Personal background starts off small, it changes and grows over time into something big, it grows into an identity. Walking down the hallway at school, seeing someone standing alone, my first instinct is to make conversation, compliment, or even just smile at him or her. This instinct came from someone once telling me an act so small could turn a person's entire life around. As a kid, reading encyclopedias about random topics, consumed my time. Many days were spent coming home to find an injured wild animal in my dad's arms waiting to be saved. My dad would sit outside and draw animals, trees, and anything else he saw. Nothing excited me more than trying to draw whatever my dad drew, and as good as he did. Any assignment that was handed to…
I grew up in a two small towns called Ruston, La and Grambling, La. I spent my childhood in Ruston and my teenage years in Grambling. The two towns are so small it's like 1 small town almost. I enjoyed my childhood there. It was a place where kids were free to run and play. Til this day it is still a place where kids can be free and mothers don't have to constantly fret about there child being kidnapped of the street. I remember being up the street outside playing jump rope, volley ball, kickball, football, softball, and basketball with all the neighborhood kids. When evening came and the sun went down I remember my mother standing in the yard calling my name for me to come home because it was getting late.…
On a humid summer day in Chicago, my family and I decided to take a long journey to visit my distant family/friend in the Upper East Side of Chicago. Although, the car ride seemed peaceful and smooth, little did I know this was a journey to the most horrific town I’ve ever seen.…
The city that I come from is not a representation of who I am. Pomona, California is known for it’s high crime rights, and all around gang violence. It is troublesome not to fall through the cracks when the temptation is all around my community. Growing accustom to this environment makes it that much easier to fall a victim into this lifestyle. At the age of 15, for the first time in my life, I experienced a retaliation drive by up the street from where I sleep, the place I call home. That night I heard a total of five gunshots, and was later informed the gun shots left two family friends paralyzed. One is now paralyzed from the neck down, and the other from the waist down. The two victims were sisters, and were not the main target. The shots…
Moving from Belleville to Smithton affected my life. It caused me to make all new friends, have better experiences and see life in a new way. In Belleville life was different, I always had the same friend , same school , same life every single day. Moving let me start over and start fresh. Before i moved i had a different perspective on life that i had to act like someone i'm not to fit in. I really looked forward to moving so I could start over and present myself as the real me. Going to a new school let me have the opportunity of trying new sports, clubs , and taking new classes. Having the opportunity to move and get away to start new has affected my life in a lot of…
Growing up in Houston I could see a business man full of success and then I would move my eyes away from him, to see a homeless man barely making it by all on the same street. It is sad that in order to live you have to focus on gaining a green piece of paper.…
In my experience, I don’t think I am reluctant to a specific identity. Houston is a very diverse city that people can find almost any type of music genre. In my community there are Hispanic and African American families. The music that is heard is of all kinds from “R&B, Pop music, Reggae, to Cumbia, Bachata and Regional Mexicano.” I have lived in the same community ever since I was born and in my opinion, I have grown up listening to the different types of music genres. This has shaped my identity to be open to different music genres and traditions.…
Growing up in Forrest City Arkansas, there was not much to do, fields for miles and not a chance at seeing a tree. But forty miles away, I could not say the same, the pearl of the Mississippi River, Memphis Tennessee. I spent a lot of time there growing up, just because there was not anything to do where I was from, and a whole lot to do in Memphis.…
The day I found out I would be moving from Roseville to Alpena was probably the worst day of my life. I remember the day I found out about the move. Not only was I really upset because I would be moving away from my friends and family, but I was really scared. We were moving to the middle of nowhere, where I knew not a single person. I would be going into my 6th grade year in the fall, my first year of middle school. My brother and I did everything we could to try to sabotage the move, but sadly our plans failed. Nothing could stop this from happening. Everything I knew… was about to change.…
So, my trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento was very different from my other trips. Sure I once when on a road trip to Portland by land, but it was actually different. Our family basically had 3 days to go anywhere we wanted to, and we brought only a few supplies.…
I am a Californian. I am a family member. I am a friend. I am a student. I am a book lover. I am a music lover. I am shy. I am a dreamer. I am ambitious. I am smart.…
I always keep this poem and picture in my wallet. I take it everywhere with me because it means quite a lot to me in two very different ways. One of those ways is because it holds sentimental value. When I was younger I learned to read very late in life and I was always so embarrassed of that. My father knew that I was struggling and bought me the book, Where the Sidewalk Ends. It is a book full of poems and little pictures written by Shel Silverstein. I remember opening the book to ta random page, and it was the page with this poem. I then remember my dad asking me to read it to him. I was so uncomfortable, even thought I was just going to be reading to my dad. He gave me some words of encouragement, and even thought I was not able to read…
Hi let me introduce myself. Myles, Myles Brogdon. I’m about tell you story that I still regret till this day. It’s the last week of school and everybody making their finalization to committing to their colleges and some getting recruited cause of sports like my friend Rakeem Christmas going to Syracuse University and Jayson Tatum also my friend going to Duke University.…
My first home for many years. This land comes rarer to me as the day…
The beautiful location left indelible marks in our minds. The amusing time that we passed there is unforgettable. I never try again a meal with the delicious taste of my grandfather's meal. For all of that, my grandparents' house was in my memory as the most favorite place that I visited during my…