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This is a rather embarrassing photo of me and my brother when we went to school in England. I chose this photo because it says a lot about where I came from and also a lot about how much my sense of style has evolved since then. This is probably the most important picture I have in my entire camera roll because its hilarious and I love to embarrass my brother with it. I however like it because it always outs a smile on my face and anyone I show it to. It always reminds me of my time there and my family who still live there.

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This picture I chose is one of me in the street of Cuzco, Peru around the beginning of April 2019; this was taken by one of my friends, the day before we visited Machu Picchu . Around a group of thirty, Spanish 4 students went on this voluntary, 10-day, service trip to Peru. For me, although a school trip, was my first time in South America, along with my first time doing service work. this was a time of many 'firsts' in my life i guess. For a while i have known that a lot of my life will consist of helping others, however for sure, this experience paved a way for how this part of my life will go and has really influenced me to continue this way of giving back in life. Also in this picture I am looking forward, hopefully symbolizing where I am heading in life.

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🏡 Padlet_ My Story (Mini Assessment).  (Sep 18, 2020 at 12_32 AM)

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This picture is from my Freshman season of Cross Country where almost every person on the team loaded themselves onto one bus and we were packed in like sardines, three people per seat at least. My favorite time of year is always now the fall because of the weather, but mainly because of Cross Country. It has taught me so much in the two seasons I've had so far, and while I know this picture, if taken this year, would give doctors everywhere a heart attack, I just look at it and see a close knit team smiling from ear to ear. My season starts tomorrow, and while I know we won't be as close this year, I know that we will be just as tight knit team as ever, and I am really looking forward to seeing my team and family this season.

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The photo I chose for this assignment is a picture of a computer I built for the first time. This takes place back in 6th grade when I was researching on how to do such task. I saved up some extra money and bought all of the components needed to build a computer. This can reveal my love for video games and technology. I was a big fan of what was to come from the tech industry and I realized I wanted to pursue a passion related with computers. This does not show anything about me but my side hobbies. I love fixing and tweaking computers. Anything related to technology can be considered my passion. I usually stay up-to-date with the news. I would read about what Elon Musk is doing with his different companies as well as the latest numbers on an upcoming new product to see how fast and how powerful the piece of technology is. This part of my life has a portion of my heart.

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For my story, I chose a picture depicting a Wii U game pad and some wii remotes. I was into gaming before but it was just something that was a way to pass time. It was fun sometimes beforehand but when I started playing on my Wii U, I felt like I was truly having fun all the time. I just relaxed and would play on this console all the time and I just have a lot of memories and made some friends because of this console. It means that I’m never going to let go of video games and I will forever have this hobby.

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For my story, I decided to choose a picture of my sister to show that family is very important to me. I decided to pick this picture because family is everything to me and once I heard someone says, “Blood is thicker than water” so I try to follow that quote. I always try to make time for my family instead of hanging out with my friends because friends can change but family cannot. My parents works very hard for my sister and I so that we can have a comfortable lives and the least I can do for them is be grateful and make times for them in return to show my gratitude. My sister, Victoria who is 4, is very energetic and tend to mess a lot around the house by drawing on the walls with markers and pens so it’s a hassle to try to always keep an eye on her. My parents works a lot so usually I’m the main babysitter and in this dangerous time, my parents doesn’t wanna hire any babysitter in fear of my sister being infected. This is a picture of my sister falling asleep on the ground because I didn’t let her draw on my book from school.

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For my story I decided to use a picture of my dad on his birthday. During this time I was living with Germany with him and my mom (sometimes my half brother will come and visit). Germany was the last time we spent together as a whole family as my parents got divorced a few months later after this picture. It's a bittersweet memory for as I didn't know that we were going to be apart for so many years. Even though we don't have the best relationship now, I am grateful that I was able to travel with him and make him a cake for his birthday because it made me realize how much I love traveling and spending time with the people I care about. Encountering new experiences with people and sharing memories is what makes me happy.

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For my story, I chose to include a picture with me,  my mom and my sister, who are the most important people in my life. My dad left when I was younger and was never involved in our life after they divorced. Up until now, my mom has raised us as a single mom and sacrificed so much to keep us happy. She brought us to sports, and after school activities and always put our needs before her own.  A year ago, she just lost her dad who she was extremely close to and continued to persevere after such a great loss. She recently started to go back to school to become a nurse and I admire her for continuing her education and showing us that you can achieve anything at any point in your life. My mom has definitely shaped who I am today and she has become such an amazing role model in my life.

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I believe that every life story needs a happy place; my story starts in Martha’s Vineyard. This is a photo of my family on our annual trip to the Vineyard a couple of summers ago. I have been going there ever since I was a young kid and I stayed in the same place every summer. One of the reasons that MV is so special to me is because of its precious “island time.” I love how my family and I can escape from reality once a summer to enjoy ourselves and make memories in such a beautiful place. It fascinates me how each small town on the island is different and how easy it is to experience and see so many different things there. Without travelling around the island at least one day a year, I feel incomplete due to sentimental values being attached to almost any place in sight. It feels like a significant part of my childhood that I can never let go.

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For my story I wanted to write about the outdoors. My Dad and I have always really liked hiking. Several years ago now I joined a troop of Boy Scouts and have been in it ever since. The boys who I camp with have come to be like a family to me. In this photo, about ten of us decided we wanted to hit two peaks in a weekend up in New Hampshire. Come the day of the trip, it was nearly white out conditions. And verging on zero degrees we kept climbing higher until we hit both peaks. It was terribly cold and extremely icy all the way up. But we had each other, and that kept us going. This photo means a lot to me because it reminds me of how hard work feels in the end. I believe climbing mountains and being a Scout has impacted my work ethic and overall mindset towards challenges

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My story has to do with my sisters. I’m the oldest of 3 girls which is a lot of pressure when your supposed to always be the role model for them. I have a 13 and an 8 year old sister. It’s very different have such a young sister because our lives are so different and none of my friends having any sibling close to that age. Being the oldest has taught me a lot in life like. For example I am very mature and a good person to talk to if someone is having a hard time which I think comes from having little sisters.

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For my story, I knew I had to pick a photo with my mom, because she has been the best role model I could have asked for. She was born in a small village in northern Greece, and most girls there were pushed to stay at home to do housework instead of getting a career. My mom worked hard though, and ended up moving to the US for college when she was 18. She refused to settle for what was expected of her, and because of that she's been able to do so much more like travel the world with her job, while also being a great mother to me and my sister. She inspires me because she followed her dreams despite the fact that it was out of the norm in her town. Whenever I feel out of place and unsure of where I belong, her story reminds me that hard work will always pay off, that criticism from others is not an excuse to give up on achieving your goals, and that those who truly love you will always encourage you. Her influence on me has fueled the motivation I have in school because someday I hope to travel the world how she does, and I now know that there is so much more to life than just one small town.

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Abby used this picture already in her story, but what you may not have known is that I'm in it too - just off to the side, half cropped out, and looking at my phone. It's pretty embarrassing that the only picture of me from that day is this bad, I was texting one of our friends to see where she was in the line. This was the day of the Black Lives Matter protest in Easton, a day when hundreds of people gathered on the streets to protest racial injustice. Abby and I decided to go together and it is a day I will never forget. One of the speakers at the event was Amber Henry and her story has stuck with me ever since. Her brother DJ grew up in Easton and went to Oliver Ames before moving to New York - where he was shot and killed by police. On that day, Amber returned to his hometown to be met with open arms and people ready and willing to hear her grief and calls to action. This, of course, isn't really the entirety of "my story". But it is an important aspect - since late May, I have spent a lot of time thinking, reflecting, and reading about the issues that define the world today. In a time of social upheaval, it is the stories of others which we must look to in order to better understand ourselves. Amber, among all the others. If there is anything to say about my story, it's that I hope it can be influenced by the right ones of those around it.

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For my story, I chose an image of my friends who have changed my life for the better and most of them I just became friends with in freshman year. These people helped me get though incredible amounts of family, mental health, and school struggles and a toxic friendship. They mean the world to me and I don't know where I would be without them today. Whenever I see them, my mood automatically changes and I feel genuinely happy. It's like I have no struggles and I'm just in the moment with them. Although to other people we may seem to be the odd friend group, but I have come to the conclusion that other people's assumptions and opinions about my life don't matter. My happiness and their happiness is the only thing that matters to me.

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I took this photo while I was in Hawaii with my family a few years ago. This scene struck me as beautiful with the palm trees and the colors the sunset creates behind them, so I couldn’t resist capturing the moment. My dad and I love photography, it’s one of many things we share, and I’ve picked up some great tips from him over the years. I also love to travel, especially with friends and family. I’ve been to many National Parks, Peru, Hawaii, and Niagara Falls. During each of these trips, I took lots of photos to document the fun memories I made with my family. I love getting creative and photography has helped me by providing an outlet for me to express myself and my emotions.

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Just a few months ago, I attended the Easton Black Lives Matter Protest, depicted in the image below. When asked to describe themselves, many people will turn to their family or friends as the people who have made them the who they are. For me, my identity as a young black woman in America has always been a part of my story, and experiences as such continue to mold me into the person I am soon to become. Moving from a predominantly Jamaican community in the greater Boston area, to a predominantly white suburb, away from people that are like me at a young age forced me to adapt to such a different environment. In the process, I did face a lot of racism and isolation from those around me, but all of this has only made me stronger and given me new insight and perspective. In this protest, me and many other people of color as well as allies from all around Easton came to voice our concerns and support the cause. The girl to my left, Gabrielle Jacobs, is one of my closest friends, and one of the few people I've found since moving here who's been able to understand and support me for who I am. Being half Jamaican and a first generation American on my mother's side of the family, it's very important to me that I not lose my connection with my heritage, so it was only appropriate that the quote painted on my sign be that of reggae legend and activist Bob Marley. There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel blessed to be black, and to share not only my West Indian culture, but also African American culture with the family and friends I grew up with as a kid. With the country at its boiling point, and racial tensions as high as they have been in recent years, I know that now more than ever I need to be vocal about my life and the lives of other black people that matter, to honor those like my grandmother and mother who immigrated here and found success in the face of adversity, and others who have been in this country for generations fighting for equity. I hope that one day, there will no longer be such divisiveness between different groups of people and that we may live in peace and harmony.

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For my story, I chose a picture of my siblings after we bought a Christmas tree (my brother was tying the tree to our car, but he is in the picture in spirit). I tell them everything and they mean the absolute world to me. Throughout this year and last, I was plagued with self-doubt and anxiety. Some days it seemed like nothing would ever get better no matter what I did, but my family was always there to lend a helping hand and remind me that no matter what you may be feeling right now, it will pass and good things will come. My siblings are the reason for my laughter and happiness, and I will never be able to thank them enough. They are the reason that a smile returned to my face and I slowly began to regain my former confidence. My siblings taught me kindness, perspective, and compassion and no matter how much we argue over the most insignificant things, we always come back to each other.

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The picture I chose for my story is one of me and my brothers at a young age. This picture was taken of us when we were picking out pumpkins to carve in the fall. As children my brothers and I all had similar interests and it helped shape all of us as we grew up together. I hold my brothers responsible for me being the person I am today, and I think I played a large role in making them into who they are as well. Without each other we would all be different people and this picture of us helps show the two biggest roles in the person I am.

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For my story, I chose a photo that depicts what I believe makes me, me. This photo was taken last summer on my family’s trip to Vietnam. My parents both immigrated from Vietnam and my life surrounds around integrating both my Vietnamese and American culture. Some may say this photo is not professional - considering how my parents are not even looking at the camera. However, this photo shows our true reality as my parents make my sister, Kim, and I the focal point of their lives and have sacrificed greatly for our happiness. I am very proud to be exposed to two different worlds: My life in Vietnam and my life in America.  Growing up seeing so much of the world at a young age showed me that there are mysteries and adventures everywhere and you, the eye of the beholder, have the opportunity to seek new interests and adventures constantly. I hope to travel the world some day recreating memories and creating my own for my future family to remember.

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The picture I chose to show is one of me and my mom. My mom has been my guide, the light at the end of the dark tunnel for my entire life. She has taught me how to love myself and accomplish things I never thought were possible. Throughout my life I have been insecure about everything, the way I talk, my looks, my clothes. I would base everything I did off of what I though other people would approve of. In the smallest ways everyday my mom would show me that it does not matter what other people think about you, it only matters what you think about you. Even by observing the way she acted around people and how confidently she walked around proved to me that I am enough. She has completely changed my outlook on life, and on myself. I am the person I am today because of her and I will never know how to repay or thank her enough for it .

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Although this picture at first glance looks to tell an extremely happy story of kids, it has actually turned rather dark. Each year these kids and I would go to myrtle beach and all stay at the same hotel because our dads all worked together at the fire station. We were extremely close family friends and did everything together. Recently the little girl in the purple bathing suit passed away, one of my first friends and the same age as me (17). As you can imagine this has hit me extremely hard and made me have to realize how short life truly is. Everything I worry and stress about is so unbelievably pointless, and my life could be taken at any moment so why even waste it worrying. She was so young, and will never get to experience so many things which has made me realize that life is so unpredictable and that I need to stop worrying and just do the things I want to do, because who knows what will happen. This whole thing has been extremely difficult to come to terms with but was a wake up call to me that life is far too short to think twice about doing anything.

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The picture I chose to tell you about my life story is this picture of me and my family. Now, at first glance you may think this is just a selfie of your classic suburban family on their beach vacation and you're only seeing it because the mom made it her cover photo on Facebook. And you're not wrong, but to me this represents so much more because my family is not only important to me, but each one of them has really helped shaped me into who I am today. I'll start with my dad and how hes instilled a passion and love for music on me and my brother. From my multiple 20 hour long playlists on Spotify, to actually being in the show choir here at OA, my love for music reigns true and it is important in my life. On the other hand, my mom is practically tone deaf, but she is a nurse and I credit her with my love for psychology and helping people. She also has a gift of listening to people and giving advice which I resonate with. And lastly my brother influences me because we both tend to be motor mouths, and whenever we talk we bounce around countless topics, and I appreciate having someone to talk to about anything and who shares some of the same ideas as me. Also, this picture was taken in Wells, Maine which is our family's vacation spot every year and is near and dear to my heart, which I think is just the cherry on top to how this picture represents me.

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The picture below showcases my friends and I in all our chaotic glory. Admittedly, I can hardly remember the circumstances surrounding this picture, which makes it an unlikely candidate for this assignment. However, what I do remember is how genuinely happy I was at that moment. Throughout high school, I have been fixated on perfection. Initially, perfectionism only manifested in my academic life, but it soon enveloped the rest. To feed this desire, I neglected my emotional, physical, and interpersonal needs until I was barely a person. But then my friends came into my life, and this haunting notion of perfection was distant. With my friends, I learned how to blow off steam, embrace spontaneity, and have fun. However, the most important thing I found in their company was their ability to accept me despite my flaws; the fact that I didn’t have to be perfect to feel happy and loved. On nights like this picture, my friends’ company lifts the weight of perfection off of my shoulders so I can be wild, happy, and carefree. In this picture, I am finally myself, a fun-loving teenager.

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This picture I chose to tell you my story is a picture that I hold very close to my heart. At first it is just a normal picture of me and my two younger siblings, but the story is much better than that. My mom and I had decided to join my dad and stepmom and surprise the kids on their first trip to Disney! Now I know you are definitely thinking, what your mom and dad went on vacation together and they aren't together anymore!? It is weird I know, but how they have stayed friends and continued to stay so close just for my benefit has made me the person I am today. The surprise all started when the idea of a family vacation came up and my family being us decided to go to Disney... for the 9th time!! But you never experience that until you see Disney through a kids eye. Not only did we do pretty much everything they wanted to do, but we didn't care cause it was so much fun just to watch them take in what they were seeing and it is something I will never forget!

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The picture I chose is me with my best friend, Zyra. Her and I have an incredibly strong connection with each other, and she has helped me through the worst times in my life. I have struggled with depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies for over two years now. I was so confused about every facet of my life to the point where I didn't know who I was anymore.The only reason that I am writing this story is because of her - she is the main reason I am alive. I have recently been able to improve my mental health to the point where I am finally truly happy again, and she is an enormous part of it. I have gained confidence and realized that I should be living for myself instead of others and their opinions of me. I am so blessed to have her calming and hilarious energy in my life. This whole story was a bit cliché but I love her with my whole heart and she is a very important part of my life.

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This is a rather embarrassing photograph of me from first grade. I chose this photo because my experiences in first grade contributed to my decision to become a teacher. I always loved school and when I watched my older brother go to school, I couldn’t wait to join him. That all changed in first grade when my art teacher ripped apart my painting in front of me because I spelled a word incorrectly. From that point on, I no longer loved school because I was so afraid of failing or disappointing people. This led to anxiety, which I still have to manage today. However,  this difficult moment motivated me to become a teacher because I want to try to create a positive and welcoming environment in my classroom.