Tiera N. Shead
Avid III
October 24, 2012
A3.
Identity Essay
I always thought of my life as a movie, something that belonged on Lifetime or Bravo, because to me it’s funny and sad, but mostly funny. I guess what kept me grounded and humble was my wacky family, without them I don’t know who or what I would be or become.
I remember my great grandmother used to tell me, ‘Tornada, which was her nickname for me, no matter how hard things may get always remember, you’re a Donnell, you have the Donnell walk, talk, attitude and mind’. At the time I didn’t really know what that meant; I just thought her age was finally catching up to her. But now I know, that nothing or no one can make me feel bad or put me down, I am my own person. And because of those words I was able to overcome anything.
Growing up, we moved a lot so it was really hard to make friends, I mean it’s not like I didn’t have any, it’s just that my social skills were at all-time low. And I guess it finally caught up to me seeing how were finally in a nice stable home in a boring town, but it’s nice none the less and I’ve made some of the greatest friends. But having those friends make me very sad because I worry that one day I will come home to find our bags packed and my mom saying we have to move. But I know that I would be okay if she did that, it would hurt but, I wouldn’t cry, why? Because I honestly feel that I’m at peace with our situation and the things we’ve been through. My mom says it’s my maturity level rising, I don’t think so. I think it’s because I’ve learned to deal with those things with laughter instead of crying all the time.
Next week I have my UIL Poetry and Prose meet and I’m excited because I’m doing mine on Body image among young girls, my teacher asked me why I chose such a strong theme, and I thought back to my childhood. I’ve always had weight problems as a kid, at the age of 9, I was 271lbs, my mom used to tell me it’s just my baby fat and as I got older it would go...