What does the following quote mean to you?  "You don’t get to pick where you’re from, but you always have control of where you’re going."

This quote reminds me of what my grandpa always says, you have troubles in your life for a reason but you just keep going till you find the good things in life. You decide your future, every decision makes an impact, little or small. With having to go to college there are so many things that you have to think about and do and prepare for. Its scary and risky, but in the end its going to be the best experience of your life and you will meet your true friends. Everyone has made choices in there life even if its just getting up in the morning or picking what to wear. Everything decides the mood you are in once you wake up, you pick your mood and how your days going to go. I have learned this year that you have to wake up positive and happy then you will have a good day and make good decisions. Not everything always goes your way but you have to make the most of it. I know were just from small town Red Oak Iowa, but you can chase your dreams. Just set your goals high and you can go far, no matter if your just from Red Oak. Everyone  always says how excited they are to get out of here, but i'm not quite sure i'm ready to. I know that there is such amazing things that I can do with my life but its what I want to do that matters most as long as i'm happy. This quote truly does mean a lot to me and hits me hard but its finally making since to me for once.

Describe a significant setback, challenge or opportunity in your life and the impact that it has had on you?
I have many setbacks in my life, the major one is with my mom. My mom has been sick my whole life and i haven't been able to have a "normal" childhood with my mom. Having her being in and out of hospitals and clinics has made a really big impact on my life. She hasn't been able to attend a lot of stuff that i'm participating in, including prom, concerts, performances, sports. Its really hard knowing that i don't have that much time with her left but that just makes me spend everyday like its the last and live it to the fullest. Dealing with my mom is a major set back in my life and causes daily struggles everyday throughout my life. It has made my life hard but it also has made me a stronger person over all. Knowing how strong she is makes me strong because if she can do this i can do anything.

Writing Prompt #1

If a handful of people can change the world for the worse, then I am certain that a handful of people can change the world for the better. What will you do to make this world of ours, which feels so broken right now, a better place? There are many things that I could do to make the world a better place, but the one thing that I could do is be more active in my community and do things for others. Starting at home.. I know I do most and deal with more than most kids to at home because of my moms illnesses but that doesn't change to much. She can't do anything major so I have to take on the role as a mom sometimes, well most times.  I wish that I could be more involved with kids and or have younger siblings. So what I could do to change this broken world that we live in is to be more involved in helping kids around the town and throughout my family.