-
Birth
I was born on November 15, 1998 around 6:15 AM in Trenton, NJ. My parents, Konrad and Katarzyna, gave birth to a baby that they named Amanda Victoria Pelczar. At this time my parents were married and resided in Hamilton, NJ. I was the first and only child they had together, since my mother was only 20 and my father was 19. Both my mother and father were born and raised in Poland, so moving to America was a decision they made to benefit me and my future, I wouldn't be here without them today. -
Mother and father's divorce
When I was about 2 years old my mother and father decided to get a divorce, since I was so young I was never fully aware of what was going on. I remember when I was growing up and started to understand everything, this impacted me heavily. I would cry to my dad every time my mom dropped me off at his doorstep, I couldn't comprehend why I had to spend every other holiday with one parent. As a little girl I would tell myself that I would never put my kids through what I went through as a child. -
Birth of my brothers
Through my parents divorce and several years passing by, both my mother and father remarried and found other spouses. My first brother was born August 14, 2007 and his name is Kyler. He is my mother and stepfathers son. My other brother, Nicholas, was born January 6, 2008, he's my father and stepmothers son. Although I have never had full siblings, I truly consider these two my full siblings and they are the reason I have developed responsibility and have learned to care about others so deeply. -
Change of Schools
The first couple years of my mom and stepdads marriage seemed like a fairytale. I remember telling my friends how gross it seemed that they were so in love, but in 2010 my stepdads previous charges caught up with him and he was put in a prison for 3 months. He was an illegal immigrant that had came to America but made stupid decisions as a teen. This impacted my mom when we couldn't afford to pay our rent and we moved to PA, I used to watch her hide the tears she cried and hope of better days. -
First Best friend
When I was entering middle school I found it hard to make friends. I met my best friend at this time, just as socially awkward and hilarious as I was, we quickly became best friends. I slept at her house every single weekend, her parents became my own and every Friday night I would join their weekly pizza night. This inseparable bond lasted for years, but as time went by we went our separate ways. She truly helped me through the toughest of times, and I could never thank her enough. -
First day of High School
I remember the anxiety of thinking that the upperclassmen were going to shove me into a locker, trying to frantically find my classes in under 4 minutes, and the dreadful days where I had to take PE classes. I often say that high school was one of the worst experiences, but truth is, through the years I have learned who I am as a person. I have made friends and lost them just as quickly, I have learned more about myself here than I would have else where. -
First car/First job
I was 16 when I got my permit and my first job, then 6 months later I got my license. I was so excited to finally feel like an adult and pile on some responsibilities. I started off at Burger King and I worked there for approximately a year, it began as some pocket change so I can go out with my friends. This was my first real act as an "adult", it felt like a breath of fresh air when I started to be treated with respect. This taught me more responsibility than any amount of babysitting could. -
First Love
As a young teenager I would have never imagined that you could meet someone and love them. I always thought it was very stereotypical to meet someone in high school and actually think about having a future with them, but 3 years later I was in the same position that I once called tacky and stereotypical. My relationship has been something that I've known for almost my entire high school career. It has made me accept the flaws in other people and learn how to love them even more deeply. -
Mother and Stepfather's Divorce
My senior year seemed to be one of the worst years I've ever come across, although it should have been the most magical. I have gone through many personal issues this year but sometime after the winter I discovered my mother and stepfather were getting a divorce. My mom and stepdad always had a marriage that I aspired to have one day, so this broke me apart. Being a child that has gone through this twice now, it taught me that I will never put my children through what I went through. -
Acceptance/High School Graduation
I was that child that knew where I wanted to go to college and what I wanted to study since I was 13. I have always set high hopes for myself, even though I stumble and I mess up sometimes. In the beginning of senior year I was accepted into Temple University with entrance to their pharmacy program. I've been blessed with opportunities that I could have never imagined, I'm ecstatic to be leaving Truman in 2 weeks and closing this chapter of my life with the most incredible friends and family.