Today it was brought to my attention that my first year of college has brought many changes in my life and they way I view the world. Although the individual shedding this light thought of it as a negative happening, I choose to see the better of the situation, a far cry from my normal realistic view on life. According to said person, I used to be religious, humble, basically everything a "good little bible belt-raised, west texas girl" should be. This statement caused me to think about my upbringing and how I have strayed from that. Raised in West Texas has its many benefits. I was brought up with a close family that would love me no matter what, good morals that taught me right from wrong, and valuable life lessons, such as to love my neighbor as thyself. Although many steps have been taken to educate the women of West Texas to start their own careers and supply for themselves, many women are content in being the doe eyed housewife who has dinner on the table for her husband, Farmer Joe, and their two and a half kids at the end of the day. With a sparkling house, she can finally rest her head on her 100% cotton pillow case and sleep under the quilt she hand stitched as a little girl, just like her mother taught her. I, however, find no contentment in this way of life. I admire the women who can be stay at home moms and find their self worth in a clean house and an excellent pot roast. Is it wrong that I need more to be satisfied? Is it wrong that I have no desire to be a mother, or at the very least wish to hire a nanny? Although my parents were straight republican baptist church members, they raised me to form my own opinion and think for myself. However, until I was out in the world and able to make my own decisions and suffer my own consequinces did I realize how much my opinions would change. Instead of accepting what I've been spoonfed my whole life I began to challenge everything. Religion, education, morals, and ethics. I began to form my own opinion on life. That opinion ran anything but parallel to my family's. Slowly my family members began to pick up on my support of gay marriage or my approval of a woman's right to choose what to do with her own body. Soon, these same family members who I was told would always love me began to shun me in their own way. Instead of encouraging me to be my own person like my parents did, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins resisted conversation with me for fear that it would turn "political"; basically anything that differed from their way of life. I thank God that my parents not only raised me to be an individual, but to also be strong. Strength in my beliefs helps me sit through family gatherings where no one talks to me. Strength helps me stick to what I believe is right when a brave family member chooses to "challenge" me by tearing me down. Strength also helps me to continue to love these people whom I call my family, because for them it is easier to love thy neighbor when their ideas are the same as their own than to love a family member who views life in a different way.