Richard - 18 - High school senior

My name is Richard Arsenio Johnson. I'm 18 years old as of yesterday morning, and I live in the suburbs of Providence, Rhode Island. I'm a first-generation American after my parents emigrated to the US from Honduras. I unfortunately never got to truly meet my mother, as she passed away from an illness when I was very young. Still, my father worked hard so he could raise me right, and although the apartment we shared was small we were able to live comfortably.

When I was 10 my father remarried, and we moved into a house with his new wife and her two daughters, both older than me. Initially, there was some awkwardness and growing pains having all these new people around, but we eventually grew closer and now act like we've been family our whole lives. Both my stepsisters are in college now, but they came home yesterday to celebrate my 18th birthday. It was nothing flashy, just a cake and some good takeout. I'm throwing a bigger party next weekend with my friends and girlfriend, but my dad wanted us to have one last night as a family before I officially graduated to adulthood.

That brings us to today: Monday morning. Looking in the mirror, I see my familiar visage: 5'11" with a lean frame, tan skin, dark shaggy hair and brown eyes. Also a few pimples that refused to go away. There was nothing new or unusual in what I saw, but there was a different feeling in my heart knowing that boy I'd been looking at was now a man. I got dressed, gave a quick hug to my dad and stepmom, then stepped out to take on whatever the world threw at me.