Most of us haven't had to go through such a dangerous and confusing journey in our lives. But all of us have had interesting things happen to us. What's the most interesting thing that has happened in your life so far? What's something that was not only interesting, but meaningful to you? An experience that changed you, even in some small way?
When I was in fourth grade, there were two boys in my class who were the coolest. Everything they said was funny, and everything they did was imitated. They were the most popular kids in class. When it came time to invite people to my birthday party, I put their names on my list. My mom looked at the list, and asked me who these people were. I'd never had them for sleepovers, and never talked about them as friends. I told her they were friends in my class, and she invited them.
They didn't come, of course. They weren't really my friends. I wasn't popular enough to be their friend. I had been so sure they would come that I was crushed when they didn't. I've always remembered that feeling, that disappointment. But also the understanding I came to that day: that I wasn't one of the cool, popular kids. There was us, and there was them, and I wasn't one of them. I'd thought of those boys as my friends, but they weren't. They weren't mean to me--they just weren't friendly either.
What's happened to you that gave you a deeper understanding of who you are, or how the world works? Tell that story. It doesn't have to be long--I just told mine in two paragraphs. Find a story in your own life, no matter how big or small that story is.
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