The sound of my own breathing fills my ears as I reach the halfway point in the race. My feet pound hard against the track, and I stay focused on the swinging ponytail, moving form, and blue uniform of the girl in front of me. I hit the curve in the lanes, the soccer net to my left, and my signal to turn on the speed. Can I overtake my adversary in the final hundred meters? As I begin to go into a dead sprint, a voice penetrates my concentration. It’s my mom, yelling her heart out for me, cheering her daughter on louder than anyone else. My family, at both my mom’s and dad’s houses, depends on everyone for mental, emotional, and physical support.

First of all, we all count on each other for help in the mental department of life. At my mother’s house, Alana and I can assist and supplement one another with homework and projects because we’re in the same grade and share a lot of classes. Also, Mark (my step-dad) is quite clever and can help both of us comprehend complex math processes. My biological dad used to be an Algebra and Latin teacher, so when I have a quiz or test in either of those subjects, he’s always ready for a study session to help me prepare. Harrison and Olivia (my younger brother and stepsister), though they are only in sixth grade, sometimes ask us for aid with their own homework, and we nearly always oblige.

Furthermore, everybody at both of my houses need emotional support. Since Alana and I play a school sport every season, we have games and meets galore. At these events (such as in the race I mentioned before) it’s great to have my family rooting us on and shouting encouragement from the sidelines. I remember one Nordic ski meet in my seventh grade year, where my mom was waiting at the bottom of a hill on the last stretch of the trail. As I sped by, I distinctly heard her choke up while she urged me on and knew that she was crying, so I could tell that she cared an immense amount. It’s not just sports events that we all give emotional reinforcement for, though. We’re (at both houses) always telling jokes and laughing at the dinner table. What’s more, Alana and I can tell, most of the time, when the other is despondent or upset and give hugs or talk when this occurs.

To stay healthy, functional, and fit, my family relies on and fortifies everyone physically. At my dad’s house, I wash dishes, clean the toilets, and scrub out the shower to lend a hand, while my brother wipes down the floors (with a Swiffer mop) and empties the trash cans. Likewise, at my mom’s residence, Alana and I empty the dish washer, Harrison and Olivia bring my dog up from her pen, and we all pitch in to sort “laundry mountain.” In addition, we (mostly the crew at my mom’s) participate in a number of road races, so staying in shape via biking, running, or other cross-training activities is a family-bonding experience, as well as a method of making sure everyone’s healthy. Similarly, at my father’s place of abode, we often go on walks up the street. Occasionally, Harrison and I go biking without my dad, which I relish, because with our life always being so busy, we don’t really get to spend much time alone. I consider it a special treat.

So, as I hit the last straight-away in my leg of the 4×4 relay, my lungs burning, my arms pumping like mad, and with the sound of my mom’s morale-boosting ringing in my head, I catch the girl in front of me and pass her easily. All I can see is the finish line, growing steadily closer, and the next runner on our team poised for the baton hand-off. I yell the cue of “Spark!” and then “Fire!” as the light metal rod is transferred from my hand to the waiting palm of my teammate’s. Stepping off the track, breathless, I jog over to my vocal advocates with a big grin on my face. My family is always there when any one of us needs emotional, mental, or physical support, and I can’t thank them enough.