This is the paper my daughter wrote for her english class... Thought Id share its really sweet... The topic was something I feel really strongly about.

Ive been fortunate in my life to have my family surrounding me, within walking distance of my home I have my aunt and uncle, my grandparents, a great aunt on one side, a great uncle on the other side, and until recently my great grandmother just across the hill, not to mention another great uncle who doesn't live as near, but who is often here visiting, and a great great uncle who stops by to check in on me from time to time.  I have to say that family unity is my greatest treasure. I get to see my niece on a daily basis, and am looking forward to that same kind of relationship with my niece who is due in March. There is nothing greater than a strong family bond.

I've heard throughout my life that "It takes a village to raise a child", and I couldn't agree more. I have been raised by a village and I think I am a far better person for having so much support from so many people who love me unconditionally. Its wonderful knowing that you have that team of people cheering you on and wanting to see you succeed.  I remember my first day of school, not only was mom excited to hear about my day, but we had to stop by my great grandmothers, my grandmothers, and my great uncles to fill them in on all that had happened that day. 

Being raised by a village come with some disadvantages also. Knowing that I might let down an entire "village" makes me strive harder. I don't want to see those disappointed looks, and hear those unapproving tones, so being raised by the "village" has made me strive harder in life and has led to a lot of accomplishments I might not have otherwise made. There is nothing worse than hearing the most respected people in your family telling you that they upset, or that they are disappointed  and the worst i think is the "we expected more from you" lecture. So being raised by the village has made me strive for greatness because the family "village" is working together as a team and if you let one down you let them all down and I for one don't want to let down the greatest people I know.

Last year was my down year, and due to some drama that was unavoidable I chose to homeschool for half of the year and that choice was met by chaos in the village. My great great uncle stopped in to tell me how important and education is and being from another time period didnt quite grasp the homeschool thing, he was convinced I had dropped out and gave me the "you need schooling" lecture, great grandma was pretty much of the same mind set as great great uncle, but she knew a little more about homeschool and so her tongue lashing wasn't quite as bad, and the grandparents were not in agreement with the choice. But were a little more open to it, and when I say " a little" I mean just that.. (a very little). But it is a prime example of how the village works because if you'd have heard all the buss about the homeschooling you would have thought yourself to be in a beehive.

I am pleased to say that I am back this year and flourishing, and that I owe a huge part of that to my "village", and my desire to make them all proud. There is nothing worse than knowing you are going home with bad grades, or mistakes and that you wont just be facing the parents, but the "village". Then again there is nothing better than knowing you screwed up and you have a whole village of people who may not agree with your choices but will ALWAYS love you unconditionally. 

I feel very strongly that it takes a village to raise a child. I am a village raised child, and I think I am doing pretty good in my life, as are my brothers and sister, and I pride myself in knowing that the lessons my "village" has taught me I now have the opportunity to pass on the my niece, and my soon to be niece, and any other child that becomes part of our village. The village is the most important part of a persons life, The lessons you take from your village is the backbone in molding you into who you become,