Personal Essay Rough Draft

When asked to write a personal essay many ideas surprisingly came to mind. I thought maybe writing about my early family life, or my present day struggles that I've faced like many other people have. But I wanted to try something different. What I'm writing about is how as I'm getting older I have finally started to stick up for myself, and at times for others. When I feel they are being treated unfairly .

Going back to when I was younger. I grew up in a very strict Portuguese home. Always being told to be seen and not heard, always being reminded of manners, and never to be disrespectful of no one. It didn't help that I was very shy child, and not very confident I think made matters worse. So I went on throughout my childhood and my teen years taking a sideline on life. Being saddened that I wasn't strong enough to speak up for myself. Wishing I could stick up for myself, and others when I felt I there were being taking advantage of or mistreated.

As I grew older and got married to someone who pulled me away from my insecurities and fears. Who has made me feel it's okay to say what I'm thinking and feeling. To speak up for myself, and that theirs nothing wrong with being a strong woman who is not afraid to express herself.

More than anything I want to pass that on to my sons. I still teach them some of the values that I was taught as a child. But I also teach them to fight for what they believe in and to have a strong voice and not get lost in the crowd. To speak up for themselves and for others who sometimes don't have a voice of there own.