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Catherine Anderson

Being me is a lot like being on a roller coaster. Some days Im up and others Im down.

Every week there is a new twist in my life trying to throw me off track. Most of the time life

feels like Im on the slow agonizing trekto the top of the ride. The anticipation of not knowing

what is up aheadbuilds and builds until finally youre at the top. Youre on top of the world-

only for a moment. Without warning you are once again sent flying into the unknown. That is

what it feels like to be me.

By the time I came around my parents had the whole raising a kid thing figured out.

There was no counting, not time out. They gave one warning and that was it. Slamming doors

and rolling eyes were not tolerated. Yeah was not an acceptable response. Please, thank you,

yes maam, and no sir will forever be deeply ingrained in me. I am very thankful for the way I

was raised. Because of my parents I understand the importance of both giving and receiving

respect. I know how to act and what is expected of me. I cannot imagine growing up without that

southern structure. What would I be like now?

My parents have always strived to make my brothers and me happy. They were- and still

are, always there for us. We were never told, not now, Im busy, when we needed someone to

play with or when we needed help with our homework. My childhood was more than wonderful.

We went to the Florida Keys, Disney World, and camping. In the summer we spent our days at

the pools and at night we were by a bonfire in the backyard. We had dinner together at the same

time every day and breakfast waiting for us when we woke up. I could not have asked for

anything more.

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Growing up with two older brothers has certainly made me who I am today. whether it

was a certain spot on the couch or the first chance to tube on the lake, I have always had to fight

for what I wanted. My brothers made me stronger; because of them I refuse to give up. That

would be too much like losing, losing was never an option with them. They are also the reason I

am so incredibly stubborn. Each one of us was always determined to be right. We would spend

hours arguing over nothing just to prove a point.

As a sister I know a love that many people do not understand. This kind of love can only

come from two over-protective, over-bearing, knuckle-headed older brothers. I have had my fair

share of silly fights with both Cody and Chris. Sometimes Ive even swore that I hated them but

deep down I know that they would be by my side in a minute if they even suspected something

was wrong. I feel a great sense of comfort knowing that, I feel safe. Even when I was nine my

brother felt the need to protect me from the most innocent of boys. One night during a

neighborhood game of hide-and-seek Casey Creel, who was a year older than me, asked if we

could go on a date- when we were old enough of course. It took not one but two people to

convince my oldest brother, Cody, not to find Casey and explain to him that I was never going to

be allowed to date. To this day Cody still does not like poor Casey.

That same year I got my first taste of how cruel the world can be. For the first time in my

life, I understood the term life isnt fair. Chris Young was 15 at the time; he was Codys best

friend and a brother to me. Chris has this way of putting a smile on your face without even

trying. He was always around to help and more than happy to do it. Chris played football; he was

a powerhouse player, at fifteen he was already 61. He was going places with his talent. That

summer he moved from Snellville, Georgia to Greyson. It wasnt a far move, but it made me sad

knowing he wasnt just down the street anymore. One day in school Chris hit his head on an

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open locker- the bruises never seemed to heal. A few months later in October of 2002, Chris

Young, passed away after a short struggle with stage tree leukemia. Life was not fair. Chriss

death taught me that bad things happen to good people, that you arent always meant to

understand everything, and that no matter what you do, you cant change the past. Everyone

comes to these realizations at some point; I just wish I could have lived with my head in the

clouds for a few more years.

The following summer my family moved to Chapel Hill. Going from Snellville, Georgia-

where everything you could ever want could be found within 5 miles from home, to the middle-

of-nowhere Chatham County was quite an adjustment. In Chapel Hill, the rec league soccer

teams are co-ed, the elementary schools are pre k through eighth grade, people watch basketball,

and even the Wal-Mart is twenty miles away. Looking back Im glad we moved. Living in a

small town for the past nine years taught me a lot. Like, if you dont want the whole town to find

out, dont do it. And as long as you have your friends with you, you can have fun, even if you are

in Pittsboro where the greatest attraction is the McDonalds.

Going to high school in the small town of Pittsboro was surprisingly a great experience.

Here I got the opportunity to learn how to dance, to be a part of the varsity tennis team, and to

have some of the best times with the greatest friends a person could ask for. Senior year was

certainly my favorite year by far. There wasnt a weekend that went by where I wasnt

surrounded by my friends. We went to football games, had bonfires, took trips to the river, and

had late night conversations on the old bridge. My group of friends got so close during our last

year of high school; I never wanted it to end. As the end of the year approached we experienced

a lot of last; our last high school game, our last trip to McDonalds before school, and finally our

last day.

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I couldnt imagine being without my best friends. They had been with me through

everything, through failing grades, stupid boys, my brother Chriss deployment to Afghanistan

.They were always there. For the first time in my nine years spent in North Carolina, I wasnt

ready to leave. Until then, I had been so ready to get away, to go out on my own. We spent every

possible second together this past summer, until finally we went our separate ways.

This past August has certainly been a defining time in my life. Between the all of the

packing, shopping, and tear filled goodbyes, I almost forgot why I wanted to come to UNC

Charlotte in the first place. I was scared and I didnt think I was ready. Two weeks later I know

realize that I was- am, in fact ready to live my life as a college freshman. Im ready to see what

really makes me who I am, and who I want to be. Charlotte is where Ibelong, its my new home

and I could not be more excited to see where it takes me. Im here for me, to see what I can make

of myself. Im here to make my parents proud and to prove that I am more intelligent than my

brothers once and for all. So for now so long Chapel Hill, its not goodbye, its see you soon.