Fountain Of Youth Sept. 2013 | Page 3

Changing My Mind Written by Brittney Torres When it comes to changing your mind about something, normally it's because the feeling you once had about that decision changes. I've changed my mind many times. Sometimes, it is about things as simple as changing my hair or my outfits or even as big as where and when I plan on going to school. I've even changed my mind on how I felt about having children. I've changed my mind about simple things such as what I am going to wear. I remember when I was in the third grade and was starting in a new school. I woke up extra early and started getting ready. By the time I was done, I looked in the mirror and changed my mind about what I was wearing. I also changed my mind about how I had my hair done. After I changed my clothes and my hair style like 50 times, I was finally happy with what I had on. I managed to be 32 minutes late for my first day of school. I changed my clothes so many times because I was really trying to fit in at my new school. As if changing my mind about something as simple as changing my clothes wasn't hard enough, I made the decision to drop out of school. At the time I felt as though it was necessary, only because I had a child early and my mother, who was watching him at the time, fell ill. She passed away and I decided to change my mind about not going to school. I enrolled myself into Hopeworks to get the help I needed to prepare for my G.E.D. The decision to go back to school has been one I won't regret. Although I had my first child young, I've had mixed feeling and thoughts about wanting to take care of him. I've changed my mind about wanting to be a teen mother for so many reasons. For example, I thought about whether or not I'm ready. Am I capable of providing the love and care a child needs? What will other people think or say about me being a teen mother. The thought of giving my child up for adoption was so real to me. However, my mother stood by me every step of the way, giving me the courage and strength to move forward in any decision I made, whether it was adoption or keeping him. The moment he was born and I held him, the thought of adoption or "I can't do this," didn't cross my mind once. I had made up my mind that I was keeping him; thanks to my mother. Everyone changes their minds, from life changing decisions to simple things like changing your order of food. Changing your mind is so common. I know I change my mind many times a day. 3