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Just Because We Share Blood, Does Not Make Us Family

For years, I've always felt out of place with my family.

Haley Perdue

Jan 12, 2018

Influencers of Ohio

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Just Because We Share Blood, Does Not Make Us Family

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At 12 years old I realized I was the black sheep of the family--which sucks. At 12 years old you shouldn't feel as though your family doesn't like you. I realized this at such a young age when I started dreading going to any family events because I knew I would more than likely be excluded from every conversation, or anything for that matter. I'm 19 now and still feel as though this is true, which again--sucks.

I take after my dad in almost everything. Which means, I also take after his ability to not care what anyone thinks about me. I'm proud of who I am and who I was raised to be. So, ever since I started to notice that my family wasn't exactly "fond" of me, I just stopped caring. For years, my mindset has been "I don't need anyone who doesn't need me" but of course that's a lot harder when it comes to the people who are supposed to love you. You're "family".

Family is supposed to support your hopes and dreams and push you to succeed and yet, all I've ever felt with my family was nothing but doubt and disappointment. Anytime I would talk about my future plans or what I hope to accomplish I always sensed that not only does my family think I'm crazy, but I can tell they doubt me. Which as I've already stated, sucks hardcore.

Overtime I just started to accept the fact that I didn't fit in with my family. I started to strongly believe in the fact that although we share the same blood, that does not mean we are family. Family is supposed to be there and yet some of mine have been absent. Some of my family has been absent from the big moments in my life. Some have been absent completely.

Now please do not confuse what I am saying. This is not about my whole family. I love my family and I'm blessed to be who I am. I'm saying that for a lot of my life I've felt out of place with some. I have no resentment to them, just sadness.

As I reached seventeen I started looking for that family love in my friends' homes. Some of my closest friends' families have supported me and cheered me on more than my own has. This is when I realized that family does not mean blood. I am truly blessed with the family that I have that I do not share the same blood with because they filled the void in my life that others had left for years.

Thank you to those who stayed and loved me even when some couldn't.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Student Life

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New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

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Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

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And so it begins.

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Thanksgiving break is over and Christmas is just around the corner and that means, for most college students, one hellish thing — finals week. It's the one time of year in which the library becomes over populated and mental breakdowns are most frequent. There is no way to avoid it or a cure for the pain that it brings. All we can do is hunker down with our books, order some Dominos, and pray that it will all be over soon. Luckily, we are not alone in this suffering. To prove it, here are just a few of the many deranged thoughts that go through a college student's mind during finals week.

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"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

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I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.

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Just Because We Share Blood, Does Not Make Us Family

For years, I've always felt out of place with my family.

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Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

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