Memoir

The author emphasizes the importance of having supportive parents in one's life. They reflect on how their parents have gone above and beyond to provide for them and protect them. The author also discusses the significance of spending time with family and the value of unconditional love. They express gratitude for their parents' efforts and acknowledge that their parents' love and guidance will continue to shape their future. Who's In Your Corner by Tyler Archuleta For many, including myself, it is crucial to expand and develop the relationships with your parents to maintain a healthy, social, emotional, mental, and physical development of your characteristics. Throughout my life, it's been apparent that my parents have gone extents I didn't know were possible for me more times than I can count, provided for me in every aspect I could ever imagine. Protecting me since my first steps and played a huge role in my development and success over the course of 18 years. My appreciation and acknowledgement grows drastically the more I realize my parents are the only people I need in my life and they'll always do everything in their power to represent their unconditional love. A constant gesture I have on my mind is taking every opportunity to spend time with my parents as I view circumstances of many friends losing their parents and never being granted the opportunity. I vividly remember this scenario nearing high school where I received punishment due to improper behavior, but being that my parents were divorced, co-parenting wasn't easy and often involved in meeting with us to verify clarification. My parents were heavily disappointed with my choices in action, almost seeming to disown me or shit me away, but I hoped and prayed their love would pull through. Fortunately, that happened in my favor, but it wasn't necessarily the most enjoyable summer considering I was basically on lockdown. Although, it provided me the opportunity to spend countless hours of time with my grandmother, Joanne, who would become the primary influence of acknowledgement regarding what individuals are in my corner. Often, my grandmother would ask what certain questions or make comments regarding the recent situation putting me on lockdown, but I hadn't understood the significance until further on. One specific comment sticking with me till this day, tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are, was a comment she referenced explaining the significance of understanding those who you associate yourself around and acknowledging those are the ones you end up following and practicing similar interests. Regardless, if you are putting yourself around people, there could easily be a scenario where people aren't looking out for your best interests or who they say they are. This made me question and go into relationships very slow because I never wanted to get in trouble, but also abuse someone the way that they're not, but my parents I never had to worry about that, so I always leaned towards them to begin with. Not too many people understand the significance of spending time alone, understanding how relationships are often fake and misconceiving, and many individuals lacking vital qualities necessary for progression in life, etc. My grandmother, on the other hand, provided me with a crucial key to life. Spending time alone and keeping to yourself not only ensures you're not where trouble can be, but can't find either. We spent countless hours together, proving not only was it beneficial to stay away from chaos, but build on your relationships and get access to information either making life easier, B, understanding more about your family, C, ensuring someone feels valuable and worthy to be a part of the conversation. I understand when I spend time with my family, it offers me a knowledge and experience I can engage and add to my own life, but it makes them feel valued as well. Where would I be? My parents, in a sense, saved me from doing worse, but it also kept me understanding the power of unconditional love will power through. I hadn't felt more disappointment from their faces, though I knew there could be worse. I acknowledged the depth and focused on getting myself together for the one standing up for me. If I hadn't gone on lockdown that summer, I can assure you I would have easily been doing the same nonsense, so their methods were understood. Of course, this is not the only situation they've provided this trait, but it's one where they've shown their depth regardless of the actions I commit in life. I spent some time that summer talking with my grandfather all the nice, joking about times when he had gone into trouble and using those to view consequences were placed in a room where we repetitively associate ourselves with no good individuals. A valuable takeaway from our numerous conversations was si es cuerpos al cielo, cae. If you spit to the sky, it falls, meaning how you treat others and what you do to others could easily be the cause of your own downfall. Ensuring to love those around you and closest to you because we only have one opportunity to do so. A huge takeaway I received from these punishments wasn't necessarily the one I expected, but I understood the significance of their love and length they would go to ensure I stayed on the correct path in life. How many people have made me feel this way? Not many, but my parents. This forced me to not confide in other people considering I knew there wasn't going to be that unconditional love I've been granted my whole life, which in a sense does fear me from initiating those contacts. As life has persistently offered those gestures, I have taken them in and been filled with the same giving gesture. I want my parents to feel the gratitude and appreciation I have for their unconditional love and efforts, spending as much time with them as possible and doing my best to give back in similar ways. I never understood that whole time I was so angry at them, but I was so darn thankful I was provided parents who cared about my presence and well-being. Yes, they punished me, said unkind things, looked disappointed, etc., but I know that if they hadn't cared, they wouldn't go the lengths to make sure I wasn't doing that. Often, I would glance into other people's lives and view a love nowhere close to the one I was shown, but that made me appreciate my corners so much more because of their offerings and characters. I knew that no matter what, nobody would ever show up the way they had and will. Was I upset they hadn't given me my summer? Of course, any child would be, but with all things in life, we adapt and persevere through those difficulties and challenges. I am reassured once again. My parents and their unconditional love will constantly guide me to destinations I didn't know existed. A huge sense of relief, my heart is at peace and acknowledges that regardless of the relationships I lack in life, ones with my parents will never dwindle. I constantly raise my hat to my parents. Their endless efforts and dedication is why I am where I am, and I pray that God gives me even half the opportunities to give back in ways that they did for me. Although adversity and difficulty arise, I developed and grew stronger than ever, ensuring to keep those relationships closer.