It all started in eighth grade when my mom told me she was pregnant with my second little sister. I was ecstatic! I could barely hold it in. I wanted another sister and finally I would get one! Shortly after, my dad told me he was having two babies. I was bothered because I was my dad’s only child for so long, and I was worried our relationship would change. In ninth grade, my mom announced her pregnancy with my third little sister; although I was excited about it, I couldn’t help but feel a pit in my stomach. Then my dad told me my little brother had been born, and I was overjoyed because I had all my sisters and now I had a brother! It made me happy but again that pit was there. I was uncomfortable with the sudden change. It had only been one year.
I refused to let myself feel sad because that made it seem like I didn’t want my siblings, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. But what was wrong with me? I didn’t talk about it because I didn’t want anyone to take it the wrong way. All I felt was guilt and sadness. I wanted it to go away but my feelings seemed bottomless. It was the same as when I was 7 and my first sister was born, only my thoughts were more intrusive. I was overwhelmed. When I saw my mom and dad’s stress, I didn’t want to burden them with my problem. It didn’t take long for me to feel like a burden. I felt like my feelings were not valid. I knew I loved my siblings, so how could I be so sad?
I prayed for God to give me some peace of mind. I had to take time for me, and remember that I love myself and everyone loves me. And while going from one sister to five siblings was difficult, I am happy to say that I am at peace. I love having a big immediate family! When I feel bad, their excitement and their smiles make me feel better every time.
I can make a difference in my community because of my dedication and resilience. When I put my mind to something, I always make my best effort to make it happen. When it comes to difficult tasks or walls in my way I persevere and work hard to get through. I am not afraid to ask for help when I need it, and I’m not afraid to offer my help to anyone in need. I know I would be a great partner to my peers. In my future I look forward to pursuing a career in pediatrics. Not once did I give up. I figured out the problem and fought it head-on. The lesson I took away from my hard time was to always be positive and to look on the bright side.
