Since birth, my parents always made my decisions and controlled my extracurricular activities. My parents controlled all time management, and really I had no say. Dad made the phone calls to arrange my lessons. Mom picked them. I saw it in front of my own eyes.  I would be the little girl that did everything. From dancing, to soccer, to basketball, to drawing class, to math class, to writing class, to learning Russian and Chinese and Portuguese, to playing 6 different instruments, I literally did everything my town had to offer me.

In spite of doing everything, which was pretty cool, I felt frustrated, I didn’t want to do everything, my schedule was packed, and I barely had time to think. Everything changed at about age 10. After hearing my parents discussing what activities that they should cut, I got angry. Because of this, I had told my parents that I am involved in too many activities; I hadn’t even been enjoying most of them. Then, I told mom and dad I am the main character of my world and my life; they didn’t have to be my police. Sooner or later, I joined a robotics team, started playing golf, and quit piano and violin and basketball and dance, and I’m glad I did. After this experience, I realized I am the writer of my book, and my parents are just the borders of the pages. Responsibility is my choice to take a stand in my life, to control it.

Although I’ve only lived a short 12 years, and I know great success is soon to approach me. One year experimentation worked out pretty well. Conversely, it seems that I’m the parent in
the house. For instance, I tell my parents when I have a soccer game, and they take me. Additionally, I remind my dad about my robotics sessions, and he drives me. Similarly, I point out when I have my clarinet lessons, and my mom takes me. This is what separates me from the most; I have taken control over my life. I have the choice to steer it off a cliff or to continue on the road of success.

Initially, I was lazy, I didn’t want anything, and my life was average. However, I overcame this by understanding success looks good and feels good.  Responsibility is also an essential characteristic a person needs to be successful in life. Responsibility can be counted as trust. As I am faced with more and more responsibilities, I try to show that I can be faced with a task and be trusted. This skill will be used over and over in our lives, in the workplace, for caring for family and to do anything in life.  Responsibility is the mentality of making decisions. For me, taking responsibility is growing up.

In summary, I know I have grown lots in the past years, but more is to come. I have steered my way on the right path up to the mountains of success. My true transition from childhood to adulthood was when I took on responsibility, freedom, and could make my own choices. For me, taking responsibility is growing up. John C. Maxwell once said, “The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up.” This quote truly explains what I have expect for the future, I expect the rope tied around me loosening, letting me roam free.