Donnovan Mays

Hello, my name is Donnovan Mays and I am my own hero. Arrogant, I know, but through hard circumstances in my life I've learned a lot about myself. I was born in San Francisco, Ca. As a kid I was very quiet and reserved. I'd like to think I was simply a companion to my single mother. My mother had a big influence on me when I was young. She taught me how to take care of myself. This was essential as the only child to a single parent trying to make ends meet. As the years progressed my younger sister, Lily, came along. Unlike me she was very loud and outgoing. Times became a little tighter after the birth of my sister. Still a single parent, my mother had to stretch her arms even longer to make ends meet.

In my early teens I was more outgoing and, thanks to my amateur skills in basketball, I met a few friends I still have to this day. Though I was under a lot of pressure of being perfect. My mother would stress upon me her exceeding expectation, which was hard with so much going on. Being the oldest I spent most times taking care of my sister while friends were out but that's what family meant to me, sacrifice. A lot has happened since then. I'm 17 now and I am living with my grandparents alone because of a clash with my mother. When two people are under what they believe to be the same stress they are bound to break away. So I moved thee summer of 2013 to Fresno, Ca. The reason I say thee is because it's possibly my last. I'm headed to college next summer.

Although now I can write and let alone talk briefly my situation, I wasn't always as open. I was very depressed when I first came to this foreign land, and wasn't interested in anything to do with it. It was very different from what I was used to and frankly wasn't where I wanted to be. Being comforted and reminded by a few old friends over texts; I became aware that my situation wasn't as bad as it could be. Then I thought to myself, I can either sit and mope or make the most of situation. I'm still a work in progress but through the process I'm learning a lot about myself.

I am my own hero because I'm a warrior of circumstance, overcoming all things that present themselves as an opposition. Over the years I grew to an honest and motivated young man. I'm far from perfect, like anyone else but I'm not afraid to admit it. To conclude my name is Donnovan Mays and I am my own hero.