By Nick Kirvy Bustamante
What is family? Is it simply the individuals who are blood-related to you, or is it the group of people who care for and support each other? This is a question that has often lingered in my mind, especially now, as I’ve come to realize just how important the word “family” truly is.
Entering college, I believed I could handle everything on my own. There was a sense of pride in doing things independently, far away from my hometown. I thought I was strong enough to face the challenges that came with it. But life has a way of humbling you.
Semester after semester, I watched my academic performance decline — not because of negligence, but simply because I was exhausted. It was a tough pill to swallow. I had once felt unstoppable, thriving in high school, getting high grades with ease. I couldn’t help but wonder: what was different about college? Why wasn’t I succeeding as I had before?
I began to contemplate if I was even giving my best. Was I getting worse? Was this program even fit for me? These questions haunted me as I struggled to keep up, doubting myself and wondering if I was on the wrong path.
I soon returned home, only to be greeted by a warm embrace from my parents. Despite the strict expectations they had regarding my academics, they saw beyond that. They understood the hardships and challenges I had faced on my own, even when I hadn’t expressed them.
Despite my shortcomings, my family always knew how to cheer me up on my bluest days. They never judged me for my mistakes and wrong decisions. Instead, they found ways to lift me up, to remind me that I wasn’t alone, even when I felt at my lowest.
What I’ve come to realize is that these are the people who are always behind you, supporting every decision you make in life, through every failure and every triumph. They see you for who you truly are, beyond the flaws and imperfections, and they stand with you, not because they have to, but because they choose to.
Family isn’t always about being blood-related. It’s about the people who make you feel like you belong, the ones who support you through the ups and downs in life. They might be your lover, your friends, your classmates, or even your roommates. They are the ones who, despite the chaos of life, help you find your way and remind you that you’re never really alone.
