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Personality: I was born!
I made my dramatic entrance into the world on August 7, 1991 to a hospital in Southfield, Michigan. I already had a four year old sister. I got to come home a week later after cookin' for a week in an incubator. My parents could see my personality shine through as soon as they brought me home. I didn't cry much and i loved to laugh! -
Socio-Economic Status: I moved to Colorado!
I don't remember much of anything from when I lived in Michigan... But I do know that when we lived there we lived in a small apartment. My family was brought out to Colorado becasue of my dad's job. This one paid significantly more and we were able to afford a nice house in a good neighborhood. The move definitely increased our socio-economic standing. -
Social Interactions: I met the Carlstroms!
My mom met Laura Carlstrom at the park by my house. The two of them hit it off and Laura informed my mom that she did daycare out of her home in a neighborhood close by. From the time I was eighteen months old to the time I was ten I went over to their house before and after school and all day during the summer. The Carlstrom family has four kids in it. I had to learn from a young age how to interact with all of them, the rules of a new house, how to share, and what was polite. -
Social Institutions - Education: First day of school!
At the time I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I began school. Things at preschool were different than things had been at home or at daycare. Now there were a bunch of other kids sharing the same toys I wanted to play with! Preschool was just the beginning of many more years of being in an environment that would work to mold who I am as a person in society. -
Norm: I got into organized sports!
I began playing soccer when I was four years old. Our next door neighbors had kids who played the sport and they informed my parents that practically every kid in Colorado plays soccer when they're younger. My parents found a team for me to join and I didn't stop playing for fourteen years! -
Deviance: Clinton scandal!
I remember hearing about this huge scandal when I was only seven years old. Clinton didn't neccessarily do something illegal when he got with Monica Lewinsky... But he was definitely deviant. His act was known by everyone all voer the nation. He should have been much more careful and known not to be deviant in such a high profile position. -
Crime: Columbine high school shooting
I still remember to this day, the day the columbine shooting took place. When we had to sit in the center of the room with the lights off and the door locked we all wanted to know what was going on, but our teacher didn't tell us. All she said was that there were bad people doing bad things not too far away and that was why we couldn't have recess that day. This was just the beginning of a life in which I would be depressed by how much crime surrounds us each and every day. -
Society: The new millenium begins!
I was nine years old when the year 2000 rolled around. I remember watching the news and seeing all of the stories about the y2k scare. My parents reassured me that we didn't need to go stock up at the grocery store or build a bomb shelter. We brought in the new year and we realized that the world wasn't going to come to and end after all. :P Someone in society started freaking out and people felt that they had to follow one another's lead so they started panicking too. That's how it works. -
Socialization: I made the Nike soccer team!
When I was only ten years old I made the top soccer team at the top soccer club at that time. Soon after that, soccer became my life and my team became my tool for socialization. I was forced to interact with a whole new group of eighteen girls - only four of which i knew. I quickly learned that even though I didn't like every, single girl on the team I had to respect her as an individual and learn how to work with her in a team environment. -
Social Patterns: The Carlstroms moved to Virginia! :(
When I was in fifth grade my best friend and her whole family moved away to Virginia. I was incredibly sad and I all of the sudden was shaken from a social pattern that I had been very used to. Now I needed to focus on becoming more outgoing so that I could make some new friends. Not having friends essentially forces you into different social patterns. -
Freud - Superego: I started middle school!
For some reason my transition from my comfortable life at Powderhorn Elementary to Summit Ridge Middle School was very difficult. I was extremely nervous to haev to go to middle school. I wanted to be able to be my regular, friendly, outgoing self... But I was too nervous to let my personality shine through. My superego surpressed who I wanted to be as a person naturally. -
Social Institution - Religion: Joined youth group!
I had been attending church at Genesis presbyterian for as long as I could remember. For years I looked forward to being old enough to join the youth group there. I have been very involved there ever since and have taken on a definite leadership role within the group. There is no doubt that this connection to the church has molded me into the girl I am today with my strong morals and values. -
Values: I got confirmed!
When I was thirteen I was confirmed at Genesis. I worked for a couple of months beforehand to study and understand the bible and major themes within the Presbyterian religion. This connection to church helped me develop the values I still hold near to me today. -
Assimilation: First day of high school!
My first day of high school was quite an intimidating experience. My sister had been there for three years already and we hadn't been in the same school for some time now. It took me some time in order to be able to start assimilating to the lifestyle and way of Dakota Ridge. After four years, I finally think I understand what's goin gon around here... Even if I still don't fit in completely. :) -
Status Symbol: Sweet sixteen!
Young for my grade, I turned sixteen in August of 2007. I got my license that day to try and make up for some lost time. My parents bought me a brand new blue 2007 Honda Civic. I now had a car which was a whole new righ of passage for me. My car was a way to assert my status over the younger kids at school. -
Suicide: Laryn Cruz passed away
One of my sister's best friends, "Lou" commited suicide in MONTH 2008. The minute my sister found out she called the house and I answered the phone. It was so hard to try and comfort her because I had never experienced such a tragedy in my life before. Although it was not my friend that died, I saw the immense effect that suicide had on my sister, her boyfriend, her friends, etc. Lou's death continues to haunt my sister to this day. -
Social Control: Became a nanny!
I had been searching everywhere for a summer job until I found one to be a nanny for a girl named Bailey. Although my summer job was probably one of the best with the most perks and incentives, it was still a huge adjustment for me. All of the sudden I felt like I was a role model. If I liked something Bailey soon did too. If I disliked something Bailey was quick to let me know that she did as well. Now I finally was setting the social standard... Even if it was among ten year olds. -
Equality: Obama becomes President!
[[people said we wouldn't have a black President until pigs could fly. a hundred days into the Presidency swine flu!]]
But seriously, Obama being elected was a big step towards total and real equality in the United States. It was unreal that we finally got to that step. I was proud of my country for the first time in a long time. -
Status: I graduate high school!
There are only a handful of school days left until I am officially done with high school. These four years sure have passed more quickly then i ever could have imagined. Being a senior has definitely given me a higher status throughout the school. :) -
Self Reliance: I move up to CSU!
On August 20, 2009 I will move into my dorm room at Colorado State University. Although I won't be on my own completely by any means, it will be my first real experience with being fairly self reliant. I'm so excited but nervous too!
