In your Padlet post, please include:

• Your full name

• A photo of YOU

• OR Video Introduction

• Answer the questions listed below

Let's have some fun and get to know each other! Please write a post answering the following questions. 

• What is your name?

• Share a personal motto or quote that inspires you. Why does it resonate with you?

• What is one skill or talent you have that most people don’t know about?

• Describe a memorable moment from your childhood and why it sticks with you.

•  If you could spend a day learning something completely new, what would it be?

• What is a book, movie, or song that changed the way you think or feel?

• What’s one small thing that brings you joy in your daily life?

• Who has influenced your life the most, and in what way?

• If you could have dinner with any historical or living figure, who would it be and why?

• Any other information that you would like to share with us to get to know you better?  

REMINDER: All of your classmates will see your answers! 

My name is Cemil Nuriler. You can call me Cemil, which sounds like “Jeh-meel”

• Share a personal motto or quote that inspires you. Why does it resonate with you?  The quote I like is in German: “Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker” by Friedrich Nietzsche, translated to English as “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”  This quote allows me to remember that hardship, challenges, and suffering are a very part of all living beings' journey in this life; no need to despair when I encounter them. All I need to do is respond well to these challenges. If I survive these adversities, I can be a better version of myself.

• What is one skill or talent you have that most people don’t know about?

I am an excellent soccer player.

• Describe a memorable moment from your childhood and why it sticks with you.

When I was very young, I learn that my favorite soccer team came from a different city for a game. I decided to attend this game and walk from my house to the stadium, which was about 10 miles away. I got into the queue, despite not having a ticket, money, or ever having been to a soccer game in a stadium. I arrived at the gate with an iron revolving door without a ticket, money, or an answer to the usher, who was an old man with a white mustache. He just waved me through to pass. At that point, I entered the stadium, watched the game, and then walked back home after the game. I do not recall all the details, but I know I felt so good about accomplishing this task.

•  If you could spend a day learning something completely new, what would it be?

I would like to learn how to fly an airplane.

• What is a book, movie, or song that changed the way you think or feel?

I would say the movie called “Doctor Zhivago” had a great impact on my perspective on the choices we have and how our decisions are influenced by the difficult choices we make in life. What gives life true meaning, and what takes away the hope within us?   

• What’s one small thing that brings you joy in your daily life?

I would say that making other individuals feel good, whether it's as simple as a smile from passing by or improving their self-esteem in any way, brings me tremendous joy in life. I feel my sense of humor plays a good role in it. As life is short, we need to live a life that transcends our mind and reaches out to others. That is a true joy to me.

• Who has influenced your life the most, and in what way?

  Dr. Jonas Salk achieved extraordinary accomplishments that have benefited millions of people worldwide through the development of the polio vaccine. Remarkably, he refused to patent the vaccine, a decision that could have made him a billionaire, because he viewed his work as a moral duty to humanity. Dr. Salk is truly an exceptional individual, exemplifying both professional excellence and true humanity.

• If you could have dinner with any historical or living figure, who would it be and why?

I would like to know Catherine the Great, empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, who accomplished so much via her persuasion and relentless work for the people.

• Any other information that you would like to share with us to get to know you better?  

  I look forward to getting to know you all better.

1.) “It’s in the uncomfortableness, that the real changes happens.” Becoming a parent, having my parents pass away and with this last Presidential election, I’ve found that it’s only in the most uncomfortable moments in life that I have seen the most growth in myself. Even though change is good, it’s not always easy. It takes practice to lean into the uncomfortableness…this quote reminds me why it’s worth trying to be more vulnerable and curious.

2.) One “talent” I have is I’m a good hugger. Even my friends who hate hugs, don’t mind them for me.

3.) A memorial moment from my childhood that sticks with me was my class trip to Wyalusing State Park in 6th grade. It was the first time that I was really introduced to outdoor activities and the wonders of nature. I truly believe it has shaped me in to the nature lover I am today.

4.) If I could spend a day learning something new it would be about different cultures. Learn about their foods, traditions, social norms, etc.

5.) A song that changed the way that I feel: “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young.

6.) One thing that brings me joy daily is the sunshine.

7.) The person who has influenced my life the most has been my husband. He teaches me things daily and always makes me laugh.

8.) If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be Michelle Obama. She is just so inspiring as a mother and women. Plus I really loved Barack as President and the fact that they are partners in this life makes me admire them even more.

9.) I graduated from Madison College in 2007 with a hygiene degree. I have practiced hygiene for 18 years with the last 10 years working for a non-profit called Bridging Brighter Smiles. A job which takes me into schools and I see students mostly on Badgercare. It brings me joy to help others…I just don’t want to help in the hygiene world anymore.

I am a Christian and love the Bible verse Joshua 1:9, it helps motivate me through my day and helps me stay peaceful and happy.

One talent I have that most people don't know about, is that I love to build computers and tinker with them.

A memorable moment I have from my childhood is when I went hiking with my Dad and brother. My brother and I were around 6, and 3, with me being the oldest. We all found walking sticks that we would imagine as swords or staffs, and would walk down the hiking trail acting like knights and wizards, it was a very fun time and a great memory :).

If I could spend a day learning something completely new, it would be learning how to dance well!

I love the movie "Pulp Fiction". It changed the way I thought of movies and I believe it to be the standard of what to do as a director to have your movie considered good.

I love black, dark roast coffee. I've loved it since I was little, and started drinking it regularly when I was an early preteen. It brings me tons of happiness and helps me power through the day.

I think my Mom and Grammy have influenced my life the most. They were always pillars in my life that I could rely on, and are some of the most important people in my life.

I would love to have dinner with Michael Jackson. I love his music and would love to see the way he thinks about art.

Again, I love computers, I love video games, movies, sports, music, friends, family, and love to talk about all of those things! Have a great day, I'm looking forward to meet all of you!

•A personal quote that truly has inspired my journey in life, and also rings true is "The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried" ~ Bruce Lee. This quote has resonated with me because I stumbled upon it at a time in life when I was plagued with failed attempts at sobriety and other life endeavors. The quote had a unique ability to inspire me to my core and remind me to keep going, and try again.

• One skill or talent that I have that most people dont know about is I can make a water drop sound with my tounge/mouth.

•a memorable moment from my childhood was when I was 6 years old and my father sat my down and told me that we would no longer be living together. I started to cry and I didn't want my dad to see me cry so I quickly came up with "I have to go to the bathroom and grab my toothbrush". In the bathroom I cried.

• If I could spend a day learning something completely new I would choose internet security/computer programming.

• a song that changed the way I feel is crossfade - deadskin.

•One small thing that brings me joy in my daily life is flossing my teeth.

•A person that has influenced my life the most is my grandmother. She stood by and took blows to the head for me while I was going through my worst days and still never turned her back on me. She showed me how much she truly loves me and encouraged me to try loving myself.

• If I could have dinner with any historical figure or living figure I would choose Michael Jordan because I just honor his hard work, dedication, team work, discipline, heart and all out approach to building himself into the greatest basketball champion ever

A personal quote I love is "When words fail, music speaks", I am a shy person and sometimes finding the right words is difficult for me. Music is a way I have found to express myself as well as ground me when life gets tough.

One talent I have is I am good at decorating cakes. My mom is a home baker and I help with everything, but I am better with Decorating or assist in giving her ideas. I recently did my first solo cake.

A memorable moment from my childhood would be not one but years of summer and winter breaks traveling to Mexico and spending break with my grandma. It taught me to love and embrace my culture and has molded me into who I am.

I would like to learn a new language and become Trilingual.

Under the same moon (Bajo la Misma Luna), It really depicted the struggles my family had to go through when they first came to the U.S. And really impacted my view on immigration.

The stickers on the back of my phone are my small dose of serotonin. My goddaughter and little cousin placed them on my phone on my last trip in Mexico.

My Grandma from my mother's side, is the most influential person in my life. Not only do I have a version of her name (Elida) but She is the reason I enjoy helping people. And taught me very young never deny giving a helping hand you, you could need help from that person in the future.

I would have dinner with Karol G, not only am I a fan of her music but after her recent documentary I feel as though we have some traits in common. She takes deep pride in everything she does and feels deeply when it doesn't work out. She has also created a foundation called Con Cora, which empowers girls/women to achieve their dreams. And I stated previously I love her music specifically her "Mientras me curo del cora" (While I heal my Heart). "Give me time, I'm not at my best. But I'm improving little by little. Yes, Today I'm down, But I know that tomorrow will be more beautiful"

You will notice I am a big Dunkin fan; I will almost always have a Dunkin lemonade in class. <3

A quote that resonates deeply with me is an excerpt from Theodore Roosevelt's speech "Citizenship in a Republic" which is often referred to as "The Man in the Arena".

I find this quote relatable to my own journey from active addiction into recovery. It also applies to other changes in my life, such as deciding to become a student again, pursuing a career in addiction recovery, and rebuilding personal relationships that suffered as a result of my addiction.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

A skill I possess that most people are unaware of is the ability to easily identify any commercial aircraft visually (provided it is below 10,000 feet).

A moment that I have always retained from my childhood was from preschool. I had intense separation anxiety as a child. In order for my mother to be able to actually leave the classroom after dropping me off, she had to leave some of her keys with me to convince me that she was going to return to pick me up later that day.

If I had the opportunity to spend a day learning something new, it would be motivational interviewing skills.

A song that has had significant impact on me is "Happy" by NF. I first heard this song when I was in residential treatment in September of 2024. The song speaks to conquering ones demons, facing fears, and being unwilling to accept defeat as an outcome. The message of the song was precisely what I needed to hear when I was beginning the process of tearing what remained of my life apart, and rebuilding a new life that I could actually be proud of.

My pour over coffee maker is a small thing that brings joy to my life every day. I may not have control over many things in my life, but it brings me a great deal of satisfaction to spend a few extra minutes of my morning making myself the best cup of coffee possible. It's a simple act of self care that has a dramatic impact on my mood for the day.

The person who has influenced my life the most was Christina, my recovery support specialist at Rogers Behavioral Health, in West Allis.

Christina was the first person in a clinical role in addiction recovery with whom I was able to relate on a personal level. She invested time and energy in me, and started me on my recovery journey, setting me up with Madison Recovery Center as my aftercare treatment, where I am fortunate enough to work today.

I am grateful that I am able to work with Christina today as a peer in the addiction recovery treatment community. Though we work for different companies, we often work together on events. She continues to be an inspiration to me every time we speak.

If I could have dinner with any person of my choosing, it would be Brene Brown. Her research on connection and in particular on shame has been transformational to me. I consider her to be one of my professional role models, and hope to meet her some day.

I look forward to getting to know all of you better. I am excited for this course, and all we have to learn - both from the course material, and from each other.

• My personal quote is: You alone are enough, you have nothing to prove to anybody. Maya Angelou. It took me a long time to find my way, but here I am killing it every day! 

• A skill that I have is the ability to take the littlest of things and decorate them. I really like to search for just the right items and put them together to create something great in them. 

• A personal memory from childhood would be going up north with my family each summer. It was the one time of the year that I was able to just be a kid and have fun! Nothing else in the world mattered except laughing and swimming and sitting by the campfire and just enjoying the peacefulness of the woods on the lake. 

• If I could spend a day learning something new it would be learning new languages. I would like to one day be able to communicate well with others that I encounter on a daily basis. Right now, I rely on google translate.  

• The movie, Safe Haven is a movie that changed my feelings about my own personal life and what I was going through. I’m pretty sure if you’ve seen the movie, it’s self-explanatory. Again, we all have a story.  

• My 2 grandsons bring me the most joy! I don’t get to see them often as they live 2 hours away, but I talk to them regularly. 

• My dad has always been an influential part of my life. He taught me how to be a kind genuine person in a world full of bad. He taught me how to be disciplined and humble. Never take anything for granted. 

• I must list just one person? Goodness I would like to have a full table of people. I’d really like to learn so many things and gain knowledge of so much.  

The quote that continues to inspire me the most comes from the video game 'Fallout New Vegas.' "I survived because the fire inside burned brighter than the fire around me." The line resonates with me because after I was discharged from the Army I fell into a deep state of depression. My goals and everything I had come to achieve had felt taken from me, and I was left to figure out what was next for me. The quote, to me, is an inspiration to continue motivating yourself to move forward even when the circumstances seem against you.

A talent that I have that most people don't know is playing darts.

A memory from my childhood that still brings a smile to my face is watching John Wayne movies with my granddad while I "Vacuumed" the living room with a toy vacuum cleaner.

If I could spend a day learning something new I would enjoy anything related to mechanical engineering.

A show that changed how I felt about myself is 'Barry.' In the show, a Marine vet turned criminal turned actor battles between finding his own purpose, his PTSD and influencers in his life who would rather him stay in his former life. A quote from the first episode, "I know there's more to me than that," resonates with me and my own dealings with PTSD and also wanting to find my own "Purpose."

A small thing that brings me joy everyday is my cat, Noodle (pictured), acting as my alarm clock promptly at 4AM.

The person who has influenced my life the most was my former Lieutenant. He was at every meeting I had in regards to my discharge, he was one of the few of my guys to call me when I was in inpatient treatments to check in and even when I came forward about my narcotics usage he never spoke to me with anything less than compassion.

If I were to have dinner with any historical figure it would be Jesse James who was born in my granddads hometown of Kearney, MO.

2. "Nothing changes if nothing changes"

To me this means it's okay to do hard things. Change is very hard for me, but I understand it needs to happen to be more successful in life.

3. One skill I have that most people don't know is...I enjoy installing car audio sound systems.

4. A memorable moment from my childhood that sticks with me...Is when my paps took me to my very first baseball game! I fell in love with sports from that moment on!

5. If I could spend the day learning something new...I would learn about how to coach/manage a sports team.

6. A song that changed the way I feel....is Dierks Bentley "Burning Man"

7. One small thing I do everyday that brings me joy is....Playing with my dogs one-on-one, and spending time with each of them!

7. Who influenced my life the most was my Paps (grandpa) He showed me what its like to live life to the fullest. At the same time teaching me how to be a respectful man.

8. If I could have dinner with any historical figure....I would have to say I cant pick just one! The fact is I would want so many people at my table. I would want to gain as much knowledge as I could over that short time!! Two of the people at my table would be Jackie Robinson, and Babe Ruth! Man would I love to talk baseball with them to fellas!!

9. Some other information that I would like to share with you....I am a big Brewers fan. I collect sports memorabilia and have been collecting for over 15 years now! I have been to 20 different baseball stadiums over the years, and have been to some of my favorites a few times.

Another thing about me is that I lost my best friend back in 2020 to an overdose. The hurt and pain I feel everyday from that, and the hurt and pain it brings to his sister and his mama kills me inside! If I can help save someone and their family from that hurt and pain then sign me up!! Change is hard and scary for me. I have been out of school for over 20 years, but I know in the end it will all be worth it! I am here to learn, but also maybe make some new friends along the way! So here's to doing hard things!! I've got this!!!

Teeth Nordstrom

• Share a personal motto or quote that inspires you. Why does it resonate with you?

"If good things lasted forever, would we appreciate how precious they are?"

-Hobbes from Calvin & Hobbes

This quote reminds me to stay grounded and mindful, and to be grateful for the things I love

• What is one skill or talent you have that most people don't know about?

I recently started learning fly-fishing

Describe a memorable moment from your childhood and why it sticks with you.

I will always treasure my trip to Ukraine in 2019, as it gave me the chance to meet family I had never met before and to see the place where my mom grew up.

If you could spend a day learning something completely new, what would it be?

I would love to learn how to draw, either digital or with pencil and paper.

• What is a book, movie, or song that changed the way you think or feel?

Passing Through by Pete Seeger, I think its a great lesson on how life is short and fleeting, but you can also do so much and meet so many people with that time, and leave your mark on the world

What's one small thing that brings you joy in your daily life?

My 2 lovely cats

● Who has influenced your life the most, and in what way?

My Grandma Judy, because of the memories we share and the values she taught me.

• If you could have dinner with any historical or living figure, who would it be and why?

Pete Seeger, I think he would give good life advice.

Motto/quote- I'm Christian and the things God has done for me and moved me through are undeniable. It's hard to pick just one verse/quote because they all speak in different ways, but "She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future."

Proverbs 31:25-28

Skill/Talent- I excel at using laughter as medicine. But my faith is my biggest and best skill. Some people may say how is that a skill, but it is because it's just like a muscle, the more you use it and feed it, the more it grows.

Memory-One of the best memories from childhood was traveling. Whenever we could, we traveled. By the time I was in 5th grade I had been to 21 different states, some of them simply because we drove through, but because of the traveling, it definitely solidified my need for adventure, from a very young age.

Learning- If I could spend a day learning it would be about different cultures.

Music/Book & Joy- So the music and book and what brings me joy are the same thing for me. Music literally feeds my soul. Music of all kinds, there is no shame in my music game. The Bible and every genre of music literally saved my life.

Influence-I've had so many influential people in my life, and I think they differ in every season of life, for me anyway. But, right now, the biggest influences are my nieces and nephews. Everything about children is angelic, what makes them change is, unfortunately, any trauma they go through. They remind me to smile at the littlest things and take joy in the mundane.

Dinner- If I could have dinner with any historical figure, it would probably be Martin Luther King Jr. or someone from that era, Jackie Robinson maybe. I'm all about the other cultures, especially back then when things were so terribly wrong with our society.

I look forward to getting to know all of you!!

2.) one quote that really resonates with me is "In a world you can be anything, be kind." This quote really moves me because a little kindness can really go a very long way. And sometimes that all people really need, especially the ones who don't give it to you. So just learning to not be so quick to anger and just kind of everyone has changed my attitude and outlook on life.

3.) One talent or skill I have is being able to talk to anyone. I love talking to people when I have the opportunity to and I just feel I am able to connect to everyone in some type of way. And make them feeling comfortable.

4.) One memorable moment from my childhood is my first mission trip. A small group of youth and a few mentors from my church took a week trip to Kansas city Missouri. We helped out the community in a few ways and just worked together with different members from the area. This really opened my eyes to how privileged I am and kind of got me started on the path of wanting to help others. It also really started my path of my religion which completely changed how I was living my life.

5.) If I had to spend the day learning something new, i would spend the day learning how to become a master chef.

6.) A song that changed the way I think is the song "More like Jesus" by One voice INT.

7.) One thing that brings me joy is Hanging out with my boyfriend and family. Hanging out with people that I'm close with really fills my cup and helps fix anything I have going on.

8.) If I could have dinner with any historical figure I would choose Jesus. Not only because of he is very important in my life. But also just because I am so interested in the history of religion and how and what is different from now and then.

2) My favorite quote comes from my favorite poem. "Long live the rose that grew from concrete, when no one even cared." It resonates with me deeply because I'm a 24-year-old that was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. I've had a lot of odds counted against me and I've overcome a lot of adversity. Everyone has their own story, and I feel that even if no one acknowledges my growth or progress, I acknowledge it. If no one cares, I care. That is what continues to motivate me.

3) A skill that no one knows I have is that I can play the violin.

4) A memorable moment from my childhood is taking spontaneous road trips with my dad. He would wake my brother and I up and tell us to get ready because we are getting ready to meet some new cousins in a new state. It sticks with me because I now carry that trait. I've been driving on the beltline with my kids and ex-fiancé in the car and ended up in Minnesota. I love to be adventurous and try things on a whim.

5) If I could spend a day learning something new, it would be to learn how to customize sneakers. I love shoes and would love how to paint my own designs and logos on them.

6) A song that changed the way I think is "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson.

7) One small thing that brings me joy un my everyday life is spending time with my kids. They light up my life.

8) Someone that has influenced my life is my former high school principal. When I was kicked out of regular high school and placed in alternative school, I was told that was where I needed to be. She saw more than the problematic kid that got into fights. She saw a social kid that loved to read and write and introduced me to every opportunity she came across to help me better as a student.

9) If I could have dinner with any historic figure it would be Malcom X. I adore his work and theory as well as Dr. King. In my eyes, they had the same dream, with two different roads of getting there. I would simply ask if he would have chosen a different route seeing the recognition that Dr. King had?

It is nice to read some of your responses, and I look forward to getting to know you all in upcoming weeks.

2-) A quote that inspires me is “ “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” By Theodore Roosevelt.  This one resonates with me because it emphasizes the importance of making the most of your current circumstances. It’s easy to get caught up in waiting for the “perfect” moment, but this quote encourages action right where you are, with what you have.

3-) One skill that most people do not know about me is that I can speak Turkish, English, Spanish and a bit of German.

4-) One of the most memorable moments from my childhood was the first day of school. After the first class, I packed up my bag, walked straight out the door, and thought, “Well, that’s it! School’s over, time to go home!” But... I was wrong.

5-) If I could spend a day learning something completely new, I  would like to learn about crypto investment.

6-)  A book that changed the way I think is Adventures in Human Being by Gavin Francis. It's a a deeply reflective exploration of the human body, mind, and spirit. What makes the book so captivating is how he as a doctor intertwines his personal experiences with the physical and philosophical aspects of the human condition. Each chapter explores a different part of the body ,both literally and metaphorically, through travel, history, and human experience.

7-) Knowing that my loved ones are healthy brings me joy in my daily life.

8-) My mother and father have influenced me the most in my life. Their dedication to raising me and my siblings in the best way they could made me believe that there are truly good people in this world and that true love does exist.

9-) If I could have dinner with any historical or living figure, it would be Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). His wisdom, compassion, and unwavering dedication to justice and humanity have inspired millions around the world. I would love to learn from his character, his patience in the face of hardship, and how he was able to bring about such profound positive change in society.

My name

Stephanie Wright

Share a personal motto or quote that inspires you. Why does it resonate with you?

 “If you can change your mind, you can change your life.” Through therapy, I have developed the ability to challenge and shift my perspective on myself, others, and my experiences. As someone who has dealt with mental illness since adolescence, changing my beliefs has enabled me to evolve, act differently, and create new possibilities for my life.

What is one skill or talent you have that most people don’t know about?

I have years of experience caring for infants.

Describe a memorable moment from your childhood and why it sticks with you.

Most of my childhood is a blur. I do remember crying when I got off the bus from kindergarten because I learned that I would not be home in time to watch Barney. Not sure why, of all things, this memory sticks with me, but I do not have much else to work with.

 If you could spend a day learning something completely new, what would it be?

Wilderness survival.

What is a book, movie, or song that changed the way you think or feel?

Slow and Steady- of monsters and men.

What’s one small thing that brings you joy in your daily life? 

Movement and exercise

Who has influenced your life the most, and in what way?

My son. Before becoming a mother, my mental illness and addiction wreaked havoc; I was destructive, and my life was chaotic. When I became pregnant, I had to decide to live, and my life has not been the same in any capacity since I made that decision.

If you could have dinner with any historical or living figure, who would it be and why?

I am genuinely content with myself and my children, and I do not have the desire to meet anyone from the past or present. If anything, I would like to meet with my future family. I choose to believe I have family I have not met yet.

Any other information that you would like to share with us to get to know you better? 

I am not the type to volunteer information, but am an open book when spoken to.

— Ram Dass

I think that there is something so beautiful in letting go of expectations on things, other people, even yourself. Trying to understand things as they are now brings a lot more peace to me than trying to constantly picture how they could be better or worse, in the past or in the present. 

• What is one skill or talent you have that most people don’t know about?

  • I don’t think theres anything people that know me don’t know about, because I like to YAP. However, my special skill is I can make really good gnocchi pasta from scratch.

• Describe a memorable moment from your childhood and why it sticks with you.

  • My godmother has a house in a remote area of the coastal jungle in Ecuador. When I was a kid I would spend my Christmas breaks with her. One morning she woke me up really early and asked me to be quiet and come with her to the window. When I looked out, there was a huge group of toucans sitting on the tree right outside the window. Growing up in ecuador I got to experience a lot of nature, but that was probably one of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen and I think about it often!

•  If you could spend a day learning something completely new, what would it be?

  • I would spend the day learning how to use a DJ deck.

• What is a book, movie, or song that changed the way you think or feel?

  • Abolition Democracy: Beyond Empire, Prisons, and Torture by Angela Davis

• What’s one small thing that brings you joy in your daily life?

  • When my pet Blue Tongue Skink eats a blueberry 

• Who has influenced your life the most, and in what way?

  • My Mother. I don’t think I would be who I am today without her constant unconditional love and support.

• If you could have dinner with any historical or living figure, who would it be and why?

  • Ta-Nehisi Coates. He is my favorite modern writer and I deeply admire him as a political thinker.

-A personal motto that resonates with me is something my dad told me when I was younger. He said the biggest lesson he had to learn in adulthood was that you cannot control how other people make you feel, you only have control over how you react. I’ve used this growing up as a way to keep myself aware of my actions and how I treat other people, and to stop from harboring resentment.

-A skill I have that most people don’t know about is archery. I went through a Hunger Games phase as a preteen and begged my mom to sign me up for archery lessons. I actually got pretty good at it haha.

- A memorable moment from my childhood would be watching my mom graduate college. I remember thinking she was the coolest person in the world and honestly I still do.

-If I could spend the day learning something new, I think I would want to learn how to drive boats or how to scuba dive. I love the ocean and all things related to it.

-A song that changed the way I think would be Moon by Kanye West. It was my best friend’s last favorite song before he passed away, and it helped me get through the grief in a way.

-Something that brings me joy in my life are my 2 cats, Boots & Bill :)

-I would say my parents both have influenced my life the most. They had me very young, and in a way we all grew up together. Watching their struggles and how resilient they became over the years showed me how much strength was in our family, and made me strive to be better every day.

-If I could have dinner with any historical figure, it would probably be Jordan Peele. I’m super into filmmaking, especially horror, and the way he changed the genre is super inspiring to me.

Random thing about me, I change my hair color up a lot. Right now it’s split half blonde and half brown, but you will probably see at least 1 if not 2 dramatic changes throughout our semester LOL

1.) My name is Breanna Gigl (last name is pronounced Giggle, as in hehe. I believe it originated from Germany?)

2.) My favorite quote is actually one I had just recently heard: "The wound is the place where the light enters you." -Rumi. For me, this means while the "wound" experiences in my life may have been some of my most painful days there was something beautiful created out of them. A journey of healing, self acceptance, and growth.

3.) A skill/ talent I have is the ability to memorize even the smallest details about someone. For example, I can recall a customer's food & drink order at the restaurant I work for after months of not seeing them.

4.) A memorable moment from my childhood that will forever stick with me is: my father and his best friend plowing snow all night just to gather enough funds to buy me a bike for Christmas. He was a single father struggling to make ends meet, however he still found a way to get me this hot pink Next bike with streamers I so desperately wanted. He may not realize he did, however he taught me a lesson that day. If there's a will, there's always a way.

5.) If I could spend a day learning something new it would be: Basic life saving measurements to take if/ when you come across an emergency.

6.) A movie that changed the way I thought/ felt: Breakthrough. This movie is based on a true story and is POWERFUL.

7.) One small thing that brings me joy everyday is: My dog YaYa. Everytime I walk through the door she's there to greet me. She's an American Bully so she doesn't have a tail, instead her whole back end of her body wiggles. My little wiggle worm.

Some information I believe everyone should know about me: I'm very observant, majority of the time I'll choose to sit back, absorbing all of the information.