For the most part, I was raised in a very small, Cajun country town. In this town everyone knew my name and who my mom, dad, sisters and brothers were. Looking back, I cannot recall seeing or interacting with many African-Americans in school, in the grocery store, or anywhere around town. I can remember them being there, but it seemed like they stayed in their own part of town and not much mixing took place. While living in a small town can have its perks, it can limit the perspective of one's mind, leaving people to believe that hardly anything exists beyond the borders of that little town. When I was in the fourth grade, my dad moved us to Pennsylvania for six months for his job. The town we lived in was an Amish townso you can imagine the culture shock that I, along with the rest of my family, was in. In hind sight, I am very thankful to have had that experience and to live in the culture that belonged to someone else. It was a very humbling, amazing adventure and has a big part of who I am today. .
One of the influences on my life that I think had an impact on my attitude and values was the fact that I grew up in a middle-to-low income family. My parents have five children, four girls and one boy. Everything that we had or were given we appreciated. I can remember birthdays when we would get a new doll and to us that doll was worth a thousand bucks! In today's generation, I just do not think that children are that appreciative and they feel like they are entitled to everything they get. Growing up this way has made me humble and made me count every blessing that I receive. It also had a big impact on the way that I see others. I can truly, truly say that when I see other people in my community, workplace or in public, I do not see color or national origin. I do my very best not to judge anyone and I am sure that I am polite and respectful. I believe that we are all created equal.
While this experience was extremely difficult for me it made me a stronger, more independent person. ... That's how I knew what I wanted to be. ... So who am I now? ... I will not let anyone stand in the way of who or what I want to be. ... My experiences have made me who I am today, a hard worker and dependable person, but I also know how to have fun and enjoy the small things....
In this life, people will always judge, I get afraid of being who I am and doing what I would like to because of what people might think of me. My life experiences have made me who I am today, a quiet girl who doesn't want to spend her life alone though I have a great desire to be free and live my life without any fear or restraints. ... Being new made me afraid to do anything. ... I felt like they were all a reflection of who I am or who I'd want to be. ... I'm thankful for my experiences, they made me into who I am today and I love the person I am....
I know that I try so hard to be the center of attention and until someone knows that that is just part of who I am, they think it's annoying. ... I can name off at least five of my closest friends who came off to me as cocky, annoying, mean, or boring. ... I am a racist. ... One day, I had a sudden realization that these shots were what kept me alive. ... This is what I am, because without this I would be nothing....
I am a lump of shit. ... I feel like I am trapped and this makes me extremly upset. ... All of this combined has turned me into someone who doesn't get pushed around. ... It has made me pro-active. ... And this is who I am as a writer, a less docile pro-active son-of-a-bitch that's ready to be an adult! ...
I am an only child so I have no siblings and the relatives who are of the same age as I am live in a different place. ... I made mistakes by choosing to hang out with the wrong group of people who had negative influences on me. ... She made me question my self and what I had been doing. ... The cigarettes that I smoked slowly and gradually killed me along with others who were around me. ... I lose my compassion for others and stop caring about who I have to step on to get what I want. ...
Who Am I? You make me sleep near the animals You don't respect the pride I may have in myself I'm more alone than the rest of y'all Ain't nobody ever cared 'bout me You isolate me from everyone else You make me feel like my skin color makes me less of a man I'm cast out with not a friend in sight I ain't had nobody for a long time You call me a nigger; heck got me callin' myself that now You let me stay because of my bad back and I've seen them all come and got I see no one cares to say Hi to the lil ole colored man Nobody come in a colored ma...
I am now very outgoing, but I used to be very timid. ... I envied my friends who remained in one place having a place called "home". ... This finally made me realize I am important. ... Then I began to wonder what it was that God has blessed me with, and that was my international traveling. ... Although I was envious of those who had a place called "home," now, I am proud to be multicultural. ...
He Made Me Do It Children have a different way of observing the world and life in general. ... Because of the questions and comments that my oldest son has made to me, I have changed my life. ... One, "would I want my children to do what I am about to do?" ... After I ask myself these questions, I know that the decisions I have made are better choices for both my sons and me. ... I am now a happier person, and am achieving more in life then I can ever remember doing in the past. ...
