My upbringing was far from easy, and I grew accustomed to a life that felt anything but ordinary. As I grew older, I began to realize just how different my family's life was from others. My dad's nightly ritual of passing out on the couch, waking up at 4 AM to make cocktails, and my mom seeking refuge in my bed were far from normal. My busy schedule, which I had thought was driven by my desire to be involved, was an attempt to escape from a challenging home life. The turning point in my life came during the last few years of my dad's life. It was marked by constant hospital visits due to kidney and liver problems, relapses, hallucinations, binge-drinking, verbal abuse, and threats of physical harm. When I moved out just three weeks before my dad's passing, my life took a complete 180-degree turn. Both my brother and mother left our home just a week before my dad's suicide, leading to a year of intense self-reflection, resentment, sadness, questioning, and an overwhelming amount of family toxicity. The year following my dad's death was spent away from my mom and brother, which some interpreted as me running away from my problems. However, I was avoiding toxic conversations, belittlement of my healing process, and the negative experiences I had gone through. This period of self-discovery led me to make the difficult decision to sever ties with many close family members. I then embarked on a new journey when I moved to college in Philadelphia with the help of two friends. It marked the beginning of a new chapter in a different city and a fresh mindset about who I wanted to become. Being away from my hometown and its mix of great memories and toxic experiences was essential for my healing and personal growth. During my journey, I realized the importance of valuing my own feelings and experiences. For years, I had prioritized others' opinions and achievements over my own. It wasn't until I shifted my focus towards being the best version of myself for my own sake that my life truly began to change. At one point, I felt out of touch with myself and struggled with my sense of purpose due to external influences. To regain control over my life, I turned to negative eating habits, leading to significant weight loss within just six months. Unfortunately, this transformation was misunderstood by my mother and closest family members, who praised it as a "growth spurt" or a "great diet plan" when it was a cry for help, a desperate plea to be noticed, valued, and seen. Today, I continue to reevaluate my boundaries and redefine my purpose and mission for the life I want to lead. It's important to take a step back and assess the people you surround yourself with, determining whether they uplift or drag you down. We often hear that "family is family," but some of the closest people in my life are not related by blood. What matters most is that the people in your life appreciate, inspire, motivate, and support you on your journey. Instead of dwelling on those who have left, focus on those who have chosen to be there, who match the love you give them, and who empower and enrich your life. Don't take them for granted, as they show you their appreciation every single day. I want to emphasize that you shouldn't close yourself off to your potential by dwelling on past wrongs. Instead, open yourself to the world, and let it fill the space with people, moments, and experiences that exhilarate and compel you to love yourself, your life, and what you have to offer more and more each day.