Kennedy Lewis

I have always been a people person. I am happiest when I am around others, especially in big groups, and I leave social situations feeling fulfilled instead of drained. I believe this has to do in large part with the way I was raised: in a house that seemed to never be quiet. My parents always had friends over when I was young. Some of my earliest memories are of game nights, dinner parties, and family holidays where everyone was welcome. This created something I can only describe as comfortable chaos. When I think of home, I think of a dining room table surrounded by many more people than it was built for, with music playing and cards being dealt. I see my parents’ friends as family, which has encouraged me to view my own friends in the same light. My parents always encouraged me to invite my friends over to our house, even if it meant having 13 year old girls playing Just Dance on the Wii until the early hours of the morning. My home became like a second home to my best friends after going through high school. They all know that they can come into my house at any hour and sit down for a chat with my mom or to hear some jokes from my dad. This aspect of my life has enhanced it more than I can put into words. Watching my parents be so loving with their friends as I grew up encouraged me to be the same way with my friends, and I can now see them welcoming my best friends into our home with their constantly open arms. The sense of community within my house makes it feel even more like home, because a home is only as good as the people in it.