Personal Narrative: My Relationship With Divorced Parents

My identity is a summary of all of the core values I have learned to embody. My identity changes the more I grow as a person and the more experiences I have to learn from. But growing up with divorced parents unmistakably made the largest impact on my identity. I was only three years old the night my mom left. Tears gradually made their way down her freckled face as she shut the glass screen door with a single carry-on suitcase gripped by her right palm. Everything was in slow motion as I was trying to escape my dad's arms so I could somehow bring her back. When my mom slowly shut that door to our two bedroom house, I thought I'd never see her again. There it is, my very first childhood memory. Even my parents don't remember the night as vividly
I began developing better relationships with my parents and tried to help them out as much as they helped me. Quickly I learned how fortunate I am that both of my parents live in the same town and still get along. Although I never developed the relationship I dreamt of with my parents, I learned a lot from them and I am still soaking it in. Despite this, I would never change the past, because I could never imagine my life being any better than it is now. I'm glad I never had to remember my parent fighting or growing up with so much anger around me. Plus, I am blessed enough to have the addition of my stepfather and little brother and sister brought into my life. I love my separated families and the divorce taught me to cherish what I have. A lot of people still ask me what it was like to grow up a child of divorce, and I always say, "I wouldn't be the same person if my parents were still together.". I am ecstatic to graduate this year and carry these values with me to start the next chapter of my life at UNH. I know I am more than ready, and my identity will help me succeed in life and have a great college