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California to Arizona
This was the day that I left all the family I knew and grew up with for a strange land. The strange land is what I call home now. This changed the course of my life because instead of growing up in california I grew up in arizona. -
house in Arizona
After we got here we had nowhere to live so for the first night we were here we slept in the car. But after that we went to my great grandmother's house. After a couple more days we found this small house in an alley that became our home. -
Dad Got better
My dad experienced a lot during his childhood so I think a lot of things came to him in difficult ways. Unfortunately this meant we didn't have a "model family". There was a time when he started to get better at the fathering thing and when he got a new job that helped him out. It was a start of change that brought my family closer in ways we never were before. -
CD Player
This might seem a bit weird to put on a timeline but it has impacted me and continues to. This was the time when my father gave me my first cd player. I know it's old school but after that my love for music exploded. I got into so much music and listened to it wherever I went. It is an obsession that has helped me through many things and I may owe my life to music. -
New School , new friend
I was switching schools because my dad's job and because he wanted to get us into a nicer neighborhood. We moved to youngtown and with the move came to luxury of a new school. The second day we were given an assignment and were told that we were free to work in groups or pairs of our choice and that we could talk and get to know each other. That's when me and my best friend and cousin meet each other. We have been best friends for about six years now and we are extremely close. -
Family losses
In this one month I not only experienced loss that affected me directly. But, I experienced it multiple times. After coming home from school almost every week I was surprised with the news of a loved one moving on. First I lost my beloved dog that we brought from california with us. We had here since she was a puppy. About a week after my mother's mom was found dead in her house. the last week my little cousin died in a car accident caused by his step brothers recklessness. -
New sister
This was the day my baby sister was born into our growing family. It had a huge impact on me because I was tasked with taking care of her when my mother went back to work during the summer. I was given the responsibility to take care of a child when I myself was a child. I learned quick and have been looking after her ever since then. -
sophomore year
This is the year that was the start of the even more difficult times I would face. I am not sure what started it but I fell apart that year. I did the worst in school, I didn't go to class, let early, and always went to sweep or detention. It was a time when I got so tired of everything I just didn't care anymore. Everything was becoming too much I guess. -
depression
This was the first time that I experienced anything like the feeling that I have come so accustomed to now. It was something that I couldn't explain in any other way except that I was tired. It was the worst when I first started because it was bad. I slept for about 22 hours and listened to music nonstop. I kept to my room and liked the dark. I shut myself out for a long time. -
Baby bro
My mom brought news home that she was pregnant once again. So with this I basically had another child. I have been looking after him as well as my baby sister ever since. I have raised them both and I have to say that kids are the most challenging thing in my present life. -
Getting Better
I went through some rough years. I would cut myself and have crazy mood swings. I would get into modes where I would go without talking or showing any emotion at all. It did get better however. I had a couple of relapses and setbacks but I kept trying and trying. I had anemia which made things a bit worse for me in the mood swings and sleep department but I take vitamins and pills and I haven't had a major setback in a long while.
