Emerset Farquharson, 16, Male, Brazil
(Second-generation member of the Family International)

This is my second contribution to Myconclusion.

I consider myself extremely privileged to have a life like this. All my life I lived in the Family International. I am 16. And it is my right to talk and to speak out. I have a nice, close friend that was born and grew up all his life in a “normal” environment. And he’s a great guy but, I’d still choose this life.

I personally had a GREAT time, here, in The Family International. I’ve lived in Brazil, Canada, and Peru. I have four brothers. One born in Peru, two in Canada, one in Brazil. I consider school fun. I consider traveling fun—but not just fun, challenging. I really love traveling. Making friends. And I know that I’m living for a reason. I have other friends too, that are living for a reason as well, and that, I know, is very fulfilling for me.

I know English and Portuguese fluently, and so do all four of my brothers. I love writing, and write myself—freelance essays. I love art, I’ve done oil painting, sketching, watercolor, and wood burning. I feel fulfilled, and I have multi-cultural friends. My Dad’s Canadian & my Mom’s Peruvian. They’ve been married for 24 years. I’ve got friends in Tanzania, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Peru, even India. Close friends that I’ve lived and grown up with. People that are still making a difference today in the world.

When my oldest brother left the Family International, he went to Toronto to study there at high school, they gave him a test and he passed excellently. He was 17 and they put him in 12th grade.

I could study in high school if I chose to. I could go to Canada, and I’d have more of a head start than most people my age I’m sure. But this is what I choose to do. I have great schooling, and billions of opportunities to learn. I’ve done road mapping, drama, webpage designing, art, poetry, and other stuff. But that’s not why I’m here. It’s because I love this life. I love helping others in every way that I can. It might not be much, but if it’s the best I can give, then I’m happy.

One more thing. I was never abused.

—Emerset Farquharson