How do you describe who you are?

How do you describe who you are?

The people.

Clifton Glynn.

With a doubt, my grandfather is the epitome of hard working. At the age of 18, he left the only life he knew in a small Arkansas town to move to California. He created a family and business from nothing. I have always known my grandfather to be a hard working man that will not stop until everyone is taken care of. His generosity and character is unmatched. I will forever be thankful to have him as an example in my life. He showed me first hand what it means to love your spouse unconditionally. Our family was not immune to hard times. We shared countless struggles together. Through everything, my grandfather did not waver in his love for my grandmother. He worked hard at his marriage much like he worked hard at everything else in his life.

Donna Joann.

Donna. The heart of our family. My grandmother is a fighter. She will do whatever it takes to keep this family together and going. When her children were younger, they were constantly battling illnesses and diseases. My grandmother was with them every step of the way. She fought everyday to get her children any and everything they needed. She fought through hard times and held the family together. She was a constant support. In the past few years, her turn has come for the illness and disease. She fights constantly for her own health. In all of it, she remains a pillar holding the family together uniting us all. My grandmother has always been full of joy and love. I remember being younger and always going on fun outings and adventures with my grandmother. She always loved life. I believe she passed that love for life through the whole family. Her love for life has not diminished during this time of sickness.

Frank Arnold and Edith Rose.

My paternal grandparents. I remember riding the bus home from school to their house on special occasions. My grandmother was always waiting at the top of the hill to walk us home. She was the best stereotypical grandmother. Always fresh cookies, always food, and always love to go around. My grandfather loved kids. He could sound exactly like Donald Duck. As a child, that was the most amazing thing I had ever heard. Every Sunday, we had a big family dinner with most of our cousins. There were always games, food, and lots of fun. My grandparents taught me the importance of family. There is nothing else like it. You aren’t given a choice for family but you are given a choice about how you react to family. My grandparents instilled the importance of family. They had a beautiful marriage. I never had the chance to get close to them. My family moved states away when I was still young. In my senior year of high school, I lost both my grandparents. I remember walking through a Hallmark store feeling like I needed to talk to my grandmother. She had been in the hospital for a while. Due to medical treatments and equipment, she was not able to speak. Someone held the phone up to her so I could tell her one more time how much I loved her. Just a few months later, I was sitting in school, last class of the day, when I saw my phone light up. My dad. I knew right then that my grandfather had passed. I was not awarded the same luxury to tell him one last time. Tragedies tend to rip family apart. It did. Sometimes it’s easier to push people away. Their legacy was to keep family together and going. Living up to my grandparents is a hard thing to do.

David Rickey.

Research shows that fathers affect children in many ways. Fathers carry a special burden when they have children. My father has been a constant provider for me. While growing up, my life may not have had the most traditional household, I was never in need. My father has worked hard and provided for me the things I’ve needed. He is the most logical person I know. He is able to think through a situation in a clear way and give me great advice. He has shown me the value in thinking logically in all circumstances and making sure those I love are provided for.

Deborah Lynn.

Nothing in my mother’s life has come easy or fairly. By age 14, she began a lifelong journey of health related issues. Joking about it now keeps things light; however, my mother was very seriously fighting for her life. Between various forms of cancer and a few dozen surgeries in the more recent years, she remains a positive light. Deborah inherited my grandfather's sense of working hard. Beyond that, my mother is selfless. She will put all others before herself no matter the cost. No matter what has been going on in life, she has devoted her energy to helping others in any way they need. She has devoted her whole life to daughters making sure they felt loved and cared for. Her whole life, she was given every reason to be selfish and focus on why life wasn’t fair. She instead became an example none can compare to in selflessness.

Kaitlyn Michele.

My older sister. My confidant. When I am at a crossroads, she is one of the first calls I make. Being 10 years older than me, she shares her life experiences with me so that I can learn and grow. She has taught me what it means to be a sister. Kaitlyn has quite literally always been there for me, even when inconvenient. Like my mother, Kaitlyn will always help others as best she is able. She has proved to be a mother that, like my grandmother and mother, will fight for her children and make sure they know they are loved. She is a constant in my life when all else is always changing.

Cassandra Joanne.

My original day one. Being 12 months apart almost to the day, Cassie really has been there by my side since the beginning. We are without a doubt opposite in almost every way. Even though she is my younger sister, I learn so much from her. She is so on fire for life. She is unafraid to follow her passions, even if that means working at a job that stretches her until there is nothing left. Cassie is one of the funniest people you can meet. There has never been a day she has not made me cry real tears from laughing so hard. Among my sisters, she resembles my mother’s medical history the most. After spending her first months in the hospital, she has faced illness nearly everyday. This hasn’t stopped her from enjoying life to the fullest. She has been by my side since the beginning and I can’t imagine a day she isn’t apart of me. I challenge you to find someone more enthusiastic about life.

McKayla Colleen.

Baby sister. We could not be more alike. She is a fantastic, sassy, nerd if there ever was one. Her quick wit is unparalleled to anyone I have ever met. McKayla is so unique. She is unashamedly herself. In a world where people are scared to follow their dreams and passions and instead choose to take the easy way out, she doesn’t give up. Even when people are doubting her, she will not give up on her dreams. She is very stubborn. Nothing will get in her way when she has a goal in front of her. She can visualize her future and see what it will take to get there. McKayla is one of the easiest people to talk to. She is very cautious about who she will let in to see her true self. Count yourself lucky if she lets you into her life.

You are a reflection of the people in your life. The positive and the negative. These are the people who shaped me. This is who I am.