School: Ballou High School

Grade: 10

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius/Year of the Snake

Interests/Activities:

My interests include skiing, writing, and astronomy. I love skiing, because of the breeze that hits my face when I’m skiing down slopes. I guess you can say I love the excitement that comes along with skiing; my favorite thing to do while skiing is to fall. If you’re not falling, you’re not actually having fun. Writing is a passion. I love creating a world that is my own and no one can take that away from me because it is my own creation. Astronomy has always intrigued me. My mom always talked to me about the constellations since I was little. I always have wondered if there is life on other planets. The unknown answer to the question has always been my drive to know more about what is within the universe.

Words to live by:  “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

Personal Statement:

I never experienced another culture outside of my own, so I jumped at the opportunity to take a Japanese class. I was already eager to learn the culture because of anime and astronomy. There was no public school in DC that offered Japanese. I knew it would be a challenge, but I do love to come outside my comfort zone. I have always had this notion that when you’re born into this world you’re told to get an education or find your talent so you can contribute to society. I never really liked living up to societal expectations. To me it seems society always puts limits on people. The phrase “the sky is the limit” makes me angry. Why does the sky have to be the limit? There are things beyond the sky such as stars, planets, and galaxies. The universe is infinite, so why can’t I be?