This reflection brought about a list of things both big and small that I am grateful for, but I chose one aspect of my life that has made a big impact on me. I am grateful for my pets who have been with me every second of the day and encourage me to stay positive even with little social interaction during the time of COVID. I have a cat named Alley and a dog named Zoey and my connection with them is like no other I have experienced. I remember attending my Zoom class for Spanish with my cat behind me in the bed and she would do this every day. Even when I wasn’t able to give my cat my full attention, she would still come into my room during class and lay on the bed. It is then that I recognized the unconditional love we had for each other. When Alley was a kitten, we rescued her from a cage where she was starving and I am glad we did because she so positively impacts me and I hope I was able to repay the same love back to her.
My dog is very hyper which makes it so cute when she gets excited. Zoey will tap her feet on the ground and spin in circles as I approach the door to go outside with her and I am just as excited to see her as she is to see me. It is so refreshing to spend time with Zoey, whether that be going on a walk or playing with a ball in the backyard. I have even taught her how to play soccer and she is really good at it! She is who I go to when I am stressed because she helps me calm down. Zoey has such a unique personality too and has a lot in common with my cat. Both love to have a companion when they eat so they will bring me to their food dish at random times. They also both seem to care about me so much and the feeling of being able to devote love to an animal and them giving the same to me warms my heart. I could talk forever about their adorable quirks and personalities because I am so grateful to have them in my life and they mean so much to me. |
|
I have always been very dedicated to my studies and dedicate most of my time to this. Since I was little, I have very much enjoyed learning. I am also aware of the benefits it poses to me and my future. Intellect has caused me to become knowledgeable about many different topics and I see opportunities every day to apply that knowledge to my life. It is the knowledge that I use as a tool and it has also caused me to be able to come up with my own ideas, values and more. During the Covid-19 pandemic when I lacked the structure of school to guide me in my learning, it was my dedication to learning that kept me motivated in school.
|
The power of words is one thing that I have realized the importance of over the years. Words can unite and separate people, motivate and discourage, spread ideas, spark change, and more. I have actively pursued learning about these topics so I can fully obtain the potential words have. That is why I have applied myself into public speaking often with competitions and founding the Speech and Debate Club at the high school. It is also why I am an avid reader and writer. I have applied the English language into my pursuits of environmental advocacy, leadership in this program, and my conversations daily with other people.
|
My friends are very important to me. I very much value connections with other people and I also always try to make a positive impact on the world around me. I always try to uphold a smile on my face to spread a positive energy to other people. I never know what somebody else may be going through in their life but I do know that my actions can impact others. I appreciate the people around me who are supportive and kind and I repay that back to anybody I can.
|
One hobby of mine is photography. It also reflects how I often acknowledge the little things in life. There are so many little things that are disregarded but are very essential. Insects for example are tiny organisms not usually studied as much in science or talked about when discussing the Earth but the world would not hold its biodiversity or function the same without them. When I am taking photos I usually do it with my phone or a small portable camera so I can capture any moment that becomes available. No two moments are the same so I must be ready for everything. I take photos of tiny flowers, a spiderweb, a specific leaf pattern, or other things that aren’t usually speculated and that reflects who I am as a person.
|
Science has always been a passion of mine. It encompasses the entire world around us. I often have many thoughts and questions about things around me. As someone who dislikes uncertainty, I find a certain pleasure in having an understanding of various topics. From there it just fuels my curiosity and creates more ideas and questions. In my future, I want to go into the career of Environmental Engineering. It aligns with my passion for the environment and also my desire to have an understanding of it. At the same time, I get to form ideas and apply them to modify the environment and help the world.
|
|
One of my favorite elements of Homecoming was the behind the scenes preparation that was really able to connect our entire group together. I had so much fun helping before coronation putting up curtains and tying helium balloons. All the preparation every week leading up to the night rally dance and fashion show was a time to involve people both in and out of Leadership. I felt we were able to be vulnerable with each other and do great things. Then at the night rally working with everyone to put on the best event all year. The small thing that will always stick with me is the LED lights on my class poster because I personally think those looked super cool behind the balloons, giving a glowing effect. I'll also remember the Freshman spirit day when I came to school dressed up as a bird from the movie Rio.
|
My favorite hobby is photography. I have my phone, a silver portable camera, and a Fujifilm Instax camera that I use to take pictures. It fascinates me how each one captures a moment differently. The Instax is very exciting in that way because I wait while anticipating the developing film. I definitely love that an image can capture a memorable moment and it gives me peace of mind to think of looking back from the future being able to remember so many amazing things. Sometimes my pictures very clearly have a purpose but other times, I just take pictures of the small things I find. I observe the world around me and while in many instances I will get an image of the Golden Gate Bridge, it could also just be a small flower I see on my way home from school. It is whatever intrigues me at the moment and that is how the process of taking a picture came to be important to me also. Elements of photography such as lighting, angles, and blur are fun to alter and give a sense of depth to pictures. Sometimes I even show others the pictures I take of them and it warms my heart when they find it worthy of a frame on their wall that will give them so many joyous memories. The device I use most often is my phone because it is easy to carry around and is best for whimsically taking pictures. On trips, I use the Instax camera but I can’t use it too often since the film is expensive. The silver portable camera takes the best pictures but I don’t have the adapter to take pictures off of the SD card so the other two options are more convenient. I spend time doing this hobby in my free time on the weekends usually just walking around in nature or with friends and family. My photos have sometimes even served as a reference for when I’m doing another type of art like painting. All in all, taking pictures is a very enjoyable activity for me and holds a lot of meaning in my life.
|