Who am I

    Growing up in an upper-middle class, military household has affected who I am a great deal.  Moving around a lot was difficult, but my family always stayed together, instilling in me a love for my God and family. I believe I was spoiled, which makes me weak in some ways and privileged in others. It makes me weak because I rely on my family too much and I need to be more independent. But I was privileged to have a household with a mom and dad that love each other and are good role models for my brother and me. My father is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force, and my mom is a Nurse.  I never had to worry about not having enough money to eat or new clothes as I grew up, because my parents both were educated with good jobs.  I do believe I rebelled a lot from my fathers strict rules and beliefs which could attribute to my liberal points of view.

My brother was also greatly influenced by how we were raised.  He is in the Air National Guard, and wants to be a cop.  He is loud and sometimes bossy, but that is Jacob. He and my Dad butt heads sometimes but all in all, they are two in the same.  Jake would probably kill me if he new I said that, but it is sometimes true.  I look up to my brother for getting his life together so quickly after high school.  He does his weekends with the military, works a second job, goes to school, and still manages to keep a social life.  He’s my younger brother, but he is years ahead of me. My brother is very special to me. He is my younger brother, but he is my big brother.  He is my protector, rather he likes it or not.

My ex-boyfriend Jesse had a big influence on me.  I love paint more than any other art medium.  Jesse would watch me paint and give my more praise than I deserved.  He was my art critic, and my best friend.  He taught me how to fish, and I mean really fish.  For 4 years we went fishing and camping a lot, and now I love nature more than ever.  I owe all that to him.

Jesse also taught me a lot about patients.  He didn’t to grow up in a stable household like me.  His parent’s got divorced and his mom is from Thailand and addicted to gambling.  Jesse owns his own restaurant hood cleaning company now, and spends most of what he makes supporting his mother, sister, and nephew.  When I ask Jesse why he doesn’t get away from that situation, he says, “it’s my family”.  He really is the most positive influence that his nephew has.  Not many people can see the big heart that Jesse has.  I do, and it will forever have affected the way I think and feel about family and responsibility.

Being liberal, Christian and female are probably the biggest things that affect who I am today. Some people would consider me a part of a counter-culture, because of gatherings I attend and the lifestyle I enjoy. I am, in the lamest of terms, a “Hippie”. I believe strongly in equal rights and treating our environment with the utmost respect.  I love that we are a diverse nation, and respect all cultures and religions, and advocate a non-violent ethic. I am almost libertarian but not that extreme. I wear tye-dyed shirts and listen to the Grateful Dead, but most importantly, I follow Jesus’ teachings.