Imagine a special mirror that not only reflected your physical features, but also allowed you to view other aspects of yourself. What do you think you would see? Better yet what do you think influenced you to come to your conclusion? How you answer this question determines your self-image. Self-image isn’t something a person is born with. Self-image is numbers of self impressions that are built up over a period of time. These impressions are influenced by a group of elements. Those elements include people, events, and even places I have gone and came across in my life that have made me who I am today. Who am I? A question asked countless times by one’s self. My life up to high school was so much fun and years I definitely enjoyed. The first biggest vacation I remember taking was to Disney World in 1996. I remember very clearly most of every moment of that trip, it was a very hot summer that year, but yet it was so beautiful. One thing I remember most about that trip is a quote that was on a sign right as you entered the gates; “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Ever since that hot summer day, that quote has stuck with me, and I still refer to it when times get tough. In the 5th grade, I met this wonderful little girl named Patricia on the playground who came up to me and asked me if I wanted to be pushed on the swing. I was shy at first, but I agreed to let her help me. At the age of 10, I didn’t really know the value of friendship, and little did I know that she would be become my best friend. We spent every summer together and she has made such an important impact in my life. To this day, she is still my best friend. The road through high school was bumpy and had lots of road blocks but in the end, I felt accomplished. I had my best friend and family beside my side every step of the way. I was enjoying life until August 2008, when my world suddenly came to a stop. My mother, who was my world, had to have heart surgery. Surgery took longer then expected with several compilations that kept holding the doctors back. Once surgery was over my family and I believed my mother was on the road to recovery, only to be wrong. She never really got better and at times got worse. During that time, I had gotten a job, still at that same employer today; I spent countless sleepless nights staying by my mother’s side. I had my mind set that she was going to get better and be able to come home, little did I know, that I was unfortunately wrong. On January 13, 2009 at 8:38 pm, my mother took her last breathe. From that moment on, I decided I couldn’t live like I had been living. I decided I needed to grow up; I stopped being friends with those who had negative attitudes and those who didn’t want anything out of life. I grew to have a closer relationship with my sister. My sister has helped me thought out my life so much and honestly don’t know where I would be with out her. I have those people who still want to bring me down and want me to not believe what I believe but I know that my mother wouldn’t want that. I honestly believe she is very proud of the woman I have become today. After being out of high school for five years, I had to completely step out of my comfort zone to even apply for college, I am so glad that I made that step to do so. I am the first one in my family to ever enter a college door, yes, I have those negative people who tell me I can’t do it and won’t be able to finish school, and don’t like the fact that I attend school four nights a week till ten pm, but it doesn’t matter what others think about me, I am doing this for me and my mother. However, it's important that your self-image be both positive and realistic. Having a self-image that is unrealistic can be a drawback, whether that self-image is negative or positive. Sometimes having an occasional negative thought or criticism about oneself can encourage change, hard work, growth and success. Finding the balance between feeling positive about oneself and having realistic goals is important. After completing my degree, I have goals set for so much. In five years, I would love to be working in the career field which I love, I really would love to work at Blue Cross Blue Shield or even be the store manager of my own Starbucks coffee shop. I want to have that security or not having to worry about if I have enough money to pay my bills nor have to live pay check to pay check. Owning my own house has always been a higher goal for me, also having a loving husband and a great family. Ten years from now, I want to have accomplished so much. I see myself as being such a good role model for others, having a great family and loving husband to come home to every night. I want to look back on my life and realize how happy I am and that taking that steps to attend college was the best thing I could have ever done.