As a child growing up with parents who were separated, it was not easy. The two environments that were “home” couldn’t have been more different. The relationships with my parents were also polar opposites. My relationship with my father was one full of unconditional love and support. His “home” was one of which that could’ve been viewed …show more content…
I was fourteen years old at the time and was just starting to fully comprehend everything that was happening around me. The need for me to speak up and liberate myself from these conditions was prevalent in my head. I started to realize that I was showing loyalty to the wrong people and burning the bridges I had with the ones who showed me endless loyalty. That year I took up mixed martial arts and dedicated myself to participate three nights a week. Through mixed martial arts I gained confidence and self-esteem thanks to the encouragement and help provided to me by my coaches. I was accepted and reassured by the group which made this activity feel like another home to me. My confidence grew so much that I learned to defend and stick up for myself. Over the next few years, I started to realize the similarities between mixed martial arts and the home my dad provided for me. I learned that family meant that you love someone so much that you put that person before yourself. This caused me to distance myself further from the harsh environment I was exposed to which ultimately led to me standing up and liberating myself from