The shades I wear are made of optimism and hard-work, pink and blue, unique family lifestyles, independence and just going with the flow. They were built by my adaptable mother and traditional Italian Grandparents as well as my friends, acquaintances, family, and community. My parents have been divorced since I was 2 years old and I haven't seen my father since I was 7. What a sad thing you may think, but in reality my life is probably much better without him. My life experiences are a big part of the shades that I wear. Living with only one parent and no contact with the other for more than half my life has required me to step up in my responsibility. I take on many more tasks, as well as many more responsibilities than many of my peers. Another thing that has impacted my shades greatly is the fact that my 93 year old grandmother lives with me. Having constant relations and contact with two different generations at once has expanded my tolerance for others and my acceptance and knowledge of different viewpoints, whether they be more conservative or liberal. Only living with one parent has also caused a lack of planning. Often times my mom will ask us what we're doing for the weekend and if the answer is nothing she'll say, "great pack up and let's drive somewhere". The trips usually end up in Tennessee, Wisconsin, and sometimes even Florida. This has caused my personality to take on a high tolerance for adaptability, spontaneous actions, and adventures. Another aspect of my personality is my acceptance of different cultures. My mom works with people around the world, constantly traveling to their countries or inviting them to stay at our house when they are in town from their own. This has given me the ability to learn about so many different cultures, standards, and customs around the world and has allowed me to be comfortable around and accepting of people who are different from me.