My Person Of Influence...

**names have been changed

I’ve always had a good childhood experience.  My family would go on a lot of vacations, out to dinner, and do many activities together.    We were always close, and still are!  Also, being the oldest of four, I’ve always had other people to play games with and look to in a time of need…even if my siblings are younger.  But not only is my immediate family great for giving me the experience I’ve had, but so is my extended family, and my family that’s not actually related to me.  More specifically one of my best friends, whom I consider my cousin or a sister, Kelly**.

I’ve known Kelly my whole life.  Being a year old than her it’s almost like she was my first baby sister.  She’s there with me through everything.  We relate in ways that my real sister and I don’t, for whatever reason.  I can talk to talk to her about things that I can’t with my parents.  I know that if my sister and I get in a fight or even if I feel alone and feel like no one’s there, she is.  She’s always there for me, just like I’m always there for her.

Being a teenager is tough, especially since middle school.  I’ve had tough times with friends or boyfriends, grades, sports, a lot of things.  It’s all part of growing up!  And Kelly , Kelly has those same problems (as any teenager would of course).  Only, hers seem to have been growing more than they should…

High school has been tough for Kelly.  She’s jumped to different groups of friends numerous times.  She doesn’t do well in a lot of her classes.  She’s constantly stressed with school, her family invading her privacy, with the person she is, etc.  Kelly just seems lost sometimes, and it kills me a little inside.  I love her so much; I need to make sure she’s okay.  I help her through all of this.  I talk to her.  I hang out with her.  I make sure she knows that she is one of the best people I know.  It’s only the truth.  Kelly tells me I help her, and I really think I do, because she always seems happier when I talk to her, and just be there. Being there for her has helped to make me caring, and understanding overall.  I love helping people.

Now, I’ve also had these same stressors in my time as a high school student, more specifically since 10^th grade.  Schools become tougher, I’ve found who my real friends are (and still lost some), I’ve dated people who weren’t right for me, I’ve felt lost.  I’ve felt like there was no way out of this mess of a teenage life, and I had no one to go to.  But I knew I had someone, and still have that someone.  Kelly.  She listens to me.  She cares about me.  She knows that things will be okay, because she’s been through the same things.  She’s made me stronger in my weakest moments.

Kelly introduced me to writing.  Writing in a journal that is.  She told me that in her darkest times, when she didn’t know how to express herself, she wrote.  She still continues to write.  Stories, poems, just to vent how she feels…but she always, always, always ends her journal passages with at least two good things that came out of the day.  Kelly told me how much this helped her, and said I should try it since lately I’ve felt alone at times, like there was no escape from my stress.  I took her advice, and it’s helped.  It helps me say everything I’ve ever felt or wanted to say, but without stupid comments from other people.  It’s quite freeing.

Kelly has opened my eyes to many things.  First and foremost, there is something good in every day.  No matter how horrible it was, or how upset you were, there was at least one good thing.  She’s also helped me become stronger overall, and express my feelings in a way that works for me.  Kelly has made me into a caring person.  A loving person.  An independent person.  She’s been there for everything , and has been with me through everything.  Kelly will continue to be my go to girl, as I will be hers.  Kelly has helped make me stronger, and see the better side of each day.  I don't care that she's a year younger, it makes no difference to me.  I appreciate everything she's done for me, and I thank her for that<3