I believe that you should keep pushing through the hard times, even when it feels hopeless, because there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I also believe that talking to people while going through the hardship is very important. I believe this because I have been through alot and have many times felt like I should just give up, but I kept pushing through and things got better. When things get tough, just cling to something or someone that brings positive light into your world. Talk to people who will listen and that you know you can trust. I talked to friends, family, and even therapists. They helped me to understand that everyone goes through hardship and that I was not alone.

Growing up, I always felt closer to my dad that my mom. My dad was so "go with the flow" while my mom and I were constantly butting heads. I had always thought I had the perfect family, my parents, my brother and me. I never thought the four of us would ever be split apart. But when I was ten years old, my parents got divorced and my whole world turned upside down. When my dad left us, I felt abandoned. None of us knew what to do with ourselves. Our whole life had changed and everything was different. It was such a challenge, and it was hard to overcome. Over the next couple of years, I struggled with trying to keep a good relationship with my dad. In the end, all the struggling I went through, brought me, my mom, and my brother closer together. My mom and I learned to cry together and to appreciate each other. The pain and feeling of abandonment also brought me and my brother together. We both needed support from each other. It brought us all closer because we were all hurt and needed one another.

When I was in sixth grade, I was really depressed. I had to find the light in the situation. I was really hurting and was not in a happy place. I hated other people, I hated myself, and I really hated life. I pulled away from the people I loved because I felt like they didn't love me. I didn't want to be alive anymore. I started going to see a therapist and she helped me to realize that there were a lot of people that loved me and were there for me no matter what. She helped me to realize that life should be appreciated and that I should savor every minute I spend with my loved ones.

The most recent time that I had to push through hardship was when I was in eighth grade; the hardship I had to overcome was a girl bullying me. She bullied me all through the year and I never wanted to come to school. She made me feel horrible about myself and she turned some of my best friends against me. I eventually talked to people about it and realized that she wasn't even worth my time. So I moved on and ignored her. I got over that hardship and it taught me that there are always people that care about you and it taught me the importance of real friends. Having real friends that won't betray or leave you are one of the most important things in the world.

When I was a little girl, my mom always used to tell me that inside of your soul, there is a jar of feelings. It's where your feelings live. She told me that sometimes, when things get tough, we put a lid on the jar and bottle up our feelings. It causes the feelings to fester bit there's no ways for them to get out. For me, talking to a therapist was my way of opening that jar and allowing those negative feelings to get out of my sould. I want people to know that it doesn't have to be a professional, but it's important to find a way to empty that jar. I also want people to know that everyone goes through hardship and that if they keep pushing through, the jar will be emptied and something good will come out of that pain.