Drawing again after 10 years

I began to draw many years ago.  From the age 12 to 14, I remember I dedicated every second to drawing. I did this because there were so many stories and characters inside my head, and I just wanted to see them materialized into something physical; I wanted to give them life.
Since my family never had money, they didn't support my art and saw it as a hobby. I recall saving part of my lunch money ( I was given 40 pesos a day, that's 2 American dollars) just to buy some magazines and books with all the information I needed to learn to draw humans and everything that made them people: clothes, expressions, hair, sorroundings, and more. Every time I got one of these new magazines in my hands, I quickly read them over an over in the course of an hour, got my sketchbook out, and starting applying those new drawing tips the pages had offered me.
Wherever I went, I carried my sketchbook and a pack of Rose Art colored pencils an aunt had given me. Yes, wherever: the car, school, family reunions--- and any "spare" time was time to draw something.
Luckily, although my parents didn't really care about this hobby, during those times they didn't tell me away from it either. It was just a little cute thing their kid did.
To my fortune, I met people in school who loved what I did and admired my work. They often gave me gifts: 3 colored pencils, an eraser, a black pen, little things that were great to me, and soon, I built a small art supply collection.
By my late 13s, I had sent a letter to Club Nintendo (MX). My letter contained a drawing meant for the gallery in their magazine. One day, one of my classmates came tome with the new issue of the magazine in his hands and showed me the pieces in the gallery, "It's your drawing, you're drawing was chosen as Art of the Month!" he said. I was so happy I cried. I wish I had the magazine on hand to show you guys I'll look for it.  My drawing wasn't pretty, or at least by my standards of today it wasn't. Regardless, it was Link from Twilight Princess holding Midna, one of my favorite games at the time. I remember putting all my effort into it, and seen the people from CN appreciate it so much made me realize I was doing something important.
For once, my parents were proud of me; being smart kid in school for them was just how it should be, so it had poor meaning. Yet, excelling in something different  caught their attention. 
Then, my father gifted me a pack of water colors (which I still have), and my mom got me acrylics. I continued to work, practice and practice.
During late Preparatory school (before Uni), my mom kept supporting my art and telling me about anime events I could attend to learn more about what I liked. However, my relationship with my father had already been heading downhill by that moment. Soon, he stopped supporting what I did, he didn't like my "girly" men, my gay boys, my "ugly" work. "What will my family say if they see that?" he always said.
Added to that, I became very sick, and since my early teens, I piled up weight. Remember I saved a lot of money for my magazines? Well, I ate a lot of junk food, it was the cheap option. My illness left me completely handicapped for 3 days; I thought I was going to die. Those three days were the first time in my life where I had to stop drawing.
After that, I became paranoid and my life changed forever. I became lonely,  and started to communicate more with my characters, my "imaginary friends".
I was 17 when Uni came. My relationship with my family was unstable, but I kept arting for the first semester. Starting the second semester, things became slow. I decided to focus only on my studies, be the best, learn, and give myself a better life. My art had a bit of a stop for 3 years.
I became depressed and suicidal during that time. Violence in my family, poberty (we spent 3 days with no food), and no art to support me; I was done. I won't tell you my suicidal experience right now, but I'll let you know I seeked help right the day after. I went to therapy and the man there helped me a lot.

Nowadays, it's still hard. I don't have a working space (hence why you don't see much traditional art anymore), I have to work a lot to support my mother and brother--- oh, and my cat. My country is slowly decaying, and each day we have less. 
The hardship made me put double the effort into everything I do, and that included my art.
Regardless, I'm thankful because I al least have the opportunity to try and become better, which I'll continue to do in every aspect of my life.

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Sorry if there's something wrong in my anecdote. Proofreading it is a bit sad to me, so I didn't.


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This is my OC Joshua. His hair is naturally that color.