My family was once whole, - I use the term whole very loosely. I can remember everything about that day. I was in sixth grade, when everything happened, the day started like any other day. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary  happening, there wasn’t a smell in the air,  I didn’t see any black cats, nor were my spidey senses tingling. It was just another day; however, it did not end like any other day.

Wednesday, November 17 , 2010 at approximately 3:30 p.m., I watched my entire family get arrested, and there was not a single thing I could do about it. I have never been more distressed in my entire existence. Traumatized, I watched both of my parents, my uncles, and aunts be incarcerated. I looked at my life;  and my surroundings; then said to myself “you can not survive like this, you can not and will not end up like them.”

Hours later, I am on a plane to Houston, where my extended family members set up a whole new life. Then the angels proposed an opportunity of a lifetime, a chance to obtain an associates degree while still in high school. It felt as if God himself align the stars to make sure I would not have the same outcome as my parents. My advanced high school was my own little miracle. It was a way to make my parents proud, something to give them hope and right now that was all they had.

Months later, I found out my family were drug lords, and the FBI finally caught up with them. This was a a very rude awakening, my sweet and supportive parents sold drugs. I was in disbelief, but I was forced to realize the contrary.  Since I do not want anyone casting judgement on my family realize this, my parents hid everything from me. I was utterly blindsided by the entire situation. However, I never went without. They provided the best education for me, showed up to every single school event , and trained me to never give up. Although what my family did was illegal, and I will not see them for a long time, they paved the way for me to become as successful as I am, and without their words of wisdom or support, I don’t know what I would have done.

This incident changed me immensely;  I now question everything. It taught me to become curious about life, and extremely aware of my surroundings; but most importantly it taught me to appreciate life. Never take any person, anything, nor any moment for granted. Cherish every little detail about life, and never lose sight of what is most important. Nonetheless it has taught me, that your background does not define you. It happens to be the moving frames. Although I love my family very much, I refuse to be in that same situation. I will not repeat the ongoing cycle. It ends with me.