Life is all about making changes and adapting to new situations. I learned this early on in life because my family moved around a lot. However, the moving did not bother me at all because I have always loved meeting new people and making new friends. I attended a new grade school every year until fourth grade, when my parents decided to settle down in Forest Park. I attended Armstrong Elementary School from fourth through eighth grade. I then attended Forest Park High School and joined the dance team. I was consistently on the Honor Roll.

The only time I did not make the Honor Roll was when; I was dealing with some serious personal issues within my family. My older brother, diagnosed with ADHD since he was three, and hospitalized numerous times, was finally diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. It was such a tremendous amount of pressure, on me and my family that it became difficult to keep up with my schoolwork. We were required to attend family meetings with the hospitals in order to help him and in turn, my grades suffered during that time. In the following quarter, I overcame all of these issues. I got myself back on track with my academics, and made the Honor Roll the next quarter and continued making the Honor Roll through my senior year. I also remained on the dance team ultimately being selected as the team captain during my sophomore year. With all the personal issues I have dealt with since my freshman year, the most important lesson I have learned is perseverance. I learned that with dedication and hard work, anything can be accomplished.

Stressing on all of the things pertaining to my brother, making sure that my grades are up to par, being in extracurricular activities, and just having the pressure of trying to find a four year college that I would love (not like) to attend, has made me a well-rounded person. I also have been able to