I caught my first bull snake when I was seven years old. I don't really know where I was or what I was doing, but the look of horror on my mom's face is branded into my mind. The snake wasn't aggressive. He was fat and sunning himself. I remember picking him up by the end of his tail with one hand, and with a finger from my other hand, I slowly moved up his back, careful to not rub his scales the wrong way. I found the base of his head, and then pinched his mouth shut. I couldn't hold him straight because he was so long. That's as far back as I remember, but my mom said I bragged about it, and then let him go in a field near the path. 

This is really what made my mom realize I was nothing like her, or really anyone else she knew. And to be honest, I haven't changed much since. Sure, I'm about thrice that size now, and am even braver today than I was before, but other than that, I haven't changed. I still wear the same jeans and T-shirts, boots and cap. I never wear makeup and only brush my long hair enough to keep the knots out. My mom never understood how I turned out this way, considering she's the girliest girl I've ever known. But in some ways, she's glad I'm like this. 

I participate in dangerous sports to keep myself alive and well. I ride dirtbikes, work with horses, and go out hunting whenever I can. I take good care of myself, and I don't accept anything from anyone blindly, whether that be a doctor prescribed medication, a handshake from a stranger, or an offer of friendship. My parents praise me for being so cautious, and more importantly, rejecting society's views and being myself. If anyone tries to mold me into something I'm not, or bully me into doing something, I just laugh and give them the finger. I know I don't seem like the kind of person to do that, but I do some impressive things when I feel threatened. 

Of course, this attitude and sense of who I am sets me apart from the world. It's not just my disease that points me out, although it has played a role, but just my personality and lifestyle in general. Most teens my age are following the crowd, and have no idea who they are or what they want to do. I think I know who I am, but I don't really know what I want to do after high school. All I know is that I don't want to be stuck in a 9-5 job that I hate.