Me in 500 words

Photo: Tacey Miles

Samantha with her mom and dad during fall break at Luis Ginter.

Superheroes

By Samantha Weiss

Superman, Wonder Women, Batman, the Incredible Hulk. 

What or who are these people? Now if you said superheroes, you would be correct! 

However not all superheroes wear capes and for me that is very true. My favorite superheroes also happen to be my parents. 

Strength, love, fearlessness and faith are all qualities of the greatest superheroes or in my case the qualities of my mom and dad.  

My dad grew up in Yonkers, New York with a father who left him, abused him and treated his family badly. He had to work hard, because he grew up not having the financial freedom that he has given to me. Despite, some bad decisions he made, he got his life back together. 

My mom grew up in Virginia with a mom and dad that loved her and was fortunate to have enough to not have to fear when she would eat next. She still had hardships in her life; she had to prove herself in the eyes of people who looked down on her.

Photo: Betty Rouse

Samantha, her brothers, and her parents at her graduation.

Even through all of this hardness of life, it didn't stop them from providing me and my three brothers a life full of love. 

These people have taught me to become my own superhero. 

Throughout my life the lessons they learned and instilled in me gave me insight into how to be a great superhero. 

Without these lessons of being faithful, I would have never made it out of high school being the person I am today.                 

Without these lessons of love, I would be a bitter person and to be frank, a person no one would want to be friends with. 

Without the lessons of strength, I would have let my mental health issues, my headache disorder, and my skin disorder get the best of me. 

Last but not least without the lesson of fearlessness, I would have given up on trying out for things both in college and back in high school and I would have let my anxiety overcome me.  

All of these superhero qualities are things I have acquired and happen to be the qualities my mom and dad have shown me time and time again.

My parents are my superheroes because even when I wanted to give up, they showed me that life was so much more than the hardships. They are the people I run to when sometimes life becomes too much to bear. 

I am now not only a college student, but I am a woman who will pave the way for others out there. My life hasn't been easy but because of the people in my corner I have been able to overcome so much. 

Photo: Taylor Bell

Samantha doing worship for a bible adventure camp in Belize.

My advice to you is even when your cape gets stuck continue to fly because not all superheroes need capes to be one. 

This is who I am, an only daughter of three boys, a hard worker, a dreamer, a confident and faith filled person. 

But no matter what others think, I am a SUPERHERO.