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My Birth
My birth on this day was of major importance. Being born where I was, in the United States, is a major contributor to who I am today because the culture and lifestyle of my country get passed on to me. -
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My Life
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Moving
Moving to Middletown from Staten Island was a huge change in who I would grow up to be. Not only was I moved into a larger home, I was introduced to a different group of people. Just from visiting my family from Staten Island, I can see a great difference between myself and them in regards to how I act and speak. My hometown had a great effect on who I would grow up to be. -
Preschool
Entering preschool was major in my development. For the first time, I was leaving the constant care of my attention and being put in a classroom with many other children. Through this, I learned how to interact better with my peers, grow slightly independent from my parents, and begin my long career of being a student -
9/11 Plane Crashes
Though I am fortunate enough to not have known any victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center personally, the event was defining of my lifestyle. It began an era, in which I have spent most of my life until now, of fear. I cannot enter an airport without anxiety. In the city my eyes wonder. I question my safety in most large, populous spaces because I know that is where terrorists attack. September 11th instilled a nationwide fear that has effected me in my everyday life. -
The Birth of my cousin Justine
The birth of my cousin Justine was really important for my family life. I lost my status as the family baby, and became less of a center-of-attention. In retrospect, I feel like this was for the best as it prevented me from getting spoiled. Also, it spawned greater responsibility for me as I was tricked into "babysitting" her while her parents enjoyed the free time. After her many babies were born in the family, and I became seemingly less cute and more responsible -
Soccer
Playing soccer as a child was greatly effective in my development as a child. I learned about healthy competition (and unfortunately the consequences of doing things such as tripping enemy players) while making friends. This was major in helping me strategize as a child, as I tried to get goals for my team. Unfortunately, I also learned that I wasn't the greatest athlete and stopped playing sports for life soon after -
"That Teacher" -Episode 1
As an innocent elementary school student, it is hard to imagine that a woman, especially a teacher, would single you out and scar you for life. However, I experienced this severely when my music teacher made me, against my pleas to be spared of this, sing a solo in front of the class. Needless to say, I no longer sing out loud in public and feel nervous speaking in front of crowds and I attribute it to that woman. -
That Teacher- Episode 2 continued
whisper in class that was completely non-disruptive. After this, I was too petrified to speak in school for a few years. Though I overcame this, I still remember the fear of speaking out in class, even if it was relevent to the lesson. It truly terrified me -
That Teacher- Episode 2
If I had not been too afraid to speak in front of a crowd from my trauma of the previous year, I was now given reason to fear speaking to my peers. For apparently talking too much in class (something I still refute) my teacher put me on a self-control chart where, as agreed with my parents, if I spoke during class that day, my parents would punish me when I came home from school. The teacher would punish me for minor offenses like a whisper that would not interrupt class. -
Meeting my Best Friend
After being over to slightly overcome my fear of speaking to my peers, I made my best friend. With Andrew, we had a relatively simple elementary school friendship which included playing video games and eating copious amounts of junk food together. Meeting him was vital in my life as he was one of my first friends that I hung out with regularly as I grew up past childhood into my teenge years -
Vacation to the Atlantis
Visiting the Atlantis in the Bahamas was like entering another world to me. The island intrigued me with its underwater aquariams housing huge manta rays and large water slides. This awoke a new sense of adventure within me, something which I still have today. I feel it was the birth of my dream to see the world and my willingness to try new things. -
Camp Arrowhead
Summer camp was a great adventure for me; I met new friends from around the county and went on multiple school trips. There, I experienced middle school crushes and the drama surrounding them while being surrounded by people both younger and older, giving me role models to look up to. I feel this summer camp and meeting new people was really important in my social development as I still hold some of the friends from it today -
Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy dismissed the rumor that my town was indistructible. It changed my perspective of, when seeing a natural disaster on tv, thinking that it could only happen elsewhere. It was a major awakening to me, as I was able to look at and overcome tragedy. This is a vital skill in the real world, as life is not always come and tragedy free. Unfortunately, it took a tragedy to be able to learn to overcome them. -
My First Job
Getting a job at the senior home as taught me multiple lessons. First of all, I have become more sensitive to people's needs and cooperative with those who are not as mentally or physically able as I. I have become more caring for people and responsible for them and outside of the workplace. I have a newfound responsibility for money, as it is now mine and not my parents, to the point of complete frugality. Getting a job was vital in growing up as it marked my becoming less dependent on others. -
Firefly Music Festival
Firefly Music Festival, the three night music festival in Dover, Delaware, left a great impression on me as a person. While seeing my favorite bands perform, I was able to enter an environment that I felt to be almost Utopian; everyone was happy, stress-free, and problem-free. I was surrounded by hundreds of great people and literally had the best time of my life. It symbolizes my idea of perfection and I am looking forward to returning in the Summer of 2014 -
Me today and for the future
The events of my past have molded who I am today. Worldwide and personal trauma have shown my true fear and weaknesses as well as building personal strength and the ability to overcome this. With the aid of relatives, school, friends, and my job, I have been able to mature away from complete dependency on my parents. I have learned my talents, skills, and weaknesses. Because of this, I have become a strong-willed person with a sense of adventure and have grown out of my fear and became outgoing.
