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When I was brought to the United States, my mom had me meet her best friend's daughter, Ali. Little did I know, she would become the base and foundation of my childhood where we could do absolutely anything and everything with. We took countless art classes, ice skating lessons, tennis lessons, cooking classes, photography classes, pottery classes, and so much more. Our friendship helped shape me throughout the years and know made my childhood filled with amazing memories of a best friend.
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When I was around 10 months old, my parents, Jim and Maureen, adopted me from Chongqing, China along with my brother and my Nana. Xi Meng was my name in China, and still remains part of my full name today as a middle name. My family made sure that my culture was not something to just be tossed aside and forgotten, but something to be embraced and proud of.
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My first team sport was softball because my older cousins, whom I looked up to, played it too. This would mark the start of 5 years of orange dust, grass stains, and tens of dollars spent on sunflower seeds.
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In 2012, the private school, Melrose, I had attended had closed down and I knew nothing of what public school was like. Melrose is just a few miles down from the Brewster School District. I had grown up going to school with the same small class for my entire life. Melrose was a closely-knit community of faulty and parents and the thought of going somewhere new shook me to my core. I faced challenges of adjusting to new teachers and methods, schedules, and making new friends.
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The National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony marked an important point in my life. I was recognized for my personal achievements and work in the community. This night proved to me that with hard work and goal setting that I can achieve absolutely anything I put my mind to.
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Summer of 2017, I attended a church-run service project in Cumberland, Kentucky. There I got to meet new friends, connect to my spiritual side, build a porch for a less fortunate individual, Dorothy, and paint a foster home. Despite being in her current financial situation, she made sure that the other workers and I were provided with an abundance of drinks, snacks, treats, AC, and a place to sit down and take a break indoors. She stands out as a very significant figure in my life.
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This was the first real high school "turning point." I was letting go of my middle school friends, straying away from toxicity, and finding myself in another group of people. Something about this new group was different and daring. Their jokes were historical and the hangouts were chaotic. Somewhere in all the chaos, I found a home.
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Joining spring track was quite literally one of my best decisions I've made. It was my first sport since softball and it damn well kept me on my feet. It made me feel something I hadn't felt in a while, the hunger and determination to compete and to get better at something. I attended meets, ran with my friends, learned how to be a better runner and teammate, and got stress fractures in both my legs!
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Jake Seholm, "Böbee," is my first serious relationship. I've come to realize this is more than just some high school relationship you look back on one day. I've experienced joy, laughter, butterflies, late nights, sadness, anger, and sacrifice. Love. That is love. Tackling things as a team, learning to accept and embrace our imperfections, and cherishing the qualities that make us different. Over the course of 9 months, I've become a better communicator, listener, and Axis and Allies player.
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Dunkin'. "Dunkie," Is my first real job. Here I got to work in a fast-paced environment working with people around my age from different areas. I've learned to develop a harder work ethic, stronger communication, and social skills, and how to get a job done well and above and beyond.
