New York/Florida: Tia Rose, 15

My name is Tia Saint Maria Rose Roya and I am 15 years old. I was born in none other than New York in the United States of America, as the youngest of three.

My mom is basically Spanish and her family thinks we should all speak Spanish. In fact I think I actually know maybe twenty spanish words from which ten is how to count to ten. Im not even taking a Spanish class at school. I was in Spain once though.

When it comes to my origins, it gets complicated, because Im a mix, so I should probably break it down:

my father: German, Italian, Irish and Greek

my mom: Cuban, Puerto Rico, West Indies, Indian

Tia is a greek name and it means godness and godly. Saint Maria because that was the name of a church where my family was going when I was little and my parents were very religious. Like REALLY. My grandmother's name was Rose and because she and I are sharing birthdays, I also got her name. And my last name Roya is my aunts last name which I use just because it sounds better. But my real last name is Smith. Tia Saint Maria Rose Smith. My dad's great-grandparents were immigrant and when they came to America they were given the last name Smith. But to be honest, most of my family actually calls me Rose.

I consider myself as a perfectionist although I have dyslexia. I was bullied a lot at school while growing up. I was called baby girl and stuff like that all the time because Im the youngest in my class. I skipped some grades and last year I changed schools. I will start the eleventh grade this September. I also have my own DIY cosmetics line which I sell from home and some other stuff like that too.

When I was younger, my parents were going through a bad patch. My mom was an alcoholic. And my dad is an old-fashioned Roman Catholic. Its fine. All families have their problems. Mines was my parents shouldn't have had another kid but they did.

I am the youngest and there is a ten year gap between me and my older sister. So my parents thought it would be better if I would move to my aunts and grow up there. So when I was about eight, I was adopted and moved to Key West, Florida to stay with my uncle and aunt. My life change from city lights and fast pace everything to a more at ease and relax life. Living in Key West Florida is everything one person can ask for. If one was to just look there the simple beauty of it all and the culture that people bring. Most people come for the visit for a season but they tend to miss out of everything else. While its not all flashing lights, the sound of car horns beeping, and people everywhere. And it is much more sunny and hot here than in New York. Key West is a just another diamond in the rough.

Mom has now been clean for almost six years and I see her as well as the rest of my family on holidays. They hated how things went down but they know that its for the best. I was very depressed and suicidal but with support Im doing better. Im still struggling with it every day, but its been much better now. I don't usually say this but if anyone that looks to be nice ask, I tell them.

Recently I have been to New York to visit them and we also went together to visit my older sister who now lives in Canada. I havent seen her for about two years. As the youngest it has always been weird. But I miss her, all the time, though I know she is busy. She is working now and dating and all that other adult stuff.

And I love my parents too, no matter what. Im always happy to see them and I also skype with them at least once a week. Which is good because for a while I blamed them for what happened. But its better now. Now I know that they loved me all the time. Im actually ironically a daddy girl.

Tia Rose, 15 yrs, Key West in Florida

#sharedstory #northamerica #15yrsold