Surviving Life: Being the Family Rock
Start writing a post
Relationships

Surviving Life: Being the Family Rock

A touching article with ridiculously bad photoshopped pictures of me on rocks.

205
Surviving Life: Being the Family Rock

There are a few articles I’ve been trying to write over my time as an Odyssey contributor. Some are about topics that would make my readers uncomfortable if I don’t phrase every single sentence carefully. Other articles are sensitive and deserve to be written and shared at specific times, this is one of them.

I’ve realized something so incredibly important to my being over the past few months and it’s sort of the reason why I haven’t published anything recently. You know when things hit the ceiling, there's always that one person you can call, that one person who’ll tell you the truth about any situation no matter what? I realized that I’m that person for my family. I’m the family rock.



You have to understand, my family is pretty close knit; the majority of who I call my family are immigrants. I was raised to maintain that close knit relationship, being told countless of times, “You have to love and cherish your family because they’re the only ones here with you.” It’s a bit morbid, thanks dad, but it shaped me to be the family person I am today. And to move thousands of miles away from something familiar and comfortable to the complete unknown all alone is a frightening thought. It’s obvious why family is usually so important to immigrant families.


I've realized that I have amazing powers within my family. I can soothe situations. I provide a form of connection between my family members. I also have this weird power where I effect everyone. It’s this weird domino effect that occurs when something bad specifically happens to me. For example, my family finding out about my depression shook everyone’s world up, I worried everyone with a snap of a finger. Although it's been a few months, a week or two without sending a text message to my aunts will result in, “Cate! I’ve been so worried about you! Why haven’t you called?!” Because, literally nothing exciting is going on… Or more simply, on the drive back up to Oregon after winter break, countless of texts from everyone, worrying about how rainy it would be on I-5.




It’s a stressful job, I feel like every problem that happens in my family can and should be fixed by me. When two of my family members are arguing, I hear both sides. Being the middle person, you hear how simple it can be to solve a problem yet for some reason there's always this small but mighty obstacle in both their ways. Being the family rock was never something I wanted, but it’s not a responsibility that I would want to give to any of my siblings. It’s hard. You have to be fearless yet gentle. You have to have a heart but you can't be too soft. It involves a massive amount of communication with everyone. It involves a great amount of mental strength.




Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

54071
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

34802
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957179
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

182192
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments