A misconception that most people have of me is that they think I’m stuck up and mean. I really don’t think I am. I’m a quiet person. I like to listen to people more than me having to talk. I’ve always had girls tell me that their first impression of me was that I was mean. After meeting me they tell me they were very mistaken. This happened with a girl about five years ago. She wouldn’t talk to me because she thought I would be rude if she tried. She was wrong because when she asked me a question we quickly began talking about our interests and soon realized we were into just about everything each other was into. To this day people will ask her how are you two friends, Emily seems so mean and you’re so sweet and outgoing. If only they got to know me !

There’s quite a few things about myself that many people didn’t know. I love to hike on steep mountains and I like to skydive. I hadn’t always liked these thing because I would get anxiety as I would go higher. I used to be terrified of heights and just the thought of having to be on a tall building, a big ride, or a huge mountain would make me have this awful feeling in my stomach. I’d always tell friends no thank you I’ll wait right here or I’ll catch up in a bit. Suddenly I started to think man Emily what are you so afraid of, you’re missing out because of your insignificant little fear of heights. One day I made it my goal to get to the very top of the mountain that I went to hike at and even though the feeling in my stomach was still constantly there super strong I shook it off and continued. Even though I felt lightheaded and my heart was pounding almost as if it were to come out of my chest I felt very proud of myself for finally being able to be on a tall mountain. The view was amazing. You were able to see all the little buildings, all the roads, and the beautiful ocean.

Last year around June I went to Ocean Dunes and camped out about three days. It was a cool experience because I had never done that before. In the beginning when my family first brought up the idea I was so sure I wasn’t going to join them because I didn’t even know how to swim or ride the motorcycles. Then I thought hey I’ve been wanting to experience new things so why not try this out. The day before we had to leave I packed the essentials I needed and helped load the bikes and quads in the truck. It was a super long drive but once we got there the first thing I noticed was the beautiful ocean which was clearer than I had initially thought it’d be and so many motorcyclists driving around in the sand. We drove through the sand and there was so many people already set up in their own spaces they had claimed. We set up in a big spot because it was about six trucks and about thirty six of us. We were a big group because everyone had called off work to make those three days a family trip. Since it took us practically all day to get there we made a bonfire and made s’mores. Everyone was in shock when I had said it was my first time ever eating and making s’mores.

My most prized possession would have to be my gold ring. I’ve worn it everyday since I was about 10 years old. You would’ve thought my fingers would’ve grown but I’m 19 still wearing it. Let me give you a little back story on why it’s so valuable to me. When I was about 2 years old my dad and mom separated. He was very sad about it and to distract himself he would go on late night walks as a way to cope with his feelings. One night as he walked he stepped on something and bent down to see what it was. It was a small golden ring so he dusted it off and put it on his pinky because it was too small to fit any of his other fingers. He continued to walk but he was being followed by a man with a knife and was stabbed because the man had confused him with someone else.

It has always been my career goal to become a pediatric nurse. Ten years from now I see myself done with college. I won’t be juggling school, work, and my personal life anymore. I also wouldn’t have to be working in low paying fast food places because I would be working in a children’s hospital or in a clinic. Ever since I was small I was so sure that one day I’d be working with babies because I loved the thought of having to help little innocent children. I still picture myself helping little infants but now it’s clearer that that’s my passion. I also see myself possibly settled down with a significant other in our own little house. I’m not sure about having children because I know the career choice that I chose for myself wouldn’t give me the time to give my full attention to my children. I wouldn’t want to put a child through an absence of a mother. As for my health I’d also like to continue being as active and fit as I am now. I see myself continuing to run 5ks and possibly my first marathon by that age. I see myself doing a lot more charity work as well. My family has always tried to donate to good causes and I’d like to continue doing so. Although they’ve never had much they’ve always found it in their heart to give, no matter the circumstances they find themselves in. I see myself being the same way because there’s no better feeling than knowing you gave something with the kindness of your heart to someone who is struggling or in a worse situation than yourself.

When I was about 15 I went through my first breakup. I have to admit I was devastated I thought my world was ending and that there was no other guy out there for me. I cried so much for that guys and now that I think of it I laugh because I’m way better now and I don’t picture myself with that person anymore. Man was I wrong that I needed that person, but in the moment I didn’t think that I was still too young to fully understand that there’s more to life and that one rough patch isn’t going to hurt forever. My mom knew I had been insisting to adopt a dog, and when she realized I had hit rock bottom over some silly boy she quickly acted upon it and adopted a pup for me. There was a day that I was home alone, just laying down listening to music which quite frankly didn’t help me at all but there I was. Suddenly my phone rings so I slowly reach across my bed for it. It was my mom on the phone telling me to rush to the living room because she needed me to find something she had dropped. She didn’t specify what so I was so confused but there I go, in search for an unknown item. Little did I know it wasn’t an item. When I reached my hand under the couch I felt a soft little ball which at first freaked me out. The I reached again and this time I pulled on it. When I brought it out it was a tiny little pup which just looked like a fur ball! I was so excited about the puppy that I held on to it and called my mom back. She was hiding in her room waiting to hear my reaction. I’ve had my dog for 3 years now and let me tell you she’s my best friend. I take her with me when I go for runs or hikes. Literally can’t picture life without her.

I have to admit I tend to laugh a lot, especially during situations when I know I shouldn’t laugh. I hate to admit it but seeing someone fall makes me laugh, but most of the time I laugh at myself. If there’s something everyone should know about me it would have to be that I’m the clumsiest person you’ll ever meet. I’m prone to injuries. My own mishaps are the biggest reasons that make me laugh. One day I could be having the greatest day then it just goes downhill. An example of this would be from a couple of days ago when was on my way home. I typically take the bus everyday because I’m barely learning how to drive. Well I’m on the bus then I see my stop coming up so I pull on the cord to request the stop. When the bus makes the stop I quickly get my stuff and rush my way to the door. As soon as I step out with my left foot first I end up missing the curb and down I go onto my knees and hands. Instead of being worried that the full bus of people saw me I bursted out laughing because I couldn’t believe my foot didn’t reach the sidewalk.

I think I would go crazy if I had to live with this tribe for a year. All their practices and rituals seem so gruesome. I wouldn’t want to stay with that tribe. I wouldn’t enjoy it at all. Although some of it do reminds me of stuff we tend to do. For example when we pay to go to the dentist and they drill our teeth. Or when people pay to be able to look a certain way. In a way it sounds like a very exaggerated version of us.

When I first began this class I could not put any of my thoughts on here. It just wouldn’t come to me as easily. Throughout the class though, I noticed I began to change the way I’d see writing. At the beginning Im not going to lie I saw it as pointless, but as time went by I started to see it more as a way to express myself instead of being forced to write just because I have to. From the twenty minute blogs to the essays , I’d say I improved quite a bit in my writing. One thing I’d say I improved on is the structure of my work because before I had no clue what to do and would have everything all over the place. It would never make sense.

It’s hard to put into words what inspires me but I’ll try my best to do so. What inspires me the most would be my hard working family. Specifically my aunt, uncle, and dad are the ones who contribute to my inspiration. My family came to California when they were infants with their parents. They didn’t speak one bit of English and had to struggle in their environment such as in their neighborhood or at school. They had to live with a family friend. They also had to work in factories in order to get money for food and rent. They were merely children. My aunt was twelve and my dad was only nine when they got jobs in low paying factories. My aunt and dad had constantly been picked on because of their accent, the way they dressed, and how hard they were working. Although this was hurting them, they used this as a bigger reason to keep trying harder. They both graduated high school despite everyone around them saying that would never be possible and for them to just give up. My aunt now has her own business alongside her husband and my dad.