Who I Am

 In someways, I am not so much different than I was when I was younger. That may sound odd considering I'm still pretty young but I do think that certain experiences can change you as a person in a fairly short amount of time. The difference between who I was, who I am, and who I will be are not that bizarre. Sometimes I still believe I can be the same person I was when I was in elementary school.

 I continue to possess a lot of the characteristics I had when I was much younger. For example, I moved to a new house before the start of second grade meaning that I had to start a new school with new people. Apart from my cousins, who were in the grade above me, I didn't know anyone making me the awkward new kid. To make matters worse, I can get extremely quiet and distant. As for most new kids, the teacher asked for volunteers to help show the new kid around the school and to help them get accustomed to a new routine. For me, this meant that I gained a new friend. The fact that I went to India a month after the second grade started didn't help my making-new-friends situation. My two month long trip definitely slowed down the process of making new friends. However, as the year progressed, I did end up talking to more people and making new friends.

The person I am today is a result of my past experiences taking a toll on my thought process and the way I respond. Compared to my seven year old, awkward self, I do feel like I've grown as a person and have become more of an individual. Growing up, I was always peer-pressured, plus I was scared to stand up for myself. Through the years, I do feel like I've developed personal skills and skills that can help me as I get older. I can still get really quiet and reserved but now I do realize that I need to speak up if I don't like something. I guess a lot of that comes from family pressures since its kind of expected that the girls are more timid.

The person I am today is trying to prepare my future self for a better life. A stereotypical  "better" life will include a successful career, loving family, and good fortune. I do want that for myself but I would definitely like to be happy. Being content is arguably the most important aspect of one's future. As a long term goal, I would like to successfully graduate university, go to medical school, become a doctor, and start a family. In order to achieve these goals the person I am today needs to work extremely hard.

In conclusion, I continue to grow as an individual but I still carry a lot of the same characteristics. Who I was in the second grade is completely different to who I've become and who I'm continuing to transform into. These characteristics are a defining factor for me and I continue to develop them.