Sources of my Identity

There are many factors that have contributed to shaping my identity.  My family, friends, and my high school experience as a whole has really molded my identity as a young lady and to live my life to the very fullest.  My mom, dad, and older sister, Allison Peterson, have really made a huge impact in my life and have always been by my side and supported me and loved me.  I have a very strong relationship with my parents and we are able to talk about everything.  Even though my parents have been divorced for three years, I still am quite close with both of them.  My sister, Allison, who is now a sophomore at Dickinson College,  really helped me through my parents divorce and has constantly been there for me when I needed her.  Even though Allison and I are complete opposites of one another, she has always been a loving older sister and she and the rest of my family will always hold a really special place in my heart.
Friends have always placed a huge part of shaping my identity throughout my life, especially through my high school experience.  Ever since I was little, I have always felt the need to get to know everyone and be everyone's friend.  Even though I am still like that today, I have a core group of friends at school whom I am extremely close to.  My friends really mean everything to me and they have always supported me with any decision I have made and have accepted me for who I am.  I have the best memories with my friends and they really bring a lot of joy into my life.  Just like my second family, my friends and I are determined to stay as close of friends when we go our separate ways to college.  I am excited to keep close relationships with my friends now when we go to college, but also have the chance to meet a ton of new people when I attend the prestigious University, Saint Joseph's University. I am very excited to be apart of a diverse community and create new memories with a new group of people.
Lastly, my high school experience at the Mount has really shaped and solidified my identity.  Between my diverse schedule of classes, to the close-knit environment, and my memorable relationships with my friends and teachers, I have really found my way as a young lady and found out what I want to be.  More specifically, playing piano as the piano scholar at the Mount also played a major role on finding my identity.  Having the piano scholarship has showed me responsibility and maturity.  I had to keep up with my school work, my social life, as well as keep up with my job as playing piano.  From challenging myself to learn harder songs to exemplify my talents, I learned how to pace myself and give myself enough time to learn the songs well, manage my time, and learn to handle multiply projects at once.  Even though I am no longer interested in pursuing piano in college, I will always play piano for fun the rest of my life and having the piano scholarship was the most amazing experience and all my hard work paid off.
There have been many people and experiences that have been the sources of my identity, and I will always live life to the absolute fullest and to never take anything for granted.