The shell was created hundreds, thousands, or millions of years ago from the build up of calcium carbonate. Much like my family, the true origin of this shell is unknown. As far as I know, my family line began in Michigan with my mother. Although I could take a genetics test to fill this void of information, I have no desire to learn about people who have never felt like family to me. Instead, my mom and I found our sense of home by the sea. As a child, my mom and I would walk the shoreline every night and look for seashells. Our passion for the water allowed us to create an unbreakable bond. The day I moved down to South Carolina with my mom to be closer to the ocean, I found this seashell at the beach. Whenever I am experiencing a hardship, I go to the water for comfort. Now, I wear the shell as a necklace everyday to serve as a reminder that family goes far beyond the people who are related to you. 

– Paige Sullivan

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant