In speech I chose the topic one word that best describes me. The word I chose was Optimistic. Since the my speech only was presented to a small audience and got such an emotional reaction I decided to share it with a larger audience. Here it goes:
Optimistic-Hopeful and confident about the future. To expect a favorable outcome.
"Optimism is faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." -Helen Keller
The girl you see in front of you isn't just bubbly and humorous. But she is also an optimistic person. The girl that has made it through a teen pregnancy, my parent's divorce, and a tragic break-up. And I am still the world-beater that you see now.
*How many of you been through a teen pregnancy? How many of you have been thrown in the middle of your parent's divorce? And how many of you have been through a break-up? And not just any break-up. I'm talking about losing the person that you thought could be the love of your life and feeling like you'll never pull through. I have been through all of these in a two year period. These are tough times that a lot of people go through. But I am going to tell you how I stayed optimistic through these tough times.
*First, I went through teen pregnancy. No teen pregnancy is easy to go through, You have to go from being a selfish, care-free teenager to putting another human life before your own. It's always a scary feeling not knowing what the future holds. Imagine being you parent's baby and then having to tell them that you are having a baby. Some girls have no support, they lose their friends, and even their boyfriend. Luckily for me I was a little luckier than that. I had the best support system in the world, what true friends I did have stuck around, and even though things between me and the father didn't work out I found a guy that was willing to step up when most guys step down. I knew I was about to face difficult times, but in return I was getting a blessing; a gift from God. Everything felt like it was coming together; little did I know my parents would soon be getting divorced.
*After twenty years of marriage my parents decided to call it quits. Well, one of them decided to call it quits and the other had to go along with it. Apparently it had been a long time coming. But no one or at least not me; saw it coming. Not only were they fighting over everything, but they were also dragging me into the middle of it. I was called into every battle and both of them were trying to get me on their side. After awhile they went on with their new lives and both of them seemed to be less concerned with me. This is when I had to pick up where their parenting left off. I had to become a more responsible person. I went from being the spoiled baby to being completely cut off and having to do for myself. Some of you are probably thinking; "Poor thing. She had to grow up like most adults." (Sarcasm noted) But the point is I would probably still be that spoiled child that was fed with the preverbal silver spoon if it wasn't for their divorce. I appreciate the adult that i had to grow into. During this time I always had someone to count on when I needed him. I was able to tell him everything that was going on and in return he would comfort me through it. But then again just as everything started falling into place my world got turned upside down yet again.
*Last December I met someone who little did I know would become my best friend and my stability when I needed it. but this relationship didn't start out like most. With the baggage of being a teen mom and then shortly the baggage of my parents divorce and neither of us knowing how to handle these situations things got shaky. It seemed like it was always one argument after another. I became clingy after the divorce. But despite everything we knew that we loved each other and tried holding on. "Their relationship had more ups and downs than either of them had experienced before. Since everything felt right when they were together, everything felt wrong when they weren't." -Nicholas Sparks. But I guess the relationship was doomed to fail. I had lost the only adult person I had to confide in. I had hurt like I had never hurt before and I just wanted it to go away. I felt like I was at my weaknest. Then I started to do what most people do after a break-up; they try and improve themselves. I knew that I wasn't as good of a person as I once was and luckily my little sister (Hayley Peek) invited me to Church. I have always been a believer in Christ, but I had indeed lost my way. Do you know the feeling when you feel like the preacher is preaching directly to you? That's how I felt. After the preacher finished preaching and the music began to play I went to the alter and prayed the most sincere prayer that I have probably ever prayed in my whole life. Right then and there I felt like a weight had been lifted off of me. I felt the happiest that I had ever felt in awhile and I had probably had the strongest faith that I have ever had. Even though I missed him I knew that I would be okay.
"Down the road the sun is shining
In every cloud there's a silver lining
Just keep holding on (Just keep holding on)
And every heartache makes you stronger
it won't be much longer
You'll find love, you'll find peace
And the you you're meant to be
I know right now that's not the way you feel
But one day you will"
One Day You Will -Lady Antebellum
*So even in the worst situations I have always been able to see the silver lining. So even though teen pregnancy isn't the BEST situation to b in when you are seventeen; I have a healthy, beautiful baby boy that is almost two. Because of my parent's divorce I learned how grow up and stand on my own two feet. And after a break-up that brought me to my weakest point I found strength in God and I will be getting baptized later this month. Because of these situations I have become a better and stronger person. This is why I chose optimistic.
"The Optimist sees the rose and not it's thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose." -Kahlil Gibran
