It all started around the tender age of 13-just getting into my teenage years. I battled with my identity. It felt like I was walking against a strong wind. I knew I was adopted ever since I understood what that meant, but I wasn't happy knowing this. I began going to therapy with my family, only to find myself angrier than a punished child. I attempted suicide twice in that few months, and finally manipulated my parents into taking me out of that therapy.

For the next two years, I kept any negative feelings un

dercover, not opening my shell to anyone. By the beginning of my junior year in high school, I couldn't keep it in. My emotions exploded like an overheated bag of popcorn. More suicide attempts were made. I was taken to our local hospital where I was put in the psychiatric unit and diagnosed with major depression. This news hit me like a bug on a moving car's windshield. I didn't know this was a sickness. I was released and forced to start individual therapy.

I became very close to my new therapist-she made me laugh and helped me to solve little problems. Although things were looking better, there were a lot of problems still hovering over me like vultures around road kill. I again tried killing myself and was sent back to the hospital. This time, I was released into an intense therapy group for teenagers. These sessions were every weekday for either four or eight hours. My self-esteem went down, a

Some common words found in the essay are:
, revolving door, suicide attempts, intense therapy,
Approximate Word count = 618
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)