The hardest time in my life would have to be the year my dad went to jail. It was nothing serious but they kept delaying his court day for over a year. This was a major turning point in my life. I was just starting the 7th grade when it happened and and I had to change my whole life style. My mom, as amazing as she is, could not keep up with the bills so we had to get rid of some stuff and so had to move in with my grandma inside her apartment. I went from having my own room to having to share one with my sister and younger brother. It was also hard to focus on school, but I managed to keep my grades up and pass on to the 8th grade and on October 30, 2008 after school I open the door to my grandma's apartment and find my dad sitting on the couch. I immediately drop my backpack and run over to give him a hug, something I wasn't able to do in a long time. That day I felt like a ton of weight was taken off my shoulders.
Not all bad things came from this experience though, I learned many life lessons along the way which helped me become the person I am today and helped change my outlook on life. Before I had no idea how lucky I was to have the things I had and how hard my parents worked to get them for me. Now I appreciate everything I have, even the small things, and I feel so bad when I ask my parents for money, I would much rather earn it than it just be given to me without doing nothing in return. Also before I would just say things without thinking them through, now I am very careful about what I say which is probably why people tell me I'm so quiet. I'm just afraid I might say something that is unintended and it have a negative effect. I also learned that your life can change in a blink of an eye and that you should live each day to the fullest.

Now I'm working hard in school trying my best to keep my grades up. I am very interested in anything art, I have taken two art and one ceramics class in high school so far and I have enjoyed all three of them very much. Not to brag or anything but at the beginning of the ceramics class I was the first to make a cup on the wheel, I saw this as a great achievement. Even thought its just drawing on paper or making pots, art has given me some great skills I find useful in other life situations. I have learned to become neat and organized, which comes in handy when taking notes or working out math problems on a test. I also learned to become a perfectionist and to take my time when doing something like drawing a picture. This comes also comes in handy when doing other things because I pay close attention to what I am doing and so I'm less prone to making a mistake and if I feel like something is wrong I will find what it is.

Right now I'm taking a graphics design class which deals with basically drawing and editing images on a computer. I think this has been the most fun and interesting art class I've taken so far and I hope to pursue a career in graphic design. I want to make a living on what I love to do the most which is to draw. I know its going to take a while and hard work on my part but it will be well worth by the time I'm done with college. I will hopefully be working with big companies and making lots of money. If things turns out like I want them to I will be able to repay my parents for all the things they have done and all the sacrifices they have made to get me to where I am now and where I will be in the future.