Bradley Bahorich

Not many people realize the significant impact our childhood plays in the development of who we are. Where we grow up, the people who raise us, and the people who surround us during our development decide the culture, traditions, customs, morals, and beliefs we learn. The family, people, and places we grow up with shape the foundation of our character. I lived all of my childhood in a well-off, upper- middle-class suburban neighborhood in Roswell, GA with a family of five: my older brother Brian, my younger sister Brooke, and my parents. Unlike a large population of people, my parents are still married; as a result I experienced a relatively stable childhood. My parents, especially my mother, handled me sternly, but there careful parenting kept me on the right path throughout most of my life. They instilled strong morals in me that continue to influence every decision I make. My dad’s steady income and my mom’s incessant involvement in every family member’s day to day life in and out of school provided stability for my family. My families love and stability nurtured the growth and development of my character.

Alongside my family, my neighborhood considerably contributed to my maturation into who I am today. I acquired a strong sense of community from growing up in East Spring Lake. I was fortunate enough to grow up with tons of other kids close to my age. The families of my neighborhood encouraged frequent community activities and as result I hung out with neighborhood kids all the time. My family and I spent hours over the summer at the pool for swim team and to hang out with the neighbors, which is where I met several of the kids from my neighborhood. My friends and I would play football, basketball, hockey, airsoft, and other games we invented such as sling-shot paintball. Some of those friends are still some of my best friends today. It is because of my neighborhood friends that I got really into sports and being active at a young age. My stable family and strong community played a vital role in my growth as a person, and I will always value the time I spent with my family, friends, and neighbors growing up in East Spring Lake.