<p>This is for prompt #1: the background story. What do you think?</p>
<p>When I was three, my parents chose to leave all the potential of Peru behind to come to Ocala, Florida, the “horse capital of the world.” Never again would I spend my days at my Mamama’s house being spoiled with alfajores and other Peruvian sweets that are now a rarity to me. Confused and naive, my little sister Mica and I came with Papi and Mami to a town a world away from everything we had known. At first the move didn’t seem to have changed my life, as I could still chatter away in Spanish and sing my favorite nursery rhyme, “Los Pollitos”, in our tiny apartment that was our own piece of Peru. It was my new preschool that made me question my identity at such a callow age. At home, I was talkative; at school, I had no choice but to silently stare as my peers and teachers held conversations in English and sang “America, the Beautiful” during circle time.The majority of my days were spent being a mime, and soon enough the other children were convinced that the new girl was mute, further isolating me from my would-be companions. Even once I learned English, the fear of misspeaking kept me from openly communicating with most people. </p>
<p>As I hit adolescence, newly-discovered talents facilitated my growth into a more social and self-aware person. Becoming a part of the Varsity volleyball team was a major accomplishment for me; I also got involved with modeling, forcing myself to become a more comfortable public speaker. These activities and the new friends that came along with them helped me break out of my shell. Increased awareness, however, also induced my earliest experiences with stress as I witnessed even the most miniscule arguments between my parents. My mother constantly complained about how my father was irresponsible, drank too much, and did not make enough money. In my opinion, however, my father’s kindness, unconditional support, and desire for our family to stay together outweighed his problems by far</p>
<p>. As a young girl I forgave my dad for letting our house undergo foreclosure, for giving me drunken speeches once in a while, and even for being absent at my volleyball games and award ceremonies because of work. But when I first met his current wife Tina, I felt threatened and angry at my father for giving up on my mother. To make matters worse,Tina also had a plump baby girl who snatched the attention of the rest of my family. Ironically,the baby’s name was Ariana. All of this led me to accuse my father of replacing me, causing him to begin calling the baby by her middle name instead. </p>
<p>As a shallow, selfish teenager, I sobbed after learning that Tina was pregnant with my half-sibling. Today, as a mature young adult, I drive our unkept Expedition to drop Neisha, or “the other Ariana”, off at school each morning. She, my half-sister Ellie, and their mother are now parts of the close-knit family I’ve always wanted. Ellie looks at our disheveled house and sees a palace, just as she looks at our troubled father and sees superman. The baby whose existence I dreaded four years ago is now my main source of hope and inspiration. She challenges me to see the best in every person and situation. I have learned that no matter how horrible an occurrence might seem at the time, everything happens for a reason. My parents’ split and my father’s remarriage allowed for the existence of this family that has influenced me to grow up humbly and responsibly. Likewise, my once-startling move from Peru has led me to be where I am today-- surrounded by encouraging people and magnificent opportunities. As I move onto college, I will carry these lessons with me and always strive to make the best of whatever life has in store.</p>