The first thing I should bring up is that when I was a year old, my father passed away due to lung cancer. This loss has shaped my entire life for the good and the bad.

Ever since I was little, I have always been shy. I distinctly remember a time when the Terminix guy came into the house and I ran away and hid in the corner. Sad right? I had this fear of men, which sounds ridiculous, but it is true. I think it has something to do with the fact that the only men in my life included my brother, my Grampy and my Grandpa, so I really was not used to different men. Unfortunately, this curse has followed me throughout my entire life. I am still very awkward around guys and I am never sure how to talk around them. I am not nearly as bad as I used to be, but I am still an awkward person.

My dad's passing was also a good thing for me. I had to mature at a young age. Most of the time when I meet people, they assume I am older than I actually am, which becomes entertaining when I tell them my actual age. I matured at a young age and this helped me throughout my life. I was able to learn that you need to live your life because you never know how short your life can be. I have the best relationship with my mom. She is basically my best friend. My mom remarried when I was ten and I got my stepdad, who is my dad in every way that matters. I had to learn to be independent, so I did not have to depend on others for everything. At times, I may seem distant, but it is only because of my story.

Even though this happened to my family, I have learned to grow and build off of it. I learned that no matter what happens in your life, you just need to learn to make good of the bad and all will be well. If we dwell on the past for too long, we will never be able to move forward with our lives. Yes, I miss my dad, but that does not stop me from enjoying my life.