In the physical aspect, my Timex digital watch is something that I can say I feel "naked" if I leave home without it. I began wearing it regularly since freshman year after it sat on my night table at home for a few months since my birthday. For the sake of keeping time, it's a let less conspicuous than always reaching for my phone. Now, the thing wakes my up at 6:40 every morning, as I drive myself to school. It's not a terribly valuable watch, and is rather beat up as the finish has wear, the screen is scratched, and the Velcro/felt is frayed. However, it's become like an extension of my skin, as I've used it to keep track of valuable minutes on tests and timed writings and log the long hours when I had a summer job. Without it, I'd probably feel less aware of my time management, although I never leave home without the watch.
As for desires and lifelong achievements, I can't say that I'm an especially motivated towards a particular dream job or whatever. I'll tie this with the third category: my family is certainly my driving force. Both of my brothers Greg and Joe were very successful at Westside, and went to the University of St. Thomas and Texas A&M respectively. Greg got his computer science degree at A&M and works now, whilst Joe passed the LSAT and has submitted applications to several law schools. I know I am as capable as they are, and aspire to share their accomplishments.
Joe and yours truly, totally not trying to imitate this at Universal Studios Orlando. Note the watch.
I don't usually have to describe myself, but I would say first that I'm very introverted and shy. I stay in my shell, and kind of prefer to stand back and be reserved. Creativity is another aspect I have, as I like to sketch and draw a bit, although not that often in class (drawing on lined paper irks me). I take Mr. Bowman's photoshop class in first period, and several assignments give me some time to apply creativity digitally. I don't express it a lot, but a good sense of humor is something else that describes me. My mom swears that when combined with my writing abilities and creativity and wit, I should become a cartoonist.
Made this last year in another PS class.
What memories shape me? I think family oriented memories are the ones that I value the most, like being at graduation ceremonies and vacations. One that has definitely shaped me was my grandfather (mother's father) death right before my sixteenth birthday in August in 2012. It was, of course, emotionally distressing, but it was also my last chance to celebrate my birthday with the extended family of my uncle and aunt (the two younger siblings of my mom) at the house where they were raised in Nederland even if neither my grandparents were there (my grandmother is in a private care facility, as she has very a progressive stage of dementia). Now, I really value the time with extended family much more as it makes for even better memories, like when I went on a fishing trip to Bay Flats with my uncle and Joe last summer where we caught some enormous redfish. In conclusion, I recognize that the non-physical things that I carry have shaped myself through family ties.
