Backround
One of the most defining features about me is my experiences. I spent my childhood in the city of Toronto. For those who don't know where that is, it's in the providence of Ontario, and is North West of New York state. It is the Canadian equivalent of our New York City. Some interesting facts about Toronto is that it is the fifth largest city in North America, it is considered one of the nicest/ "livable" cities in the world. It has the most cultural diversity than any other city in the world. That is the city where I call home. I've also lived in Arkansas, Mexico, and I currently reside in Ohio, unfortunately. The range of experiences has opened my eyes toward the world through a darkened lense.
High School
Almost all through high school it's been challenging. Not grade wise, or bullying wise or something like that, but having to get out of bed every morning and prepare for the same routine every single day. I wake up and put on a dark, shady persona to make it through my daily life. Most people look at me and neglect me because they consider me boring, and or problematic. Then there are the select few that see through it and see the art within it. However, most people I've met can't see that. When most people do get to know me there's always one adjective that remains the same; complicated. I'm the type of person that doesn't mind sitting alone. Someone that finds complete silence perfection. Who finds an escape through the flicker of a candle. I don't expect anyone to understand what any of that means, and I don't expect them to care either. Regardless the changing perception people have of me, the one thing that remains adamant is my journey through these last three years. I spent the first year with people that now have mostly dropped out of high school or have gone to Gran.t. Most people have called these types of people "trash," but I call them free. In general I was like any other typical high school kid. I wore clothes like everybody else, I talked like everybody else, I worried about stupid things, and I cared about what everyone thought about me. I think if I had to describe myself in one word of how I was my freshman year it would be pathetic; mediocrity is boring. I spent that Summer working in an orphanage in Mexico. To give you an idea of the living conditions here are some of them; sometimes the water had more dirt in it than water, the electricity would work on some days, so I had to learn very quickly to live without it (and technology for that matter). My bathroom was falling of the rest of my room, so bugs would always get into my bathroom. Some days I would wake up with animals in my room. I always had lizards running across my walls, and sometimes they would jump or crawl on me. I couldn't tell you half the crap I ate but here's what I do know; I ate bird, snake, turtle, cow intestines, unpasteurized goats milk (yes, ate it), octopus, rotting fruit, some kind of mildly poisonous fruit, and insects (I ate those one way or another everyday). Some days it was so hot that I could take a freezing cold shower and I'd walk outside for five minutes, and I would be drenched with sweat. I had to quickly get over my obsession with personal hygiene. The biggest obstacle that I was concerned about was that every morning I had to wake up and face the reality that it would not be an "out there idea" if I was killed or kidnapped. It takes a lot more than you think to face that reality. It's one thing to hear me say it, but it's a whole other thing to live it. This forced me to grow up and face what the truly important aspects of life really were. However, I wasn't the only one that had to do this. The people that I lived with had been raised on this mindset, and I can honestly say I have never met a group of people as mature as they were. I connected instantly with them, and for the next two months I formed incredible friendships with them. That was a place that I could call home. I loved that place and leaving it was difficult to say the least. I came back and I knew that I wasn't the same person. It was hard for me to come to terms with the fact that I might never see those people ever again, and they might just completely forget all about me. I continued my life without electricity, technology, and I lived simply. It was a difficult transition for me to go from a dangerous, "dirty," yet beautiful place, and come to a place where everybody seems to just be concerned more about their social status, the type of phone they have, what they watched on Tosh.0 last night, grades, and their obsession with what is on the surface. I chose to spend that next year alone (sophomore year), and lived my life in a way where I could live out my life without limitations. It took me to a place that I never would have expected, and met three people that have changed the way that I view life forever. I found an unexplainable freedom that I keep to myself. I thought that who I was that year was who I would forever be. I thought that people would only disappoint, that people would turn around in the end and be someone that you never would have expected. I chose a solitary mindset. However, this year through serious of hellos, goodbyes, completed expectations, surprises I've found a group of people and have given me hope for a new beginning.
Aspirations
When I can get out of this town I'd like to go to college at the University of Washington, Middlebury College, or University of Toronto. My dream (but is still open to change) would be to become a private translator in almost any major city around the world, but my ideal cites would be Toronto, New York City, St. Petersburg, or Montreal. Once I travel to these cities I want to find the one that I feel the most comfortable in and settle down for the rest of my life. I'm currently studying and would like to major in French and Russian. I can speak English, Spanish, some of French and Russian, but I would like to learn at least Romanian and another language before I die. Actually I think if I could do anything I wanted I would learn all the languages. I guess the idea of getting married would be nice, but it's going to be hard to find someone that can keep up with me.