Katlin Peterson-Kiehl
Katlin’s Story
Family History
Since February 1, 1999, my life has been a whirlwind of obstacles. I was a surprise, premature baby. Being born two months early is a big deal. Throughout my first couple months of being on this earth, my mom and I didn’t have a home, so we were staying with friends until we found something more permanate. While my mom found something more permanate, I moved in with a family of four as a one year old infante.
I was treated as their daughter, sister, and friend for the next year and still am. On my second birthday my mom came and brought me to our new home. We lived in this home till I turned three. Sometimes people don’t have the right upbringing to be able to handle the job of a mother, so at the age of three I moved in with a lady named Pamela and have been living with her ever since. I have intertwined all three of these families and made one big family. As you might have figured my dad wasn’t in the picture. But I later found out that I had a half sister that was five years older than me. I have had six memorable visits with her and plan on having more. From my unique past I have become the person I am today.
Experience
Traveling
Traveling the world has given me experiences that have influenced my life and the person I am today in so many positive ways. When the opportunity to travel is shown, my mom Pamela and I are the first to say yes, whether it fits our budget or not. For a girl who was born without a place to live, I have felt at home here in the Napa Valley, across the country in New York, Venezuela, and numerous places in Italy. I believe that we all have baggage and its up to you to check it at the gate or carry it on board.
Achievements and Goals
Some of my achievements are from sports. I play softball now and have been playing since I was in fourth grade. So far I have received many different awards for teamsmanship. Also my teams have won first and second place throughout the years. Playing softball has had a big impact on my life because being apart of a team is a big deal. Being apart of a team gives you the chance to meet new people and learn how to work with groups of people.
As a current high school student my goals are very clear, I will attend college after I graduate from New Technology High School; pursuing a career in psychology, I will work hard to later find myself in a career of my specialty in “no time.”