Eighth Blog Check! :)

Dear Blog,

Family life is full of joyful memories, painful lessons, and moments that change us forever. As I look back on my own journey and the path my family has walked, I see not just the hardships, but the strength we’ve shown in facing them. Using symbolic interaction theory—which explores how people interpret events and how those meanings guide their responses—has helped me understand how deeply these experiences shaped who we are.

Financial Struggles

When we lived in Maricopa, AZ, and around the time my mom divorced my siblings' dad, money was always tight. My mom worked long shifts at Fry's and took on babysitting gigs just to cover the basics. Still, she would find ways to give us what we needed—or even wanted—often sacrificing her own comfort. Her unspoken message was always, "You are worth everything." Watching her come home exhausted yet still willing to help with homework or surprise us with a treat taught us the true meaning of selflessness.

Death and Loss

The day my grandma passed away was one of the hardest for all of us. We were in the middle of moving, and my siblings and I were with her when it happened. Watching the police walk into her room is a memory that stays with me. My mom broke down in grief, yet a few weeks later, she welcomed Brooklyn, our second-youngest sibling, into the world. That kind of emotional whiplash—losing a mother while becoming one—was something I admired deeply.

Divorce and Separation

I was about 12 or 13 years old when my mom separated from my younger siblings’ dad, Jasper. He was often angry, and the yelling in our home created fear and confusion. I remember one specific night when my sisters and I packed up the younger kids and led them to the car to escape his rage. My mom stood there, watching us, and I think that moment made her realize we had learned her strength. Sadly, Jasper's manipulation in the years since has caused some of my siblings to turn away from our mom, creating a fracture in our family.

Health Scares

Some memories are hard to retell. Like the day my sister Sophia was hurt by dry ice exploding in a bottle, or when Brooklyn fell off our staircase railing and was carried out on a stretcher. In those moments, time slowed, and our fear became overwhelming. Since then, we’ve been more cautious and aware. Our home became a place of healing.

Job Changes

I used to be a mascot in Arizona—fun, energetic, and different. So when I took a custodial job at my school, I felt like I’d taken a step backward. I cried to my parents, feeling embarrassed and out of place. Little by little, I found rhythm, pride, and friendship in that job. The meaning changed. It went from "I'm not good enough" to "I’m learning resilience."

Moving

Growing up in a military family meant constant moving. As a kid, I didn't fully process the impact. Moving from Arizona to Idaho for college? That was different. I went from the safety of my room and my family to feeling completely lost. I knew no one, and the silence was heavy. My internal voice said, "You’re on your own now." But over time, it changed to, "You’re brave for doing this."

School and College Pressures

College hasn’t been easy. I used to have classes late in the day, which led to sleeping all day, missing homework, and tanking grades. When I switched to morning classes, things began to shift. I stopped thinking, "Maybe I'm not meant for this" and started believing, "I just needed a better system."

Addiction

This one is deeply personal. I’ve struggled with a kind of addiction—not drugs or alcohol, but spicy snacks. They’re my comfort food, my emotional band-aid when life feels too much. I know my body hates them, but they bring peace to chaos. That phrase—"peace in chaos"—has stuck with me. I’m trying to change that symbol, to find new ways to cope.

Conclusion

Every stressful moment in our lives means something different to each person. Symbolic interaction theory has shown me that it's not just the events we survive, but the meanings we create from them that define who we are. My family has been through so much, but through each trial, we’ve discovered something new about ourselves and one another. These experiences didn’t break us. They revealed our strength. Learning to understand our own stories, we’ve learned to grow, to forgive, and to keep moving forward.