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1. Is retirement what you expected - Yes and no. No, because there was a lot of fear of the unknown after working since I was 12 years old with an amazing amount of hours. I had as much as 2 to 3 jobs, it became a part of me. But yes, because the hope was that I could break away from my “go-go” mentality and enjoy a different speed and the freedom of not answering emails, going to meetings, and the pressure of outpreforming last month.

2. How is it going - I retired at 45 and now I am 50, and I can tell you at least the first five years have been absolutely wonderful.

3. How did you prepare for it - Financially, by saving and putting my money into cash flow models. Mentally, by dreaming of freedoms and luxurious things like spending time with the family.

4. What's your favorite part - The freedom to do what I want, when I want.

5. What recommendations would you have for someone thinking about retirement - Not to do it if they are in a career that they love. If they are in a good place, stay there for as long as you can. But if you're not, then prepare yourself financially and mentally to turn the page for something new that you think you would love. One option can be retirement, which it was for me.

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This is my video!

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What do you like to do on rainy days?
I love rainy days so much because when i’m in my house I feel so protected and cozy. I would love to do anything in my house while it is raining but one of my favorites is just to bundle up in my bed and watch a movie with my window shades up so I can see the rain. It makes me feel so cozy and like I am in a cocoon all bundled up. Another thing that I also enjoy is when it’s raining and I am in the pool with my friends, when it is not thundering of course. When I am in the pool and it is warm while raining, I love to just go underwater and watch the raindrops ripple on the surface. It feels so cool because you are not being touched by the drops but you are being immersed into a lot of water. But the thing is, it doesn't feel that way. The best way I could describe it is like I am being “protected” from the rain and the water I am in is like a weird feeling blanket. If I had to pick between the two, I would choose being inside. Because, although it is a cool feeling underwater, I would have to get out some time and that's the worst part. But when you're bundled up and warm you can just not move and be there for a while.

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1. What was the biggest part of your life that you had to change because of COVID? - Adjusting to not have the normal everyday freedoms. For example, daily activities like going to the grocery store, taking the kids to school, meeting up with friends, and having family gatherings was changed instantly.

2. What was one thing that you took for granted before COVID -  One thing I took for granted was going out and doing whatever I wanted or going wherever I wanted to.

3. Do you mind wearing a mask, does it bother you? - I don’t mind, I think it is a part of the puzzle that will help end the pandemic.

4. What was something that you did or learned over the course of free time in COVID - I learned many new cooking and baking recipes.

5. What is something good that has come from the pandemic for you? - Spending a lot of time with the kids was really good and coming up with things to do like going on a scooter ride, playing pickleball, cooking, and watching movies.

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This is me and my dog Mia! She is super cute and my best non-human friend! She is always right by my side and is the sweetest thing you could ever meet 🥰

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Our new president, Joe Biden, was elected and made history with his vice president Kamala Harris. This is a big deal because Kamala Harris is the first ever female, South Asian, and person of color. This broke many barriers that have needed to be broken ages ago! 🎉❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

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These are some photos of boat trips my family and some close friends went on. We would go to Miami Marine Stadium, Compass Key, The Exumas, The Abacos, and many other beautiful places. It was so much fun and I can’t wait to go on more this summer!

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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These are some of my friends. DANGER WARNING: They are loud, annoying, amazing, funny, and beautiful. They make me smile so much each and everyone of them. I really don’t know what I would do with out them. They are so supportive and positive, they are my world and make me so happy. I just really hope they know that!

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I have always loved singing, but during Quarantine I have been able to part of so many amazing things. I have been able to be in a promotional music video for Camillus House, which is an organization that helps the homeless. My piano skills have grown immensly. Also, I have been able to preform at El Jam Live with an amazing band and it was an amazing experience. On that stage of El Jam preforming live with Los Wizzards was when I whispered to my dad, “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

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Creative Response (poem) - A Time That Will Be Remembered  

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Creative Response (poem) - A Time That Will Be Remembered  

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From 2020 going through 2022
Quarantine was all we knew.
China, America, Europe and more
So many died, so many hearts sore,
because of the loved ones they lost,
Their paying the cost of those who didn't care,
Their body their choice,
even though COVID is in the air.
They didn't mask up, we need to protect,
the ones who won't give up,
on the people who are sick.
3 million,
Thats how many have died.
Thats the number of people who have been sacrificed,
To this terrible disease that we cant seem to beat.
Now do you care?
The cases are still rising.
Still people are dying.
We need to prepare
And help everyone everywhere.
I know its not that simple,
But please here me out
If we mask up and quarantine we can figure something out.
Just stop for a second and let me breath
I just need to think,
but this mask is suffocating me.

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This made my family and I so devastated and we were so surprised when this happened. We were asking so many questions and we were just so sad. So many people miss him and his daughter and their legacy will forever live on. 🏀🚁🎇💔😔

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This meme is literally so relevant to me in my writing. When ever I use a fancy word like nevertheless or thus I feel so fancy.

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In general, I have always been terrified of bugs (including butterflies). But, when I heard about murder hornets! I was so terrified I would run if I saw a fly. I get that running away from anything that has wings and could possibly be a murder hornet is a little extreme, but come on! It is literally called a murder hornet! 😳😵🐝

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This meme is my 2020-2021 trust issue of the pandemic. I get so scared that the class can hear me that when someone comes into my room I whisper.

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I think this meme just explains itself so much. This is me and my friends with our “crushes” when we get married.

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If given the chance, what advice would you have given yourself a year ago? 

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If given the chance, what advice would you have given yourself a year ago? 

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I feel like this could be a simple question, but at the same time it could have been very useful to realize. Right now, I am finishing my last year of middle school. Eighth grade has been super interesting because of the pandemic and I feel like I have been literally distanced from my friends because of COVID. At the beginning of 7th grade, I didn’t have too many friends because I really wanted to surround myself with good people. And the people the other kids that were here weren’t really what I was looking for. Then, I found my group and it was great, we had so much fun together. And I genuinely knew that they were good people and I was happy with that. Then, I would see my brother would be going to friends houses, or he would have friends at our house, and he would have so many I wouldn’t be able to know them all. Then, I looked at me and my little group and I was loving them, but at the same time I thought, wouldn’t it be great to have so many friends like my brother. And I was stuck in that frame of mind for a while, it was not the best place for my mind to be. Then, slowly, I realized it didn’t matter how many I had, just if they were really good friends. Even after the main strike of COVID my once small-ish group, went even smaller because of the pandemic. That was extremely sad for me and I tried but still couldn’t manage to keep them all together. But, now I have my small group of true friends and I couldn’t be happier. Because I know that they are there for me and I am there for them. If I had the chance to tell myself something a year ago, I would tell myself even if you had one friend, it doesn’t matter, because you know that they will always be there for you, but still put yourself out there.

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During the pandemic I have went through SO MANY different shows and movies. So far some of my favorites series are Gilmore Girls, Dynasty, Criminal Minds, All American, and The Good Doctor. They are all so good and suspenseful and I can’t wait for new seasons!

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This was after the hurricane hit. This was a big open field and then it turned it to a literal ocean. So, my brother, dad, and I decided to ride our ATV’s and side by side and attach a rope to the side by side and go wake boarding.

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This is one of my most relatable tikitoks for 2020-2021 because right before quarantine I got a new phone and I was so exited to use the face ID. Now with masks its like my phone doesn’t even recognize me!

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This was definitely an accurate video of what a lot of student where probably feeling like when they had a test 😂

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PERSONAL JOURNAL - What were your first reactions to hearing about COVID19 when it first became a pandemic last year? 

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PERSONAL JOURNAL - What were your first reactions to hearing about COVID19 when it first became a pandemic last year? 

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2020 was definitely a year to remember. I remember the day so clearly when the school announced that they would be closing down. My last day ever of normal school was in the seventh grade, Immigration Day. When I think back we were all overjoyed. Yay! No school! But, never would I ever even think, that a year later I would be begging to go back. I had an odd group for that day, but I now realize it was actually kinda good. Only because they were such interesting people and I did have one of my closest friends with me. That day was full of laughs, confusion, and fun and it makes me frown realizing that it might never be the same again. Once that last school bell rang, we all got “the email”. I know putting that it quotes may seem over dramatic, but I am over dramatic and it was COVID for crying out loud. I have such a different take on that email now then before. My best friend and I were skipping through the hallways and grabbing our books from out classes yelling “see you later, don’t die!” I really hate myself for saying that because I didn’t know that this was so serious. Next thing I know, millions of people are dying and everyone became strangers hiding away in their homes.