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Family Outing - #1
My earliest memory is of a family outing that I took with my mom's side of the family. When I was approximately 2 years old, we all went to a rodeo together. It was our first gathering as an extended family after my uncle's sudden death a couple months prior. One odd thing about this memory is that both my older sibling and I remember that uncle being at the rodeo with us, even though it happened after he passed away. -
Adopted a Dog! - #2
When I was about 7 years old, my dad decided (without my mom's approval) to adopt a puppy. My mom, along with the rest of the family, soon fell in love, and our dog, Buster, became a big part of our family. He's gone camping with us and joined us on road trips throughout the years. Even after two ACL surgeries and a Dementia diagnosis, he's still full of energy and ready to make new friends. He's always a friend to me and my family when everything else feels unreliable. -
First School Play - #3
When I was 8, I was cast in my first ever school play as the tiny Alice in Alice in Wonderland. This opened a door to many other experiences as I got older. Being in theater was something I always looked forward to, whether I was 8 or 18. It was not only an activity and a hobby, but also a family that I built along the way, from third grade all the way until twelfth. -
Hosted First German Exchange Group - #4
In 2013, when I was 11, my family hosted a German family for a few days through an international exchange program. This was the first of many exchange groups that we helped host, but the family that we hosted the first time has remained close with us. Even after spending a mere 4 days with them in our home, we formed an irreplaceable bond with them, and they even offered to return the favor by having us as guests in their home (which ended up becoming a reality, as you'll see in my next event). -
Trip to Europe - #5
After hosting a German family in our home for a few days, they invited us to visit sometime so they could return the favor. When an older relative passed away in 2016, my family received an inheritance that allowed us to travel to visit our friends in Germany the following year. I was 15 at the time. We were abroad for a total of two weeks, which included a weekend trip to Paris and a detour to stay with our friends in Switzerland for a few days. -
Became Drum Major - #6
When I was 16, I auditioned for the role of Drum Major in my high school's marching band. When I was given the position, I was ecstatic, especially since I had also auditioned the previous year and someone else had been given the position. As a drum major, I was a critical leader in the marching band, and being in this role throughout my junior and senior years of high school shaped who I am as a person and as a leader. -
Promoted to Black Belt in Karate - #7
After training for 4 years with my parents and younger brother, I finally received the honor of being promoted to Black Belt in Tang Soo Do. I was 16 when I received my Black Belt, and it was worth all of the hard work I had put into it. After my nine-hour-long Black Belt test two months prior, I earned not only the rank I was testing for, but I was also awarded with a Best of Test award. Karate has had a great influence on my life, and I still train in the present day over Zoom. -
Bought Myself a Car - #8
When I was 18 years old, I purchased myself a car out of pocket. After working 2-3 jobs all summer and fall, I had finally saved up more than enough to buy a decent vehicle. I ended up purchasing a 2012 Chevy Cruze, and because it's a stick shift, I got an amazing deal on it. Though it's not in perfect condition, I'm still very proud of my work ethic that led to my ability to accomplish this. -
Moved Away to College - #9
At age 18, I moved away from home and into my first college dorm. Although I wasn't able to be on campus during the fall of my freshman year, I was fortunate enough to get to live on campus for the spring semester. So far, it's been a lot of fun, and I've been enjoying the freedom that I have now that I'm 6 hours from my hometown. Though I miss my friends back home, I'm glad I've also gotten to meet new people on campus.