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Decision. Outcomes. Society.

During this writing, I can personally say that coming up with an idea went extremely
well. When it can to arranging the paper to flow with all the ideas I had, it then started to get
complicated in reference to what exactly went well during writing this draft. The challenging
thing about writing this paper was trying to figure out how I was going to portray my life to the
reader. I feel as though it was challenging to see if they were going to be able to grasp exactly
what I was trying to say. There are passages in this paper in which I feel as though I would like
to either keep or revise, in order to get my message across to the reader. I feel as though the
paragraph inn which I talk about society and their perception on being a preachers kid, I would
want to keep. I believe I would want to keep this passage because it provides background and
insight information that best explains my reasoning for telling my story to the world. Another
reason for keeping this passage is because it relates society and their views to my lifestyle and
background as a whole. On the other hand, the passage where I go into how the development
process of being a preachers daughter as a whole. I was unsure to how I was going to highlight
this aspect of my life, there were so many things to highlight but find a way to relate them
together was hard. In my opinion, I attempted to relate them to my best ability and what I
thought was correct, but may still need to revise and take a second look. A question I would have
for the reader, would be Do you feel as though I accomplished my goal of explaining my life as
a preachers daughter? As well as How do you feel you would be if you were in my shoes?

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Alisha Squires
Professor Rebecca Agosta
UWRT-009
February 6, 2015
Decisions. Outcomes. Society.
Growing up itself can be an invincible task for anyone, but someone has to do it. Even
though one may seem to have the easy route, it may not be everything it appears to be to the
normal eye. The reality of it is no ones life is perfect, even if you are the daughter of a preacher.
My life was not normal, but then whose life is? Being filled with the spotlight, judgments and
regrets, could really push someone over the edge. Being the daughter of a preacher is a unique
experience in itself, but its one to cherish and that will be unforgettable.
Throughout my life, I have learned that being the daughter of a preacher has its high in
rewards and its low share of critics. The rewards consisted of things that allowed me to discover
underlying talents that I had as an individual, such as being a dancer and my generosity towards
others which added to my leadership skills as a person. Another reward is being able to travel
and meet new people of different background and ethnic groups, but on the negative side I
encountered numerous critics who watched my every move. In society today, we have developed
this impression that preacher kids are the ones always in the spotlight whether good or bad,
where we make no mistakes. This indication tends to keep the world from understanding that
there is no such thing as a perfect family, parent or child. Society itself, puts us as preachers kids
on a standard in which entitles us to feel less of human beings, but as a blueprint for a life
granted to heaven.

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***
My life seem to be a routine centered on church and nothing else. Every Sunday, I would
wake up for the morning service around 9:00am and every Wednesday I attended bible study, no
matter what. On youth Sundays, I would perform with the dance team and the youth choir, I
would even teach the Sunday school sometimes. I was involved in everything from the Music
and Visual Arts Ministry to the Youth Ministry, anything offered I seemed to be a part of. Yes, it
was a lot but the shocking thing is I never even signed up for all of it. Im the daughter of a
pastor, so church by default was my lifestyle. The issues I faced with being the daughter of a
pastor while involved in the church, was that I could not be a normal Christian like everybody
else. Christianity was not just a religion, or righteous path, or even a choice: it was my life. As
the daughter, youre not really voted into this lifestyle, youre born into it in which it consumes
every aspect of your life as a whole. However, being the daughter of a pastor had a lasting effect
on my life, the unrealistic expectations that others set upon my life were unbearable. Through
others opinions, I was stereotyped through rebellious and promiscuous lass all because of the
identity of my parents.
By being the daughter of a preacher, your life comes with many expectations due to the
title your parents hold in the church and ministry. Sometimes these expectations consisted of
everything from how you act, speak, look and even how you sit in certain areas and events. I was
the depiction of my parents, meaning I was to be exactly like them and if I were to act out of
character my parents were looked at in negative manner. I cant even count the number of times I
heard preacher kids missed out on a normal life and how we dont dress like the kids of the
world. Most of all extra pressure and standards, in which I never even signed up for or even

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adapted to base off of society views. My life was a routine and a planned route, out of my control
but which I had to endure without question.
To society, my life was supposed to be graceful and pleasant, with a dark side of a
rebellious soul. My parents were the ideal strict parents, the true definition of keeping your kids
restricted from outside involvements. Growing up wasnt easy, from not being able to listening to
all genres of music to not wearing certain items: life was rough! By not being able to do common
things that the other kids my age did, I grew up believing and thinking the ways of the world
were not for me and would never be. I wasnt able to attend parties, hang out with friend without
my parents, I was basically treated as though I was a baby: something I was not. I had a strong
desire to be like everybody else, I craved the feeling to fit in for once and not be judged by who I
was and who my parents are. As much as I wanted to be like everybody else, I had to adapt an
understanding that their lifestyle and decisions were not suitable to what I was accustomed to as
a preachers daughter. Even though, I wasnt allowed to participate in the things of society, I was
able to mold into an individual in which my parents accepted and that I was comfortable with
being. I may not have been the life of the party in society, but I was the girl with a solid
foundation in faith and a mind to do whats right in my spiritual walk.
***
From the restrictions set by my parents and the standards set by society, you would think
I was going to fall and not rise to triumph, but I did that and more. Those restrictions and
standards allowed me to see what was right and wrong in society, by those who decided to make
those decisions. By my parents restricting me to do the things of the world, I was able to see the
effects of doing wrong and the impact it has on one as a whole. Being the daughter of a preacher,

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can seem to be a challenging thing at first but when you take a step back and see the outcome of
the individual, you truly admire the paths and decisions they made while growing up.
Ever preachers daughter development and outcome techniques can and will be different.
My development process consisted of being locked off from the things of the world, in which I
thought were fun but in reality were not productive to my lifestyle as a Christian. I grew up
believing that the decisions and choices offered by society, were harmless fun, but in reality were
destructive to ones lifestyle in general. By being restricted, I was brought up to see the right
things in life, and when I encountered the things of the world I knew how to distinguish the best
option for myself. Yes, in the beginning it was hard and I didnt understand why I had to go
through this experience but it was for the better. Being the daughter of a preacher, was about
knowing the difference between right or wrong, and being able to see that certain things even
though they appealed to be fun, but behind the fun was destruction and chaos waiting to be
entertained.
***
By going through society and the church as a preachers daughter, one may be tempted to
rebel and disown the righteous things: not me though. Even though I was restricted from doing
basic things of the world like listening to music or wearing an appealing outfit, I now understand
why I wasnt able to participate in those things. Being like everybody else and participating in
everything of the world, was not the plan my parents had for me. My parents may not have taken
into consideration the impact that their decision to have such a high title in the church would
affect me as a person, but then again I glad they didnt because I wouldnt change a thing.

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Its not always about fitting in and being like everybody else its about those who dont
conform to the views of society itself. I am grateful for my experience as a preachers daughter, I
was taught long-lasting skills that developed and taught me that being different was okay. Being
the daughter of a preacher is a unique experience in itself, one that most would turn their nose up
to and not even take a second look about doing, but this lifestyle is not giving to the weak. In
reality, I believe that being a preachers daughter is not about appealing to society as pure, but as
someone who portrays values and morals that abide by the righteous and spiritual path they are
taking.