My birthday is this week and I'm not really excited about the tedious tradition I have grown up with. I am not ungrateful for all the birthday cakes and presents I have received in the course of 19 years, however I do not believe that my birthday is in any way important to myself. Therefore it should not be of great importance to those close to me. It should just be like any other day, because I can guarantee I will wake up like every other day and just live it as I lived today, or I will live tomorrow. It is just another year gained to be thankful I am still alive, however every day I am thankful for being alive just one more day to see my brother’s glorious laughter and smiling teeth. One more day seeing my sisters grow and bloom beautifully.

In the course of my time alive I have learned valuable lessons every year.

1. How to Run

It taught me to do something about my dreams instead of waiting for a miracle to happen.

2. How to Have Fun

I was taught to always approach life with a force of fun rather than with remorse.

3. Change is for the Best

To this day I am reluctant to change, but even I know change is good. Moving to another country at the age of three gave me the opportunity to grow up in America and pursue a better life than my parents.

4. Learned English

This has become the dominant language in my life and I can proudly say I am bilingual.

5. Making Friends is Good

Because of the friends I had growing up I never had to worry about being lonely. I also had people I could depend on as I grew up.

6. Communication is Key

I began comprehending the ability to read, write, and speak and I am grateful for these because I continue to use these everyday so I can continue to succeed and communicate with those around me.

7. People Lie and People Get Envious

We're all human and we have flaws. Lying and being envious and jealous are some traits we can overlook if we decide to look through open-minded eyes, which I choose to do.

8. Simple Math (i.e. Multiplication and Division)

I am not a math major, but just knowing I can multiply and divide is an accomplishment because some people don't have the opportunity to learn this simple math.

9. Learned Cursive

Cursive is not a required subject to teach any longer and I was fortunate enough to have had a teacher willing to teach each of us. I have incorporated a style of cursive into my writing that represents a part of me.

10. My Full Name

My identity is important to me because it is a glimpse of who I am as an individual. Finally learning my full name completed my identity and I say it with so much pride. Up to the age of 10, I always thought my middle name was all there was on my birth certificate.

11. Appreciate School and My Educators

I came to the realization of how important my schooling is and how I owe every single educator and mentor I have ever had for getting to this point in my life and for how successful I have been and will continue to be.

12. Marriage is Not Forever

I learned marriage is more complicated than what the media tried to project to children. I had to deal with my parents separating at the age of 12 and it changed the way I look at marriage today.

13. Losing People is Okay

Losing people because of either death, distance, or because it breaks off on its own happens, a lot. However, I have learned that it is okay because it is a sign of growing and living. I have lost so many people and it has shaped me in some way or another.

14. Depending on Myself

I became independent and began taking my first steps to learning how to take care of myself. It also paved the path on how independent I pride myself to be and a role model for my siblings.

15. Money Makes the World Function

I started becoming less dependent on my parents with even money. I started buying my own things and I realized money is everything this world. I hate it, but unfortunately I have had to become a slave to this society to get what I need and want.

16. Never Give Up on My Goals and Dreams

I had a college prep high school education and it was hard at times. Many times I would think of dropping down to normal classes, but I realized my potential and how extraordinary I am. I knew I could accomplish whatever I set out to do, and I just need a little push and motivation. I always carry this memory as a way of motivating myself whenever I feel like giving up.

17. Learned to Make Huge Impactful Decisions for Myself

I had no help from my parents on my college search, the application process, and what college I was going to go. I know I can trust in my decisions and how to go about it when I need to decide. It was another step i was taking into becoming an adult.

18. The Real World is Hard and it is Perfectly Okay to Depend on Others

I thought I should not have to depend on other people, therefore I tried doing everything on my own: handling my tuition, school, maintaining myself, etc. I had to learn that it is ok to have other people help me and therefore I thank every person I had to depend on in the past year.

19. Life Can Get Lonely and Repetitive.

Life gets lonely and repetitive. Days merge and everyday actions become carved into a routine. However, it is better to still live to the fullest and try to break out of routines and always be happy. Happiness is how we should be striving for.