DRAW MY LIFE - Anthony Padilla (2016) - Summary

Summary

Here is a concise summary of the text:

**Early Life:**

* Accident baby to young parents (20 & 22) who separated when the narrator was 2
* Lived with mom, visited dad on weekends, experienced emotional distress
* Was a painfully shy kid with night terrors and anxiety

**Teen Years:**

* Took on family responsibilities at 14 due to mom's anxiety and abandonment by her boyfriend
* Diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) at 15, became bedridden, and started learning to code
* Created a website, Smosh.com, which gained popularity beyond friend circles

**Rise to Fame:**

* Started making comedy sketches with friend Ian, uploaded to YouTube
* Dropped out of college after 2 years to focus on YouTube, which led to success and millions of views

**Mental Health Struggle:**

* Experienced first panic attack at 21, leading to 5 years of anxiety and fear of having more attacks
* Eventually learned to manage and prevent panic attacks by addressing the fear of having them

**Current Reflection:**

* Accepted being introverted and having anxiety, grateful for support, and looking forward to the future.

Facts

Here are the extracted key facts, each numbered and in short sentences, excluding opinions:

**Personal Life**

1. The narrator's parents had them when they were young (mom 20, dad 22).
2. The narrator's parents broke up when they were 2 years old.
3. They lived with their mom and visited their dad on weekends.
4. The narrator's mom has a severe form of anxiety, limiting her from leaving home for 25 years.
5. The narrator's mom's boyfriend left without warning when the narrator was 13.

**Health**

6. At 15, the narrator was diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP), a disease affecting the immune system.
7. Symptoms included extreme joint pain, intestinal pain, intense rash, and constant vomiting.
8. The narrator lost 30 pounds in two weeks due to the illness.
9. The narrator was bedridden and unable to attend school.
10. The narrator's HSP has remained dormant since recovery.

**Education and Career**

11. A teacher provided homework for the narrator once a week while they were bedridden.
12. The narrator started learning to code during this period.
13. They created a website/forum called Smosh.com for friends.
14. The narrator returned to school after recovering from HSP.
15. Smosh.com gained popularity, reaching tens of thousands of users.
16. The narrator sold ad space on Smosh.com to earn money.
17. They bought their first car with the saved money.
18. The narrator and friend Ian created lip-sync videos, which became popular on Smosh.com.
19. They discovered their videos on YouTube and decided to upload content there.
20. YouTube contacted them to join their ad program.
21. After two years, they dropped out of college to focus on YouTube full-time.

**Mental Health**

22. At 21, the narrator experienced their first panic attack.
23. They had multiple panic attacks, including some during video shoots.
24. The narrator feared their anxiety would ruin their career.
25. They discovered that the fear of having a panic attack was the primary cause of their anxiety.
26. After a turning point, the narrator has been able to prevent most panic attacks.