Timeline

A few months ago, I went on a run and started thinking about my life from the beginning, or, what I can remember of the beginning of it. The moments and people that have defined who I am today. I started thinking back from a few years ago, to college, to high school, to middle school, and elementary school, and thought about each event and the people that have impacted and helped shape me. I ran for about an hour, and the entire time, I was listing all of this in my head and figured it would make a good read and would be nice to read again in the future.

As I was reminded of the events and my achievements, I couldn't help but feel a little proud of what I've taken on and accomplished over the years.

I'll start from the early school years, when I would stay with my nana and tata in National City. The elementary school I went to was Palmer Way and it was just a short walk from their house. I don't remember much about those first three years, probably because I didn't think too highly them. I remember having a few close friends, but I am so very glad I moved away from that school after 3rd grade. The kids were bad. And mean. I have a feeling I would be very different had I stayed there. I remember winning an award for inventing some kind of gardening tool we called "The Ram." My favorite teacher was Mrs. Cole in 2nd grade, and in 3rd grade, I joined the chess club. I remember going to this after school daycare program occassionally and dreading it because the other kids would spit in everyones snack, so I never ate. I also remember sitting in these chairs with the circular hole in the back, and the mean kids used to run around and kick everyone in the back. It was like in Toy Story 3, I went from the really bad classroom, but then after moving schools it was like transfering to the super nice classroom where the kids are really gentle with the toys--except the kids were gentle with each other. My biggest influences at the time were nana and tata. We played cards, I played with the dogs, developed a liking for coffee with nana, learned a little bit of spanish, and we watched TV. We watched I love Lucy, Lassie, and As the World Turns. I am thankful for those years with my grandparents because now I have such a closer relationship to them than if I hadn't spent so many years with them while growing up.

After 3rd grade I moved to Highlands Elementary where I started 4th grade with Ms. Scrudato and also started Am/Pm, our before and after school program. I made so many new friends here, most of which I still have today. Fourth grade whizzed by and soon I was in Mr. Hales 5th grade class playing Oregon Trail any chance I could. By this time, I was playing piano and took lessons every Monday night and also played any and every sport from football, kickball, softball, basketball, capture the flag, to four square and beating the boys in the 1 mile. That year I also became Class President and had one of my closest friends, Michelle, as our Vice President and we took a trip to the "capital city" Sacramento, which is really exciting when you're a 5th grader! My best friend was Jessica Mayne; we did everything together from hanging out during the weekend, to roller blading in the rain together and pretending we were spice girls. She was my first best friend and I still cherish the genuine friendship we had. That's the year I auditioned for Belle in our Am/Pm annual summer play and got the part! The year before I'd auditioned for Wendy in Peter Pan and ended up as a Pirate named Noodles! Auditions span from every school in the district, and I was shocked to have gotten the part of Belle. (I think it was a slightly biased decision by my favorite leader (and neighbor and basketball coach at the time, Nick)), but I wasn't complaining! Play practice lasted the entire summer and went from 9am-5pm. Originally, I was in "Cast A," which practiced in the mornings, and Cast B in the afternoon, but Cast B's Belle eventually dropped out, so I took both parts and practiced full-time.  My favorite friends were: Jessica, Ryan, Tomilyn, Lisa, Clinton, Dallas, Michelle & Adrian. At home, the pool had just been built, we had Lucky, Valley, and Missy, BW, the peacock and chickens.

Spring Valley Middle School was next. Band was my favorite. There were 4 levels of band: cadet, intermediate, advanced and symphonic. I joined cadet in 6th grade after seeing Jethro Tull in concert with dad. I started playing the flute and took private lessons every Saturday. Half way through the year, I moved to intermediate band. The best thing about band, was obviously Mr. Ring. What an amazing man; the only person I have ever known to control 90 students with instruments in their laps, and actually, to get all 90 students to adore him while doing so. 7th grade I made the jump to symphonic band, and by 8th grade I was the section leader and was also helping Mr. Ring every Friday before school with the flute section at Highlands Elementary. My close friends were: Cristina, Britnie, Jacelle, & Laura. My favorite teachers: Mr. Ring & Mr. Brus.

Ahhh, Monte Visa High. I remember how exciting high school was, with freshman orientation, finding out who your teachers are, picking out an elective...etc. I joined the cross country team, track team, started taking spanish and moved into honors English where I made friends with the smart kids, haha ;-) Sophomore year I fell in love with black and white photography- and Ms. Breedlove. I can't remember junior year being overly exciting other than when one of my teachers had anonymously selected me to attend a 2-day women's leadership conference at UCSD with the Jenna Druck Foundation. Senior year I was in mostly AP classes, on varsity cheer (whoa, switch over from CC and track), the senior ads yearbook editor, a key club officer and also working part time after school at Sweetwater Springs Elementary. I joined the choir at my church my senior year and spent a number of evenings practicing and recording for the Christmas performance in a a small group called "Angel Voices." I dedicated all of my Sunday mornings to worship that year. By 2005, I was an honors graduate, yay! My closest friends (in my year): Cristina, pretty much the entire boys water polo team, Amand: my psuedo brotha, PJ, Scuba Steve, Batman, Robbie, Andrew, Katie, Shaheen. I loved my running coaches: Naranjo, Lorenzana and coach Ross.

My Fav subject: Photo & yearbook
Fav teachers: Breedlove, Thomas, McAloney, Verdugo & Kastan

Next on the list--college!

Unlike all of my smart friends, I didn't get a ton of scholarships and offers, but in the end, it didn't really matter because I had no idea what I wanted to study and they did. I ended up at SDSU and quite happily so now that I reflect on it. I lived with my mama in Old Town for the first two years, then in Hillcrest the second two and was working as a shift supervisor at Starbucks (Point Loma, then Mission Hills). My favorite class turned out to be ASL in my second year{american sign language}, so much that I decided to study in the department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. We learned about deaf education, phonetics and audiology. The only problem with this department is that you pretty much have to take it 150% seriously in order to get your masters or PhD to get a career in either field (whether it be deaf ed, speech pathology or audilogy). Regretably, I didn't take the GRE and I didn't apply to grad schools in the end. I say regret, but if I had, I wouldn't be where I am today!
My bests: Leiann, Andrew & Starbucks crew
Favorite classes: Astronomy (Douglas Leonard), ASL & Geology of National Parks and Monuments
Biggest inspirations: Mom, W.E.D. & Jeff Corwin

Post-college: I took a 30 day trip through Europe, ran my first marathon, volunteered with the Education Outreach Program at the S.D. Humane Society, met Peter, hiked half dome & we are now on our way to living happily ever after! I am so thankful for the wonderful people I've met and the opportunities I've been blessed to have endured and very much look forward to all the wonders ahead!

Til next time, all my love -