Jacob Smith

AP Lit-4th
Connely
5/14/15
I Grew up here
What grounds people? What creates the foundation for peoples
identies? What is the anchor for our existence? Our homes and communities
those places and spaces that shape our future actions and create our
relations other people. For some people those places arent static and
change throughout their life because of the circumstances of the time. For
me these Places can be sectioned into my times in Stillwater , Moore , Dallas
and Jenks as our family moved.
Stillwater was the place I grew up and lived in till the 3rd grade and I
think one of the most important places to my development as a person. Most
of my time there was either spent riding my bike or hanging our with my
longtime childhood friend Nikki. My Experience in Stillwater was very
different than the college students who inhabitated those same city limits.
The Small college town was ultimately too small for my ambition and plans.
My move to moore was mainly due to my mothers enrollment at OU
Law and economic oppurtunities for my family. My Time there was generally
spent either Skate boarding with friends or playing games with those said

friends. The Small suburb feel was definitely helpful in creating a kid that
was both urban but also nice to many people.
Subsequently after my mom graduated law school , we moved to
Dallas at the beginning of 6th grade. Sadly we chose to live in a neighborhood
that was filled with a bunch of snobby kids who werent even rich. For some
reason even thought we lived In Rowlett we were bussed out to sachse
highschool earlier in the morning. While not being the best school in
existence , it offered me the opportunity to join debate which would shape
my highschool appearance.
My last two years of young adulthood have been spent in Jenks
Oklahoma and going to jenks highschool. This was a big jump from a noncomeptitive school to being at one of the premier insitutions in Oklahoma.
While Sachse had a debate team , Jenks had a much more nationally
competitive team that allowed me to travel all across the nation competing
against my peers.