“Again with the suitcase, Kayla?” It has become a daily thing for my friends to laugh at me whenever I lug around my Vineyard Vines tote bag. Every time I leave my house, I grab the frayed, blue strap and sling it over my shoulder. The pink whales are fading from years of use and tiny grains of sand are stuck on the bottom crease from the hundreds of times I have dragged it to the beach. However, this bag is more than something to put my belongings in. For me, it is a symbol of home.
When my parents ended their marriage, my entire life changed. At the tender age of five, I began living out of this bag. Being so young, I did not fully understand the concept of divorce. My parents simply explained to my younger brother and I that we would be going to my “dad’s house” every other weekend. I could not grasp why my dad moved out of my childhood home, or why all of a sudden he and my mom did not give each other hugs, but I did understand that I now had two homes. I would have to pack everything I needed or wanted in my bag and bring it to my “second home”. My go-to items included, stuffed animals and toys. As I got older, these changed to fashionable clothing, electronics, and homework. Sometimes, I would bring up to three bags just for one weekend, but I
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It has hardened me emotionally, making me mentally stronger and able to handle whatever challenges life may bring me. In addition, I am able to adapt to difficult situations. At a young age, I learned to be independent and self-reliant. I understand that life can change quickly, even when I am least expectant of it, but I do not let this scare me. The frequent changes in my life have taught me to search for the positives in any situation. In spite of the strength I have acquired, I still hold on to the little piece of home I have left. To this day, I continue to carry around that worn-out Vineyard Vines bag I call