The Best Part of Maryland: My Family

I would like to dedicate my finally blog post to my favorite part of Maryland, my family. Without them Maryland would be just another place but my family helps to make Maryland my home.

My immediate family consists of my mom, my dad, and my sister. My mom, Cheryl, was born in Maryland and I love hearing her describe the way things were when she was younger. She describes the ups and downs of Baltimore over the years and pleasant memories of the Maryland beach towns. After completing high school in Carroll County she went on to study at University of Maryland earning both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree. She became a pediatric nurse practitioner and was eventually appointed as an instructor at the University of Maryland’s School of Nursing. This program is consistently rated among the top ten in the country. Although she no longer teaches, she volunteers at my old high school, provides nursing services to my elementary school, and gives flu shots to children at inner-city schools. My mom has taught me to be compassionate and sympathetic towards all people and to always lend a helping hand.

My sister, my mom, and myself in Germany. 

My dad, Vince, grew up outside of Pittsburgh and worked in the steel mills during the summer in order to make enough money to attend Penn State. He went on to graduate school and earned a PhD and is now a prominent neuropsychologist.  I hope to follow in his footsteps and I hope that I can be as hard working and determined as he is.

My dad and I at my junior prom.

My sister, Anna, is a sophomore in high school and although she’s younger than me, she teaches me a lot. When she was just five years old, Anna was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes, an autoimmune disease that inhibits the pancreas from working properly. My sister is 16 years old and has had diabetes for eleven years. I am amazed by how well she handles this condition. She never lets it get her down. She has taught me to be brave and to have strength even when things get tough.

My sister and I at my senior prom.

Thankfully, all of my family, including my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandma, live within a five-mile radius each other. I absolutely love that we all live so close and are able to do so many things together. Whether it’s attending an Oriole’s game or just dinner at our favorite restaurant, spending time with my family is something I really enjoy and cherish.

My favorite thing to do with my family is to spend our summers at the beach. Our whole family comes along and it is a great time to just relax and enjoy quality time with the people I love. Whether we’re soaking up the sun, splashing in the waves, or heading to the boardwalk to get ice cream, it’s a happy and heartwarming experience that I am thankful for. I hope one day Anna and I can bring our children to the beach.

My family and I at Bethany Beach.

Just writing this post reminds me how excited I am to return home for a week and spend time with the people I love. I guess it really is true when they say, “Home is where the heart is!”