesn't always resonate with me. You can build a bond with people who were once complete strangers that is stronger than the family you're related to. People who grow up with broken families can turn out fine because of the strong support system from their non biological family. My family and I have never really been that close. I've always felt some sort of separation from all of them, and I can't pinpoint what it is. Whatever it is that separates me from them doesn't exist in my other family. There's no separation between us, and that feeling is priceless. When my real family becomes too much, I know I can always turn to my friends to save me. I'm a completely different person around my relatives than I am around my family.

Nobody really understands you until you want them to. Just because you're related to somebody or you live with them does not mean they know you. Who knows you is who you want to know you. I choose not to open up to my relatives, and I'm okay with. I know who my real family is and I couldn't be happier with my position with not only them, but with life. Blood means nothing if you don't want it to, and that is perfectly OK with me.