https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6 My own river of life en-us 2020-07-22 17:51:49 UTC 2026-03-24 21:51:18 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f3de.png larrykcheng https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660319840 My river starts in Xi'an, China. While I was born in Houston, Texas while my parents were still in college, I was sent to China to live with my grandparents for the first 4 years of my life. This was where I remember my earliest memories. ]]> 2020-07-22 17:52:25 UTC https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660319840 larrykcheng https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660323669 A big factor that has been a part of my life is that I have been constantly moving throughout my life. Due to my father's job, my family has moved every 3-4 years, travelling from the US to Indonesia, to China, and now Angola. While this experience has it's perks, and I am extremely privileged to go to places many people dream of, it also has it's cons. As a young child up into middle school, I dreaded moving as it meant I had to press reset on my social life. Moving meant I had to leave behind my friends and community. I try to keep in contact with everyone I meet, but it's hard when you're so far apart, and I struggled having no childhood friend I could turn to when I moved. This left me pretty reserved going into highschool, as I thought it wasn't worth the effort to actively try and socialize anymore.]]> 2020-07-22 17:58:30 UTC https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660323669 larrykcheng https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660330110 What I can say about having lived in so many different places though, is that it has really opened my eyes and become more accepting. The cultures that i have encountered are numerous, and for that, I am truly grateful. I have also witnessed firsthand the poverty that those in developing countries face. Having lived in Sumatra, Indonesia, I met friends who's families scraped by to send them to school. In Angola, I witnessed the worrying state of the wildlife reserves left in the country; the pre painted image of vibrant Africa I had painted in my mind was replaced with that of the puny reserve left in Luanda, Angola. Having travelled so much, I have learned to become much more open-minded and more aware of the issues prevalent in society.]]> 2020-07-22 18:08:22 UTC https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660330110 larrykcheng https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660334158 By the end of 8th grade, my parents and I had decided: I would be going to a boarding school in Vermont for highschool. This meant this would be the first time I would be living alone. Going into freshman year, I was reserved and quiet as I was tired of having to restart my social life once again. However, the friends and seniors I met here changed me forever. They would push me to do things I never thought of, one thing led to another and now I am one of two student council presidents.]]> 2020-07-22 18:14:33 UTC https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660334158 larrykcheng https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660336646 My river is one that has been constantly bending, keeping me on my feet and never letting me rest. Just when I thought I got the hang of things, it suddenly curves and sends me to another direction.  Nonetheless, I have enjoyed every bit of the ride. And during these past 3 (going into 4) years of highschool, I have started to find my grounding and my direction. ]]> 2020-07-22 18:18:21 UTC https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660336646 larrykcheng https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660340035 My water has been a mixture of smooth and rough channels, mixing and changing constantly. Arguably, my biggest challenges have been moving, but they have also been the biggest opportunities given to me. ]]> 2020-07-22 18:23:17 UTC https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660340035 larrykcheng https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660341105 The one constant scenery in my river has been my family. Even though we might not always be on the best of terms, my parents have always been there for me and I appreciate them for that. I am also blessed to find that wherever I go, I have incredible friends that help me break out of the initial mould of shyness that I carry around. Throughout the 17 years I've been alive, I can confidently say that these 3 years of highschool has shaped me the most into who I am today.]]> 2020-07-22 18:25:04 UTC https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660341105 larrykcheng https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660342643 As of now, my river is smoothing out and I see a clear direction that I want to follow. However, I doubt that it's going to stay straight, nor do I really want it to stay straight. I welcome any changes and challenges that come my way as that's how I've grown and hopefully will continue to grow.]]> 2020-07-22 18:27:35 UTC https://padlet.com/larrykcheng/oum5wo332hu8qfa6/wish/660342643