Reconnaissance in The City That Reads
Change may be difficult at first but realizing that things happen for a reason can make
experiences memorable for a lifetime. Experiencing a new city allowed me to learn more about
myself and develop characteristics that would motivate me to succeed in life. Moving to
Baltimore, MD was a pivotal moment in my life because I developed into the person that I am
today. Although the change was not easy, I am grateful and blessed to have experienced a thrill
of a ride in a city where I had least expected to live in. Living in Charm City changed my life
because I immersed myself in a different culture and environment, I began to improve
academically in school, and I discovered hobbies that made
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Through each day and night, the hall of fame award kept
alluding me. Experiencing that very moment made me realize that I was a hall of fame caliber
student and I was ready to head to college with added momentum.
In addition to improving academically in school, I discovered hobbies that made me
confident and determined to succeed in life. During my high school years, I played soccer as a
goalkeeper. My father realized that I wasn’t physically in shape as a goalkeeper so he introduced
me to a gym in the apartment complex we were living in. Subsequently I became passionate
about weight training and fitness as I began to exercise daily at home and in school. Also, I
learned how to play the guitar in and out of school which became therapeutic from the stress of
doing schoolwork. Engaging in these hobbies made me become disciplined and determined to be
self-confident and apply those characteristics towards any endeavors that I embark in my life.
Moving to Baltimore, MD was a significant moment in my life because I developed into
a person of character. Living in The City That Reads allowed me to immerse myself in a
Most people who grow up in Cincinnati cant wait to get out, but once they leave they can’t wait to come back because there is no other place like it. It has the small town “homey” feeling everybody grows to love, along with big city options that are easily accessible. Nobody ever wants to come to Cincinnati, but once they do, they realize how special it is, regardless of the territory. Its unique structure comes as surprise, yet, joyous experience and that’s what makes it special. East or West, North or South Who-Dey baby!
It has been said that the grass is always greener on the other side. Being excited about the newness and challenges of a new place may not enable it to stay green for a lifetime, but the new place is a great place to spend the next four years. So even though I lived my whole high school life in one city where there were no actual problems, it still was time for me to move where there were new experiences.
Many folks go their whole lives without having to move. For them it is easy; they know the same people, have loads of friends, and never have to move away from their families. As with me, I was in a different situation. I grew up my entire life, all eighteen years of it, in a small town called Yorktown, Virginia. In my attempt to reach out for a better life style, my girlfriend and I decided we were going to move to Shreveport, Louisiana. Through this course of action, I realized that not two places in this country are exactly alike. I struggled with things at first, but I found some comforts of home here as well.
I spent most of my life surrounded by fragrant pine trees, rocky mountains, and sometimes extremely cold winters. At least one year ago, my family and I moved to a place that is the exact opposite of Colorado which was Phoenix, Arizona. Months before moving, we got rid of all clothing that resembled winter apparel because we all knew it was not going to be needed again. When moving to a new location, it the time to embrace new change, different cultures and certainly different weather climates.
... and I started to realize some of the good effects that moving has had. I now understand that this experience has changed me in positive ways as well. Soon I would have friends in different places in the world that I can visit. I would have many places where I could go and feel like home. Most importantly, I would learn that one can adapt to every town and its people and that friends can be made everywhere. Every place has its conveniences and its problems. Every town has its generous and heartless citizens.
Each game, my passion grew. Each team, new memories and lifelong friends were made. Sports sometimes make me feel disappointment and at loss; but it taught me to be resilient to a lot of things, like how to thrive under pressure and come out on top. Being the team captain of my high school’s football and lacrosse team showed me how having a big responsibility to bring a group together to work as one is compared to many situations in life. Currently playing varsity football, varsity lacrosse, and track I take great pride in the activities I do. Staying on top of my academics, being duel enrolled at Indian River State College, working three nights a week, and two different sport practices after school each day shaped my character to having a hard work
One thing that really bothers me is how much I changed. I used to play games all day, not focus on school, wouldn't get in serious trouble, and was very innocent compared to my present day self. There are cons and pros of my past self compared to how I am currently. I am more happy of how I am now then I am before. As time changes, so do I and I can not stop that. What’s done has already been done and can’t be changed so you always have to look towards the future and never the past. The past will not definite who you are today unless you let it. I would have never expect that I would be transferred to a continuation high school in my freshman year. It is a bad thing to many people, but I am thankful that I am sent to it because I will learn
I decided that I wanted to play a sport, I chose volleyball. Most of my friends played the sport so it wasn't hard for me to adjust and make new friends. Becoming a student athlete was a big adjustment for me, I could no longer float through my classes but I need to excel. And that's exactly what I did. For the first time in my high school career I made not only honor roll, but principal’s honor roll. For the first time my mom was proud of my report card, that made me even more proud. From then on I knew I wanted nothing less than what I earned, good grades and a proud family. From my decision to chose to become a student athlete not only make me work harder but, be great at everything I put my mind to. I had motivation to stay successful, to stay eligible. Three years ago if you were to ask me where I thought I would be my senior year, I probably would have told you low level classes barely making it by. Now here I am today excelling in my education preparing to take the next step in my future, college. Even if we don’t understand why we go through them, we have to be willing to let our obstacles become out
I was born in Houston, Texas, and for that reason it has always been a home to me. Even though I love the quiet life of a small town (like Burns Flat, where I attend school), the lights and skylines of a big city have always stood for a lot of ideals that I hold very true to my heart. Opportunity, growth, and pride are just a few of these ideals that reflect not only how I feel about cities, but also how I view myself. I spend my summers and holidays in Christmas every year with my dad, my stepmom, and my stepsiblings and their friends, who I spend most of my summer hanging out with.
It seems unbelievable my oldest is a few days off being a decade old. I know every parent wonders “where has the time gone?” a multitude of times during their children’s childhoods, but as I realize my son is over halfway to 'adulthood' it seems like the time has flown by.
I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York and it’s all I’ve ever known. When I was younger my parents took me on little short trips like, Toronto and Columbus, Ohio. I was young, so I didn’t really remember a lot that was going on or different about the two places. When I got older, I decided I wanted a change in my life but did not know what or where. In September of 2003, I was invited to my cousin’s wedding in Charlotte, North Carolina. I decided to go and when I did, I did not want to return back to Buffalo. Of course, I had to come back to Buffalo because I was only visiting. I had made up in my mind right then, Charlotte, North Carolina was the place for my children and me. I decided to move to Charlotte before Christmas of that year. My experiences were years to remember. I stayed in Charlotte for a total of seven years. During the years I had been living in Charlotte, my most memorable experiences were the weather and the commuting.
After reviewing my life, I have decided my life defining moment was when my family and I moved to Texas from Oklahoma. I consider this move my life changing moment because it changed so many things in my life. This move set the stage for an entirely new life for me. Moving six hours away from the only home I knew certainly called for many changes.
I had just landed in New York City and it hit me that we are not in California, Missouri anymore. Everything is different: the way of transportation, the prices for goods are outrageous, the amount of people, and just the way of life. Nothing is comparable from where I have grown up. Growing up in a town where there is only one stoplight, to being in this gigantic city where there is a stoplight on every corner changes your whole perspective of a place. The way people live their lives in New York is very different from how people in California, Missouri live their lives.
My teammates, Alex Wu, Andrea Palate, Namara Haq, and I rode the bus, went to city hall, visited the Brookside biking path, Arbor Villa Tennis Court Park, the Plaza, McGonigle’s Market, and KC Community Gardens. The experiences I had visiting these places helped me connect the concepts to the material I learned in class. First, we walked over to Brookside where there was a place to rent bikes to ride on the trail. The Brookside area is an older part of Kansas City, but is well kept and modernized.
Everything seems like it’s falling out of place, it’s going too fast, and my mind is out of control. I think these thoughts as I lay on my new bed, in my new room, in this new house, in this new city, wondering how I got to this place. “My life was fine,” I say to myself, “I didn’t want to go.” Thinking back I wonder how my father felt as he came home to the house in Stockton, knowing his wife and kids left to San Diego to live a new life. Every time that thought comes to my mind, it feels as if I’m carrying a ten ton boulder around my heart; weighing me down with guilt. The thought is blocked out as I close my eyes, picturing my old room; I see the light brown walls again and the vacation pictures of the Florida and camping trip stapled to them. I can see the photo of me on the ice rink with my friends and the desk that I built with my own hands. I see my bed; it still has my checkered blue and green blanket on it! Across from the room stands my bulky gray television with its back facing the black curtain covered closet. My emotions run deep, sadness rages through my body with a wave of regret. As I open my eyes I see this new place in San Diego, one large black covered bed and a small wooden nightstand that sits next to a similar closet like in my old room. When I was told we would be moving to San Diego, I was silenced from the decision.