We grew a vegetable garden together and ate food that we grew ourselves. I still remember the horrible smells that came from the kitchen when my mother was trying to can jalapeños. During the winter we would huddle under piles of blankets by the fire and my mother and father would read The Hobbit to us. I was terrified of Smaug and couldn't fall asleep for fear the dragon would attack me. We grew closer as a family during these times. As we repaired the house together, we formed a stronger bond. The support I received from my family was so important in making me a better person. Without them, I would have no foundation. Overall, my life on the farm was not a pivotal moment in my life in the traditional sense. Rather, it was a series of moments spread over a year. In my experience, long, drawn-out, ordinary experiences can often shape you as a person in one extraordinary hour. Longer experience often subtly forms habits that will last for a while.