# data[].attributes.body
I have always believed in the act of showing common courtesy. My view of common courtesy is always saying hello to someone and talking with them, even if I don't like them. I also believe that common courtesy is always treating people with respect and saying please and thank you. Showing these basic manners can do a multitude of things that both help yourself and those around you. I have believed in showing these common courtesy for most of my life.

I believe what I was raised to believe, and that is to treat everyone with respect. I will always say hello to people and talk to them, I will always say please and thank you, no matter where I am and I will always show people the common courtesy of basic respect. It seems wrong in my eyes to not show people this basic human dignity. Just because you don't like someone doesn't mean you shouldn't be friendly with them. Just because you don't want to be formal isn't a good excuse to not say please and thank you. It should be common practice to thank anyone and ask nicely if they help you or are giving you something. Every person deserves to be shown common courtesy no matter who they are.

This also stems from the idea that you have no clue what is going on in other people's lives. They could be having a terrible day or be in a bad mood. But simple things like a smile, saying hello and asking them how they are doing could cheer them up, even if it's only a little. Just showing people common courtesy can make them happy, brighten their day, and make them feel respected and valued. It can also help you to become friends with them or just get to know them. Just being a nice person can go a long way.

I believe these values should be a part of everyone's daily life. I was raised this way but I also got this value and others, such as always taking my hat off when going somewhere to eat, from my grandpa as he is always nice to everyone and is polite to everyone. He has shown me that you can easily make people happy and befriend them if you are nice to them. Just showing people common courtesy will also get you far in life as it will get you respect from others and become close with others. These simple values can be a major part in how you are viewed by others and allow you to have a bright future.

Those are the common courtesies I believe in and follow in my daily life. They have helped me to have good days as well as make me a better person. By showing these basic manners I am sure I have cheered up peoples days and made them feel more respected. These values I'm sure will help me get far in life and earn the respect of those around me. That is what I believe.

# data[].attributes.body
I believe in the saying “life isn’t fair.” My parents instilled this in me from a young age.

This saying dates back to my childhood when little Avery was wanting that cool toy at the store or dessert before dinner. They would explain, “You can’t get everything that you ask for, kid. Life isn’t fair.” In the moment it felt like the world was ending if my parents denied my request. I did not understand the concept. However, I have grown to recognize the valuable life lesson wrapped up in this saying.

Another instance was when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Sure, I could not help but think that she is dying and it is not fair how this tragedy could happen to such an amazing person. Sometimes bad things happen to good people because life doesn’t always work out according to plan. Yes, things like diseases and illnesses aren’t fair, but they happen to people for a reason so they can help others and become stronger.

This idea was also important when I moved out of my childhood home. At the time it felt like my whole life and childhood friends were being taken away from me. It was really easy for me to blame my parents for stripping my brother and I from all that we have ever known. I did not think the situation was fair in the slightest. Now I can realize that what does not seem fair in the moment might turn out to be the right thing later on. If I did not move, I would not have the valuable friendships and experiences that my life is full of now.

“Life isn’t fair” means approaching the negatives in life with a positive outlook. It means celebrating the highs and embracing the lows of life. There is power in accepting the reality of our circumstances. Believing that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean setting ourselves up for failure or having a negative attitude. It is about shaping our own experiences and beliefs for the better.

I have learned that what seems unfair to one person might be completely fair to another. Life is always throwing curve balls that are sometimes out of our control. It is up to every person as to how we approach that curveball thrown at us. In these moments, stop and remember that life isn’t fair. That does not mean you can’t rise above the challenges of the curveball. It means seeing the positives of the curveball and letting the circumstances guide your way to success.

The saying “life isn’t fair” applies to my life now because it changes my approach to challenges and setbacks. I have learned to accept the unfair aspects of life instead of complaining about the bad situation. I can now focus on how I can learn and see the positives amongst difficult situations. I continually remind myself that life isn’t fair so that I can adapt to challenges and find new ways to move forward. Going forward, I’ll continue to apply this mindset to my life and encourage others to do the same. If more people approached setbacks in life with this saying in mind, people would be more positive instead of complaining about the negatives and unfairness that are always there.

# data[].attributes.body
I believe in discipline. My volleyball club always said it on the first day of practice.

Initially, the first time I heard about this was during my first volleyball practice at Believe. I joined Believe, a volleyball club when I was 15 years old, and I was nervous because I did not know many people. Everyone around me knew people or was in the same boat as me. The lead Coach, Jordan, began the first practice by saying, “If you are not able to tuck in your shirt or be disciplined in the little things. You will not be able to achieve your goals and be your best self.” Her words helped me realize that to succeed, I must first put effort into the little things in my life.

I have been with Believe for four years, and that saying has influenced me. Believe taught me to create positive habits both on and off the court. During practice, I repeat the same practice drills to refine my skills. Discipline is during these drills so I can have freedom and fun. I have formed a habit of finishing my homework. Homework is tough, but it helps me regulate finishing assignments. I did not want to finish my AP Biology because senioritis affected me. I was distracted by social media and watching Young Sheldon. Eventually, I turned on my Spotify and listened to my instrumental music to help me focus. I took occasional breaks and finally finished my two labs for AP Biology. I persevere until success. I nourish a habit of where, once I start, I am determined to finish. I procrastinate, but I have been practicing to start an assignment early. I make myself finish a task even when I do not want to do so. I display discipline by constantly moving forward and adapting to change. Change in life is hard, but discipline has taught me to accept new experiences and skills. I have experienced painful loss, including loved ones passing away and friends moving away. I do not want these events to occur, but without these occurrences, I will never be able to grow. These little experiences help me succeed and thrive in life. My thoughts on discipline may be perceived differently by other people.

Consistent discipline influences and molds one character. While discipline is prominent as a punishment for rule-breaking, it nurtures a positive mindset and advantageous habits. You can do the little things so you can achieve bigger goals in your life and succeed. Without control over your actions or your thoughts, you will not be able to achieve your goals. Respecting others and yourself helps you gain direction in your own life.

I apply discipline to my life through my actions and thoughts. Discipline helps me move forward even when I do not want to complete the task. Discipline will help me balance my school and outdoor activities. In my life, I will continue using discipline to teach others how to live with responsibility and freedom. Every day, I will learn, grow, and use discipline to help me incorporate my new skills into my daily life.

# data[].attributes.body
The flame with in

I believe that every soul on this Earth has a fire with in and each one is completely different, similar to one person’s own consciousness. Everyone has their own personality and forever changing perception of themselves. However, everyone has a passion for something whether it being sports, school, money, alcohol, family, power etc. But everyone’s drive/passion is different and we can see this through our society witnessing and hearing stories of the difficult journey people had to go through to achieve their dreams and become successful such as major celebrities and sports players like recently passed Kobe Bryant. But on the flip side we see the opposite being a sensitive topic some lives were started in extremely hostile environments in which some have never recouped from the trauma, even if it is seen as “its not that bad” or “your just being a baby” but we can’t fully comprehend a persons past for it wasn’t our own. But on this note there are people who took their sad story and pushed on past adversity and trauma in which their flame ignited once more burning bright and strong in the midst of hardship.

As a kid I have always felt this kind of energy and it was this feeling of potential glory and success that makes my drive so strong. It gives me the ability to believe anything is possible no matter what people have said as long as your willing to push past your own limits and defaults that allow us to grow into a stronger and more determined person. There’s a saying to “dream BIG” but for most people those dreams don’t even leave their pillow, because while it may seem difficult to accomplish these goals our dreams are worth the temporary pain that would take to reach these goals because the lasting bill you’ll receive from regret and unfulfilled promises.

Life reveals its meaning when we actively pursue our goals. The effort itself becomes a testament to the value we place on our aspirations. Every hurdle overcome, every late night spent working towards a dream, and every self doubt that comes with it. It's in the focused determination, the unwavering drive, that we discover a deep sense of purpose. Reaching the finish line feels amazing as one would think, but the journey created through our efforts is where life's significance truly unfolds. So don't wait for some grand achievement to feel fulfilled. Embrace the effort, for within it lies the sweet victory we all see for ourselves cause life isn’t all about one special moment it’s the everyday life style we choice that’s determines the person we choose to be.

I believe that a life that is true to ourself, that has overcome adversity and that is appreciative, gives a person a better perspective of themself, other people and the nature that surrounds us. It allows us to be greatfull for the plentiful blessing we receive whether it being items, people, or the pain and difficulties that makes the good times meaningful. It shortage and struggles of life we desire that really allows us to appreciate what we have and have done.

# data[].attributes.body
Make It Stick

I believe in making it stick. But what does that mean? The phrase “Make it Stick” could mean a lot of things, but when I say I believe in making it stick, I am saying that I believe in committing to your decisions, and not looking back.

In my life, I have most often said the phrase “Make it Stick” while watching my teammates run a race. In a distance track race, one strategy that is often used to try and win is to “sit and kick”, where a runner runs with the big pack for much of the race and then has a plan to make a move to the front at a certain checkpoint. But if the move isn’t decisive enough, then the rest of the pack can just follow you, and the extra work you put into making the move becomes worthless. Because of this, when I am watching a race, and someone makes their move, I tell them to “Make it Stick” - to commit to the move, and to never look back because any indecision will result in wasted energy. I believe that this idea of making it stick applies to the rest of my life as well.

The biggest decision that I have made up to this point in my life is deciding what college I wanted to attend after high school. When I was deciding, I had four options, and I thought all of them would be amazing places to go. After I visited all of the schools, however, I was able to narrow the choices down to two: CSU and Boston University. For weeks, I was really stuck between which school I was going to choose, because there were so many things to be excited about for both. Luckily, my coach offered to sit down and talk through my thought process with me, and during the hour long conversation that we had, the thing that he told me that I remember most is this: Coach told me that whatever I chose, I couldn’t look back or second-guess myself. He told me that whatever decision I made, it would be scary, because I wouldn’t be able to turn around and go back at the first sign of problems. This was the first time I was able to connect the things that I had learned as a competitor in my daily life. I had learned that not looking back wasn’t just something to do on the track, but something that I should do in all of my big decisions.

Like Coach said, making it stick is sometimes a scary thing to do. You will rarely know the outcomes of your decisions. Sometimes you have to make the big move to the front, without knowing if you can handle the pace, or the wind, or if anyone else is going to come with you. But when you make that choice to go, you have to know and trust yourself, and never look back. Because if you never make the move to the front, the only guarantee is that you’ll never have the chance to win.

# data[].attributes.body
The path of more resistance

I believe in going all the way. When I say going all the way, what I mean is being the best at what you do. If you had the opportunity to be the best at your job, the best at your health, the best as a student, or whatever it is, why wouldn’t you? Well, you see, I think I’ve figured out why. I think as humans we often want to take the path of least resistance. It is in our nature. However, I believe that this concept is greatly misunderstood. In the hardest season of my life, which has been these past 4 years, thanks to God, I was able to find Him and myself, as well as the truths I am about to say.

One thing I have come to learn is, although, as I mentioned, we want in our human nature to take the path of least resistance, life is going to be hard either way. That’s the ironic part. No matter if we take the path of least resistance or if we take the path of more resistance, it is going to be hard. The difference between the two paths is that the latter is the one that is worth it. Yes, you heard that right, the path of more resistance is worth it, while the path of least resistance isn’t.

You see the thing is, if we take the path of least resistance, it will be hard in the way that you will be living a life that is not near your potential. You will be living life to just get through it, there won’t be much meaning. This leads to internal conflict, because the conflict comes where you know deep down, that you should be doing better, that you are better, and that you should be fulfilling your potential. This internal conflict is heavier than iron. Now for the path of more resistance, it will be hard in the way that you will have to sacrifice quite a bit. There will be a level of work and discipline required of you that you would never expect, you won’t fit in, there will be sleepless nights, blood, sweat, tears, and so much more. Therefore, there is the external conflict of all this. However it is this person at the end of the day who has his or her hand raised in victory. As demanding as it is, you will fulfill what God has in store for you. Just imagine that. Sounds crazy right? Just imagine your head hitting the pillow on the day knowing that you left it all out there, you gave it your all, YOU FULFILLED YOUR POTENTIAL. You see God calls all of us to greatness, in everyday life, in whatever it is. Your job, your studies, your relationships, we are all called to greatness by God. So why don’t you give it your all? If we never give up, we always win. It is going to be hard either way, choose your hard, either as the victor or the defeated. Always keep God at the center of it all. Because after all, it is He who has called you by name, to greatness. This is what I believe.

# data[].attributes.body
“Play with the dog”, is what my parents used to tell  me when I was younger.

When it started, I was 15 and my family had just gotten a new puppy. I was easily annoyed back then, and while I did play with him, his energy was overwhelming at times. At the time, I was swamped with homework and housework, and even when I wasn’t I just wanted to be left alone.

That dog would paw at my feet and bite my pant legs trying to play, and I would usually try and shoo him away. I would tell him later, but he couldn’t speak English so he’d just whine. “Just play with him, Denton”, my parents would tell me. “Just take a break and play with the dog”. I would hear that constantly, despite saying I just wanted to relax.

I finally gave in. I grabbed a toy and took him outside. He was small so I couldn’t play too aggressively with him. I had a surprising amount of fun. Now of course playing with him was usually fun, but there was something that felt extra satisfying about it. The dog seemed pretty happy too.

Sounds pretty insignificant, I know.

Summer came and the dog was growing up. I had quite a bit of free time so I’d play with him a lot. After a few months, school came again and I couldn’t spend nearly as much time with him, and I was missing him. Due to him not being as young my parents weren’t pressuring me to play with him like I did the year prior.

I felt like I was stuck on my workload both from school and home. It wasn’t necessarily hard, just tedious and boring. My dog would look at me, begging me to play just as he used to. It was tempting, but I didn’t think I had the time. I got to a point where I just started dropping what I was doing despite thinking I didn’t have the time, and taking him outside to play. After a while of doing this again, I realized something. While at the time, my parents were just talking to me about playing with the dog, I think I learned more than that. I think it also taught me to enjoy the little things. To take breaks and have fun. To not let me get so caught up in day to day life that I forget the good things I have.

I have carried this with me ever since. I believe it is a means to living a fuller life. Recognizing the good things around you and not ignoring them is essential to good mental and physical health, and in my opinion, the best way to live.

# data[].attributes.body
Living with intent

I believe very much in the idea of living with intent. When I say this I mean that our actions should align with our goals. For me, this meant taking the time to reflect on what truly matters to me and what I aspire to achieve in life. What it took me to figure this out and realize that I needed this reflection was failing to be where I wanted time and time again. Every time I would fail, I wouldn’t look at how I got to the point of failure but I would look at the point at where I failed. I would assume that I made a large mistake at the time rather than a buildup of small mistakes leading up to it. I did things that I knew at the time was the wrong thing to do but I wasn’t realizing all my actions were adding up.

Living with intent means being deliberate about the choices we make, ensuring they reflect our goals and values. It took me a series of failures to realize that I needed to change my approach. Instead of just focusing on the moment of failure, I started examining the small decisions that led to it. I discovered that getting comfortable with discomfort was key to personal growth. By willingly facing challenging situations, I expanded my comfort zone and developed resilience.

The first step I took in the journey of learning to live with intent was getting comfortable in the uncomfortable. I could easily get the tasks that I enjoyed doing, as could most people, but I often find it hard to do what I don’t want to do. I started pushing myself to go into uncomfortable situations, the more I did that easier the “uncomfortable” got. Additionally, I spent time reflecting on what truly mattered to me and what I wanted to achieve in life. This introspection helped me clarify my priorities and set meaningful goals. Armed with this clarity, I became more intentional in my decision-making, ensuring that each choice brought me closer to my aspirations.

Living with intent is not just about making mindful choices, it’s also about taking ownership of our actions and their consequences. I learned to approach each moment with awareness, considering the long-term impact of my decisions on my life and the lives of those around me. living with intent is a journey of self-discovery and purposeful action. It requires us to embrace discomfort, clarify our priorities, and be mindful of our choices. By doing so, we can lead more fulfilling and meaningful lives, guided by intention every step of the way.

living with intent is about continuous growth and adaptation. It’s not a destination to reach but a mindset to embody daily. As we navigate through life, we encounter new challenges and opportunities that require us to reassess our goals and values. Living with intent means being flexible and open to change, willing to adjust our course as needed. It’s about staying true to ourselves while also being receptive to new experiences and perspectives.

# data[].attributes.body
During the Summers I work as a tiler in my dad’s tiling company. I've been setting tiles since the 8th grade and I've been doing it all over Colorado. I've set tile  in the biggest of mansions in the Cherry Hills Village, and in the ugliest of trap houses in the Aurora ghetto, me and my dad have even driven hours out of state just to set some tile. I've had some weird experiences setting tile, but it bought me my first car, and I've learned a lot of good lessons too. When I was smaller my dad made me go to work with him, I guess he wanted me to learn what hard work really was. I hated it, not because my dad made me pick the tiles clean of any spacers, or because he made pass him the heaviest pieces of tile ever, in the hottest buildings that never had air conditioning. It was because I always noticed what I didn’t have. I was such an envious kid, I was jealous of enormous houses with three stories and a basement that was bigger than my entire home, I was jealous of  kids who didn’t have to share a closet with their parents & pantries stocked with sweets like oreos, or sugary cereals like cinnamon toast crunch. My father and I installed a tile and countertops that could never fit in our own home. I hated having to pray the rosary every single day, and all my problems being a result of me not praying enough, I hated never being able to sleep over at friends house, not being able to go out twice in a single week, reason being “I’m not a delinquent to be spending so much time out in the streets”  Eventually I grew up and I stopped being a brat, and things changed, and I learned that a lot of my experiences actually helped me out in a lot of situations. A moment of reflection that stands out to me is when a friend got arrested over the summer. He was out late with some of my other friends, and I guess he thought it'd be a good idea to drive after taking tabs of acid. He ran a red light and crashed into another car going 70 Miles Per Hour. He killed all three people inside that other vehicle. He only spent three days in jail, was bailed out, and was instead served ten years probation. I never would have thought that I'd be friends with a murderer. Suddenly I was thankful that my parents didn’t let me do whatever I wanted. I’m thankful to have a strong unified family that has taught me the importance of faith. I’m thankful that I have parents that work so hard for me each day. Tile setting taught me what hard work was, that each dollar takes sacrifices from at least one person, It taught me that the littlest of decision can lead to biggest of outcomes, weather that be deciding if a diamond shaped backsplash look good against your baby blue cabinets, or deciding you should let your son turn into a convicted felon, charged with triple homicide. Each decision matters.

# data[].attributes.body
This I believe… always travel.

The world has so much more to offer and give then what is just right here. Traveling can teach you so much more than a book or the internet ever could. Experiences from travel can become unforgettable memories. For as long as I can remember, I have always been traveling. Since I was 1 year old, my family always took our routine trip to visit our aunt in France once a year. Although I don’t clearly remember the exact trips at that time, as I began to get older, each trip had more importance. I learned from a young age how to interact and make friends with people who are different from me. I began to love to see and experience things I never had before. This made me eager to explore new places and see what different parts of the world have to offer.

The most eye opening trip that I have ever been a part of was my trip to Africa. When I think of this trip, my brain is flooded with endless memories and my heart fills with warmth. I was able to experience cultures and landscapes that I had only ever heard about and seen photos of. No book or photo could ever give me the experience of walking through the city of Nairobi, where every person turns to stare at you because you are the first White person they have ever seen in their entire life, or the fact that we were given the goat liver to eat as a high status honor, or the sight of children scavenging the streets and trash for food water, or the way you couldn't touch the metal sheets that made up their homes because electricity was running through it, or even the little children poking your skin to see the color and playing and pulling your hair because it looks like nothing they had ever seen before. No book or image could have ever given me a memory or experience as the ones I made seeing things myself.

Traveling shows you what other cultures have to offer by making you immersed within it. Instead of just listening to the possible stereotypical things that you have heard about that culture, travel allows you to form your own opinion based on your experiences. I believe you need to take every opportunity to travel because it is a way for cultures and people to connect on a deeper level than they otherwise would be able to. At the end of life, the things you will have are the memories you have made throughout your lifetime, and the key ones will most likely be the ones made while traveling and seeing new cultures, places, and trying new foods. Not only does traveling connect you with the people from the place you are traveling, but it also forms a special bond with those whom you are traveling with. My most memorable moments have been from the times I have traveled. Whether it was a drive up to the mountains, or going across the world, these memories are timeless, so I believe you should always travel.

# data[].attributes.body
I believe in being a Mallard Duck.

You’ve likely encountered Mallard Ducks. Whether it was the green headed males or the neutral colored females. Perhaps you’ve seen one in a lake or gliding down a river. Maybe even soaring through the air. Yet, one aspect often goes unnoticed: their ability to navigate water without getting wet. These birds have very dense feathers which are laid in overlapping layers. And they are coated with a waxy substance, causing these ducks to be waterproof. These birds can swim in water for long periods of time, while remaining completely dry.

“Be a Mallard Duck”. I initially heard this saying before playing in a golf tournament my junior year. I had a bad habit of letting a single bad shot derail my entire game. This always left me frustrated and unable to recover in the round. My dad told me one day that I needed to “be a Mallard Duck”. At first, I was very confused and didn’t understand the saying. “Why would I want to be a duck? What does that have to do with anything?” He explained to me how water beads right off of their feathers and they never get wet. My dad told me to apply this to my golf game, letting the bad shots bead right off my back and move on. I held onto this saying for the rest of the season.

One day, a few months later, I was getting ready with one of my friends for a concert. There was some drama and I thought our whole night would be ruined over this. But I remembered the saying my dad had told me. I told her we were going to be Mallard Ducks and that we shouldn’t let things that were said or the way people acted affect our mood. So we spent the rest of the night living as Mallard Ducks.

This saying is now one that I live by and I encourage others to live by too.

As a golfer, I am always trying to improve my game which includes my mindset. A female golfer that I admire, Nelly Korda, says “All you can control is the shot right in front of you. If you are thinking about a future shot (or past shot) that takes away from how well you can execute the current shot right in front of you.” This is how we should live our lives, being in the moment and letting go of things that don’t serve you.

I have learned that there are a lot of things that can shade your happiness. Many things can bring you down and ruin your day or your mood. Things as simple as hitting a golf shot too far to the right or getting a low grade on a test. Or bigger things like not getting accepted to a college you were interested in. But, in reality, this really only affects your mood if you let it. Some things happen that are out of your control and instead of letting them affect your life, just forget about it and move on. Keeping things in perspective allows you to keep going after a disappointment.

So, my advice to you: start embracing the resilience and adaptability of a Mallard Duck and let setbacks roll off like water on feathers.

# data[].attributes.body
Making the most of your time

I've realized that you must make the most of your time here on Earth over the last few years and minutes. When COVID-19 first hit America during my freshman year, there wasn't much to do, but I did have a lot of free time, so I didn't spend it wisely. I used to sleep in until noon most days, after which I would browse through my phone and play video games until late at night. I didn't understand how much time I had squandered or that there was till COVID-19 ended. I realized how much time I had wasted and that there was no way to get it back.

At the start of my senior year, I learned that my time at Mullen Was absolutely egregious and outlandish. For the past years, I have played lacrosse. I enjoyed it until the last two years of it when I watched the team go 0-15 and thought to myself, why the fuck am I doing this but still pushed through and practiced until this year when I realized there were better things than standing on the sideline watching the same people practice at fucking practice and nobody else so I quit. I work and make money after school now instead of playing lacrosse and then returning to Mullen from 5-7 pm, standing there with my thumb up my ass. I feel happier knowing I'm making the most of my time.

However, Mullen played a significant role in meeting many of my close friends, whom I enjoy hanging out with. Spending time with friends and family is one of the best uses of time since you never know when you'll leave or when they will go, so you must cherish your time with them. There's no such thing as wasting time with other people you like. If I had a different opinion on making the most of your time, I would not be writing this because I would've transferred schools long ago. Some of the people I met along the way at Mullen have genuinely changed my perspective on life, such as my friend George Walker, who has always been by my side in de la Salle and Mullen and has made me look forward sometimes to going to this repulsive place.

Spending time with friends outside of school is just as critical because you could lose a friendship if you don't spend time with them. Taking the time out of your life to catch up with an old friend is one of the best ways to spend time. The other day, I reached out to my friend Sammy and asked if he wanted to play golf at our course, and it wasn't until the 11th hole that we both realized that we could've done this all the time during high school but didn't realize until the end of our senior year. We plan to golf every Sunday afternoon or Wednesday until we are on different sides of the country in the fall.

Spending time with your family, especially your parents and siblings, is imperative because you never know how long you will have them. I learned that it is crucial to spend time with loved ones because while writing this, I found out that one of my cousins passed away twenty-two months after my other cousin died (her sister). After this happened, I truly realized the importance of making the most of your time, especially with family & friends, because this life is short, and the only thing promised is death.

# data[].attributes.body
I believe in knowing yourself. One of the questions I always asked myself was who am I? When I was younger I could never answer this question, and it bothered me so much. I couldn’t figure out who I was, or what I wanted to do. I only later realized that with experience, is the only way to know yourself. You must go on a journey with yourself, to get to know yourself as you would a friend.

One of the things about my childhood was the drastic differences in culture between those I grew up with. I was a mixed white and Hispanic kid growing up around mainly Mexican children. While most of these kids were very welcoming when they wanted to, there were some instances where our differences could show through. Some of the biggest things were the language and cultural barriers. I didn’t speak Spanish, and I grew up with Hispanic traditions, not Mexican ones. It caused me to have many issues with my identity and my background. I would go out of my way to learn what the other kids did, buy the things they thought were cool, wore things they approved of, and did things that they wanted me to do, just because I wanted to fit in.  I wanted to change and be more like my peers around me, because as a kid, I thought that was the only way to fit in. I just wanted to be accepted by the kids around me, the only kids I knew. However, I knew this wasn’t me, just a part of the journey that would make me, me. I still keep some of the traditions and things I learned along the way, because while it is not me, it’s still just a part of me. It helps me know myself

Another part of my childhood that makes up my values is my family. My family was always around, and were always supporting me in anything I do. Sometimes we would fight, but what we always realized was that we truly loved each other, and that when we stuck together, we were at our strongest. My family taught me to love those in my family, and that they will love me back. Through fights and struggles, that's what makes our relationship stronger. It taught me to take care of my family. And that's one of my values. My values are important to me, and to knowing myself.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved swimming. I always wanted to be a great swimmer, being able to go wherever I wanted in the water. My mom registered me in swimming classes, and I failed level one twice. Despite all of the challenges, I still swam and eventually passed and joined the swim team. Saturday morning meets were some of my favorite memories growing up. I had a serious passion for it. A couple year later, when I was 15, my mom brought up the idea of being a lifeguard. I signed up, and got trained and hired. This decision would change my high school career, as I spent the rest of the summers, after school, and on weekends at the pool. It was something that I loved. Knowing what I love it’s important to knowing myself.

Know yourself, and know what you love and value, and life will become clearer.

# data[].attributes.body
I believe that you should always show up. My mom taught me that you should always show up whether it's for something substantial or a friend just needs to talk, you should always show up. You can make the littlest difference in a person's day or even life by just showing up. After my cousin passed whenever any of my family needed someone or wanted to talk we knew that the best thing for them was just to be there. After seeing the pain my cousin went through because nobody was there, so he thought, made me want to show up for anyone who needs me. It doesn’t  matter if they are someone I haven't talked to in forever. I want to be there.

You never know how much someone is struggling, showing up for them can make the biggest difference. When I was six to eight years old one of my parental figures wasn't there for me for so long. That made me appreciate everyone around me that did show up for me. There were so many people that were there for me when my dad wasn't there but that didn't fix the fact that they didn't show up. All I wanted was for him to be there for me but he never was and that crushed me. I was so little and didn’t know why he wasn’t there but I always remember how much it meant to me that everyone else was. Since then it has made me realize what a difference showing up makes. Even if you can only be there for a little amount of time it still shows that you made an effort and took time out of your day for that person. Knowing that people loved me enough to drop everything for me gave me a big feeling of hope and joy. But also people not showing up has crushed me so many times, you will look around for that one person and they aren't there. That has caused me so much pain and feelings that I wasn't good enough for that person. I have recently learned that them not showing up was a problem with them and not me.

Recently I have had so many things that have shown just how much people around me love me because of how much they have shown up. I also have started to show up for other people. Even for the littlest things like when my friends just need someone to talk to, or when my mom wants someone to run errands with her I show up because that time with her is so important to me because you never know what could happen. We only have one life and showing up for the people that means most to you and taking time to be with them is one simple way to make the most of that one life. So maybe showing up is a very little thing to some people but to me, showing up is everything.

# data[].attributes.body
I believe in being present. I believe in putting the phone down at dinner with my family. I believe in setting my worries aside and simply taking time to live in the moment. I believe in letting go of the past, not worrying about the future and being truly present.

I didn't always have these beliefs. Growing up, my parents were always strict about technology use, taking our phones before bed and using screen time. I don't think I truly understood how much of a hold technology had on me until a few years back. In 2019, my family and I took a 14 day trip across Europe. No one had phone service except my mom. Those were 14 of the most carefree days of my life. We didn't have to worry about the time or what was going on back home. There was no need to even bring my phone when we went out. I was living in the present for about two weeks straight. I experienced different cultures, landscapes, and art all the while but most importantly, I spent 2 weeks of quality time with my family.

So many of us today are so reliant on technology, it seems to find its way into everything. Going to concerts, you see so many putting all their time into trying to record as much of it as they can. They spend upwards of $100, not to see their favorite artists, but to take a video to post on their Snapchat story. I’ve recorded videos at concerts before but seeing that I have never once gone back and watched these videos, I have learned to put my phone down and truly be present. Each year, me and my siblings go to the Big Gigantic concert at Red Rocks. It started with my older brother and sister. My sophomore year, I started going with them. This year, my little sister will come with us. It is such a simple thing but it is a little tradition that me and my siblings look forward to each year where we are able to forget about our hectic lives and just have fun.

With high school coming to an end, I look back over the years. My junior year, I couldn’t wait for high school to be over but now, I cannot believe that four years went by so fast. Time is so valuable and with so little time left with the people I’ve come to know throughout high school, with so little time left living with my family, I’ve come to appreciate every moment I have with them. With college coming up, we are forced to face the reality; everything is temporary. Anyone and anything can be in my life one minute and gone the next.

We cannot change the past so there is no point in regretting it, looking to what the future holds only makes you anxious, so live in the moment, don’t take anything in life for granted, spend time with those around you and be present.