Who Am I

There is a three word question with unlimited answers. It is a question that has been asked over and over, yet the answer is rarely found. “Who am I?” It may not seem too difficult to answer, but the average person has asked themselves time after time, “Who am I?” Taking it a step further, I ask myself, “Who am I, and Why?" What defines me?
Living in this naïve culture, we tend to look for our identification through other people, styles, and over all whatever seems to be the norm at the time. We define ourselves with labels that we feel will satisfy the identity we crave. So, taking away the labels and stripping away the outside, who am I?
I am Rachel Boivin. I am 17, I am from Safford, Arizona, and I am blonde and have blue eyes. According to my generic introduction that is who I am. I mean, isn't that how we introduce ourselves? Yet, if I strip away the outside and take a look within, what will I find? And most importantly why? Will the inward appearance be the same? Who am I beyond the outside? People say "It’s what’s inside that truly matters" My questions are then, how do you know who you are and what defines you? Is it what is outside that reveals the inside, or the inside that will reveal the outside? Just by the looks of me, do you know who I really am? 
Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I've ever known. I am who I am because of the people around me and in my life. God created me for a reason; so that I can be someone. However, I can’t get there alone. With the help of my creator and my parents, through the influence of my family, the support of my friends, and also the inspiration of my students, I am me.
I belong to the people I love, and they belong to me-they, and the love and loyalty I give them, form my identity far more than any word or group ever could. They are, and always will mean everything to me. They are the reasons I am here. They have given me the essential things I need to live my life. Not for myself, but for others. I am the people I live for. I live for the one who gave me life; God. Then, I live for my parents and my family. Also, I live for my friends and my students.
First and foremost, I am His. To me, He is the most essential part of who I am. He is the first love of my life. He is always there for me. He knows my name and He cares if I am hurting. He is my bright and morning star. He is the one who lights the way for my wandering heart. He hears me when I am calling, and I know He will catch me if I fall. I am His.
If you haven’t caught on yet, I'm not talking about my boyfriend. I am talking about my King. If it were not for who He is and what He did for me, I would not be who I am today.     I am made in His image. I am His daughter. I am His Servant. I am promised blessings. I am alive and free. I am not perfect. But, I am loved by a King!
Next, I am my family. If it were not for my family, I would not be here. In fact, I have no idea where I would have ended up. They literally saved my life. Let me explain. My biological parents threw me away for meth. I was tossed into the system with my older brother and younger sister. My sister and I were put in the same foster home; however, my brother was not. She and I were in foster care for about 4 years. We were moved from home to home, never knowing when or where we could stay. However, we were one of the lucky ones. By God’s grace we were put back into our first foster home. They decided to adopt us, making September 9, 2007 one of the best days in my life.
I love my family. They might be crazy and a little strange but they just make everything better. Something as simple as Christmas dinner is never dull. It is the small things that I look forward to. I will be forever grateful to my parents for all that they have given me.  I may not always get along with my parents, but they have taught me good values that I will treasure always. They taught me to be thankful and to give to others. To be honest and to always try my best. To respect myself and also others. They taught me all of these values because they love me. I am a daughter, and a sister. I am Auntie Rachel; I am a story teller for my nephews. I am trying my best to give back to my family.
Friends are truly a gift that should be treasured. A true friend is more than just a contact on your phone or name listed on a web page. True friends will always have your back and stand at your side. They are someone you can talk to and know that they are really listening.  They are someone who will be there to share the laughter and even the hurt. They love you for your imperfections, and they are there when no one else is. I am someone you can come to, and I am a great listener.  I am a secret holder; right now, I am working on being a better friend.
I am a Sunday-school teacher at Grace Lutheran Church. I started teaching last fall and ever since, I receive amazing blessings every Sunday. Being able to teach them about God is one of the most special and rewarding goals I have. I want them to be as excited as I am about Jesus and all of the amazing things that He has done. I am a teacher; I am Miss. Rachel. I am still learning. I am blessed to have all my students and I am dedicated to each one of my bright students.
I have not evolved; I have been created in the image of my Creator. I have a direct line to any and all questions I have. I am prepared with a guide book that was specifically made for me so that I may live a purposeful life. I may not always be in motion, and that is good because I have learned that it is necessary for me to be still and to listen. For out of that comes my greatest inspiration. I am Rachel Evelyn Boivin. I am me because of my King, my family, my friends, my students, my faith. That is my purpose. That is who I am.