Paul and My New Family

I was three when my parents got divorced. My dad got custody of my younger sister and I. He was a single father and still is. Trying his best and trying to survive in today's world. My freshman year of high school things turned for the worst.

I'm now 3 weeks away from turning seventeen years old and I am living with my hero and his family. My hero is Paul. Paul is my boyfriend of almost eight months and I have never met someone as amazing as him. His family has given me everything I could ask for and more. They have opened their arms and their hearts for me. "True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all other at whatever cost, but to serve others at whatever cost."  - Arthur Ashe

Paul and I (Denver Zoo (Myself))

Beginning of freshman year things couldn't have been any better. I made the school volleyball team, visited my mom, and my dad had an amazing job. But towards the end of the year my dad lost his job. He looked everywhere for a new job. I slowly watched my dad become depressed and lonely over the last three years. He started to resort to alcohol more and more. And when things would get bad, Paul and his family were always there for me no matter what was happening in my life. Then, in January of 2012, my relationship with my dad deteriated and things became really tough. Paul and his family took me in to their home and gave me something I have never experienced before, love. On the other hand my mom was never a big part in my life until I got older. She has always been a big drinker but has now controlled alcohol instead of alcohol controlling her. Paul's mom always says, "Never let anything control you." She's right, never let anything control you.

Paul and his family have given me something I thought I would never have: A family, a family where we make dinner every night and talk about how our day was. A happy home where there is no yelling, no fighting and no screaming. This family has shown me what a real family is supposed to be like. Paul's mom and dad have taught me a lot since I've become a part of this family and I couldn't be more thankful for what they have done for me. They have let me come into their home and have showed me love. Paul has given me more confidence and strength in the last eight months than anyone has done for me before. He has told me that I can do anything I want, like go to college, even when everyone else doubts me. "To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see everyday, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform." - Theodore H. White. I'm so lucky to have a family like this now. I'm so pleased to be a part of this family, and it means the world to me to know I have such an amazing family that I can call my own.  I don't know what I would do without my hero and his caring family.