Walk Two Moons, The Winterbottoms

Growing up in Chicago, I attended a neighborhood school from preschool through first grade. Although it was an exceptional school for elementary kids, the education for middle school and high school students was not as adequate. Seeking a better place to raise their children, my parents were faced with a tough choice. When I was in 2nd grade, our family made the decision to move to the suburbs. On July 3rd, we all packed into our Honda minivan and drove 45 minutes to a new home in the town of Winnetka. Within my first year at Crow Island, my new school, I learned so many new things. I started playing the violin and speaking Spanish, neither of which were offered at my old school. I met my best friends that I'm still close with now. Over the

Losing a mother at the age of ten is not a thought one could imagine; however when faced with it, you have no other choice than to hold onto the memories that were left. The day my mother was killed, she had the opportunity, to call the entire family, to say goodbye. Sixteen years later, I can still remember those exact words of that phone call. While on the phone, I remember my mother saying that she loved me, and that I would probably not be seeing her for a while. At first this truly did not register in my mind, being that she always struggled to care for my sisters and myself; we often ended up staying with family members for an extended amount of time. I responded with “I love you too,” and, “Okay mom.” A few days later, a detective knocked at the door, and began to explain what had happened; she was found in a hotel room with everything stripped from her besides her boots. Everything in the room was wiped down, and all the sheets, pillows, and towels were removed. Her killer was never caught, and her death was ruled as an unidentifiable cause. Looking back now, that phone call made sense and I feel as if she was attempting to warn the family, yet no one caught on. Those little hints, of saying goodbye, could have possibly saved her life, still no one truly understood the meaning of the phone call. My father suffered from two strokes at one time; he was left paralyzed on his entire right side. My sister and I were advised that he would probably not pull through, and to

That day when I returned home from school, my mom’s boyfriend called me asking to speak to my grandmother. Typically, Gus would call my grandmother himself if he wanted to speak with her, which was rare. I found out about my mom going to the hospital from my grandmother after that phone call. The doctor told my family that a stroke afflicted her in the middle of the day. My mom confused the date with her birthday, had trouble getting words out and remembering our family member’s names. The nurse had to take her for walks periodically and exercise her legs and arms because they were weak. Seeing my mother in this condition made me appreciate my mother and everything she does for me tremendously. However, I was terrified for my mother’s health.

An ambulance came and carried out my mom. I didn’t know what was going on, so many questions running through my mind, what was wrong with her, was she going to be ok. I was scared, more scared then I had ever been. My sister Sheridan who was 8 asked me “what’s happening?” through tears. On that day a little piece of me began to change because if I let her see my fear that would not help anyone, and so even though I didn’t know what was happening I responded “everything is going to be ok” even though I did not trust my own words.

Right when I became into knowing the school better, I had to transfer to another middle school. I was happy and sad but mostly sad. Happy because I was going to meet new people but sad because I had wanted to graduate with my friends. And the mixed emotions started all over again. I could tell you from my personal experience that making an identity from scratch takes a lot of time and courage. But tell you the truth I liked the new middle school rather than the earlier one. I made lots of friends and even joined the student council. I had also joined the basketball team. Helping the school and the community is my type of thing.

A few months after Shayla was born my family decided to move to Canal Winchester. This was a big deal because moving means a new school. The next school year Desiree, James, and I were going to Tussing Elementary. We went there for a year and while I was there I was able to make dean’s list. The following year we were moved to Pickerington Elementary due to Tussing being overcrowded. After 4th grade I went to Diley Middle School, and while I was there I was able to have a spectacular time at Outdoor Edu. Before the school year was up my family moved to Reynoldsburg. When the school year was about to start I learned that I was going to be going to Lakeview Junior high instead of Ridgeview. The transition was much harder for me this time than

I had a very unique adjust meant to GCU, I transferred in the Friday before classes started which was on Monday so I didn't have much time to prepare or get myself ready to start at a new school. I transferred in and it clearly was not planned I originally went to Marist College which is in Poughkeepsie, New York. I played softball for Marist which is division one, I loved every second of it. There was something missing being away at school, it made me realize how much I miss my family and how dependent I am on them emotionally. I handle myself very well physical and mentally but emotionally I needed to have my family with me for support.

I was going to Brentwood Middle School when I got the news. I was just starting to find my friend group. Then I was told I would be transferring to a new group of schools. I would be moving 20 minutes down the road into a little town called Nolensville. When I thought it couldn’t get any worse, I would have to transfer schools again after I finished my freshman year. During my sophomore year of high school, I began at Nolensville. This school and town have changed me in ways I never thought it would.

When we all came outside for a picture and we sang the school song for the last time, I knew that I would remember that day as possibly the best and worst day of my life. Losing the school was an immense blow and it still hurts to think about it. I had such incredible relationships with my peers and my teachers that I feel like I will never be able to recapture. The decision was made to consolidate with North Posey—the biggest rival New Harmony had ever known. The prospect of transferring to a school many times larger, of walking in that first day not knowing hardly anyone, it terrified me. Now that two years have passed and I have started my senior year at North Posey, I recall that shy, reserved girl and I do not recognize her. It is difficult to connect with who I used to be at New Harmony, tantamount to looking at a different person. I have new friends and am taking challenging courses. I have made accomplishments in the past year alone—like staying at a veterinarian camp by myself for a week—that are still surprising

To start off with, as a transfer student coming from a local state college to the University of Central Florida was a huge change. It was a different change because it was the first time I was going to be away from home. I have spent the last twenty-one years under my parent’s wings and it was time to grow and flourish, but that is much easier said than done, it would also be much easier if I was not such a shy person. But my decision

Some of the events that had help shape me into the person that I’m today is of me and my family always going places. Most of the time we would go to the beach or hiking. I was told by my sisters that one time when we were walking up a hill that my older sister corina had slipped and rolled into some mud and was covered from head to toe in it. Another event that shaped me into the person that I’m today is when my sister passed away and most of my sister we're not on good terms with her. So when she passed away my sisters had a lot of regrets about not being aboul to apologise to her. That me that you should never treat someone badly

The day I found out that my grandmother had passed away was the saddest day of my life. I remember waking up that day in a wonderful mood. I was starting my last semester of high school and I was excited to go and see my friends, but I had no idea what was happening at the hospital my grandma was staying at. There was a point during the day where I got an uneasy feeling in my stomach, but I just ignored it, thinking I was just hungry. On my way home from volleyball practice that day, I passed the street my grandparents lived on and saw that both my mom’s, dad’s, and my uncle’s car was at their house. Starting to feel concerned and worried, I thought about turning my car around to figure out what was going on, but I decided to leave it alone and wait until my parents returned home. That night when I got out of the shower, my parents told me that my grandma had passed away. It came as such a shock to me because I saw her just two days before, and she seemed like she was doing better.

When I think about an event that sticks out in my mind as one that was very important in my life, I think about changing schools in the seventh grade. About halfway through my middle school career, I became very unhappy at my school and with life in general. Upon discussing with my parents, we made the decision that I would switch schools and embark on a new journey in hopes to appease my unhappy soul. At first, I felt as if a new school would not help; little did I know what a profound change it would have on my life.

Moving schools when you are going into your most embarrassing stage of your life is honestly one of the toughest things I have ever done in my life. Although it was tough at first, it taught me many valuable life lessons. I learned how to adapt and make friends on a whim. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t gone through these events.

I’ve lived in three different states and attended six schools over the past eight years. Relocating from Texas to Michigan, and later Michigan to Georgia were big adjustments for me. I missed my friends and close relatives. However, I knew I had to make the best of my circumstances. Through these experiences, I began to learn to be more flexible, become more open-minded to different traditions, and be adventurous in different parts of the country-I played volleyball, joined a dance team, and even went skiing! At school, I also focused on excelling in my classes and challenge myself like I did when adjusting to a new town.