Family history, culture or environment influenced you, how? - 'family and money'

My environment has affected my life quite a lot throughout the years. Things haven't always been that easy, but as a family we have learned to have faith and patience. Life is never a smooth ride. For instance, my father left my mother, my two younger brothers and I almost nine years ago. It was very tough for my mother who was taking care of three children, an eight year old, a six year old and a three year old, and at the same time working a full time job. Money was definitely tight but we learned to manage. We started to go to church and that helped out a lot. Going to church taught us how to have faith in God and have patience with Him. My father's leaving did affect me a lot, but it did teach me to be independent and rely on no one but myself. Also his leaving has made me want to prove to myself that I can succeed in anything that i set my mind to. I study hard in order to get good grades, I volunteer in the community whenever I can and i do anything in order to get good scores on both the ACT and SAT and all to be able to get as many scholarships as I can and get intoan amazing university.

Things haven't always been that easy, but as a family we have learned to have faith and patience.

Life is never a smooth ride.---Maybe it would sound better if you say "...is almost never a smooth ride"?

Money was definitely tight, but we learned to manage.

My father's leaving did affect me quite a bit ,---I changed this because it said 'a lot', and it seemed repetitive, seeing you had written it in the previous sentence.---- but it did teach me to be independent and to rely on no one but myself.

Also, his leaving has made me want to prove to myself that I can succeed in anything that I set my mind to.

I study hard in order to get good grades, I volunteer in the community whenever I can, and Ido anything in order to get good scores ---I think you covered this at the beginning of your sentence!

...on both the ACT and SAT and all to be able to get as many scholarships as I can, to get into an amazing university.

Good luck in school and have fun!

:)