Composite 1000

Dr. Xiao Wang

Katherine-Grace Powell

March 11, 2019

Essay #3: A Definition Essay

Draft #2

Outline:

I. Thesis: Family is a group of people who are reliable, supportive, love unconditionally,

and provide guidance.

II. The Body of the Essay

A. People who are reliable

B. People who are supportive

C. People who love unconditionally

D. People who provide guidance

III. Conclusion: Family is a group of people who are reliable, supportive, love

unconditionally, and provide guidance.

 Family

How does one define family? Is family only limited to describing people that I am related to

by blood? The word family is defined as “a social group of parents, children and sometimes,

grandparents, uncles, aunts, and others who are related” (Cambridge University Press 2008). In

my country, Jamaica, the phrase ‘blood is thicker than water’ is used rather loosely when

comparing blood-related family members to friends. Based on my personal experiences,

circumstances, and ordeals, I strongly disagree with this phrase. I believe that family is not only

inclusive of my blood relatives, but people who share common values and goals, and have made

a commitment to one another regardless of sexual orientation. “The inclination of many

Americans might be to differentiate between family and relatives by focusing on emotional ties

rather than bloodline” (Treuthart 96). A family, from my perspective, is a group of people who

are reliable, supportive, have loved me unconditionally, and provided some form of guidance

that has helped to mold and shape me into a more improved individual who has the ability to

achieve meaningful goals. All these qualities are the epitome of family.

Family can be described as people who are reliable. Reliability is a very important quality of

family. Family is anyone I can rely and depend on. Being reliable does not mean saying yes

every time. It means being able to hold up to commitments productively and timely, and valuing

and respecting my values. Whenever I feel unhappy or like I have hit rock bottom, I usually turn

to a blood relative such as my mother, brother, sister, etc., but over the years I have come to

realize that I am also able to turn to a friend. Friends are the family we get to choose. According
to Ron Herron and Val J. Peter, kindness is one of the links in the chain that holds people

together (11). Being kind is one of the traits that stem from reliability as it describes the extent to

which someone would go to ensure my happiness. It is for this reason that I say “Friends are the

family we choose” because we expect that both relationships will share the similarity of being

reliable.

Family are people who are supportive of my dreams and future goals. They are the persons

who are there for me when I have experienced a loss or have had my heart broken. They also

provide social support and encouragement towards reaching my highest potential. In playing a

supportive role in my life, they act as a confidant who is available to listen, give advice, be

trustworthy, and be supportive of my ideas and goals. Family will help to support me through

stressful periods, allowing me to feel cared for. One of the functional approaches used by a

California Task Force on family includes “providing conditions for emotional growth,

motivation, and self-esteem within a context of love and security” (Treuthart 97). All these

qualities are not restricted to blood related family members only. I have grown to not only realize

that much of the people I have met over the years possess all these qualities without being my

blood relative, but I have also learned to appreciate and build bonds with these people inevitably

creating a new group of family.

Family are people who love me unconditionally. Unconditional love, from my standpoint, is a

form of love that is selfless and unselfish. That is, it is love that has no conditions. A person who

loves me unconditionally cares for me deeply and will strive towards making me happy without

demanding anything in return. Unconditional love is evident when I make mistakes, disappoint

or irritate the person, and make poor life choices. Family will not judge or punish me for not

meeting their expectations but will continue to love me exclusive of conditions. “ A true friend is
one who knows all about you and likes you just the same” (Herron, Peter 3). This is also true of

family. Unconditional love is loving regardless of the situation or circumstance. It is this type of

love that form bonds and creates exceptional relationships that allow us to heal and love. I have

experienced all these qualities, at some point in time, in a friend rather than a blood family

member. This is the reason I have held my friendships so close to my heart, because these people

have proven themselves to be family.

Family provides guidance that have helped to mold and shape me into a more improved

individual who has the ability to achieve meaningful goals. They do this by suggesting helpful

tips for growth and by sharing their past experiences and circumstances to give me insights when

I have important decisions to make. They allow me to learn from their past mistakes, further

helping me to make decisions that are beneficial to my well-being. Family will direct or

influence my behavior towards being positive and choosing the right path that may lead to self-

actualization and accomplishments. “Friends are here for the good times, bad times, and all the

times in between” (Herron, Peter 3). The same is true of family. Friends have become a major

pillar of influence on my personality and behavior. I have had many friends who offered their

insights and have helped me to become a better person by giving me advice from their past

experiences. These people have shown that they have my best interest at heart, and I therefore

consider them family.

Family has been the backbone of the society over many centuries. However, in the recent

days, the meaning of family has grown far beyond blood relation. It has much to do with a

person’s behavior and attitude towards me, and the strives they have made to be there for me

both physically and emotionally. Family is a group of people who are reliable, supportive, love

unconditionally, and provide guidance.

 Work Citation

“Family.” Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge University Press, 2008,

dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/family (13 March 2019).

Herron, Ronald W, and Val J Peter. A Good Friend: How to Make One, How to Be One. Boys

Town Press, 1998: p. 3.

Treuthart, Mary Patricia. Adopting a More Realistic Definition of Family," Gonzaga Law

Review. Vol. 26, no. 1 (1990-1991): p. 96.

Treuthart, Mary Patricia. Adopting a More Realistic Definition of Family," Gonzaga Law

Review. Vol. 26, no. 1 (1990-1991): p. 97.

 Work Citation

“Family.” Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge University Press, 2008,

dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/family (13 March 2019).

Herron, Ronald W, and Val J Peter. A Good Friend: How to Make One, How to Be One. Boys

Town Press, 1998.

Treuthart, Mary Patricia. “Adopting a More Realistic Definition of Family”, Gonzaga Law

Review. Vol. 26, no. 1 (1990-1991).