I'd write stories, poems, journal entires - once I even tried to write a play! But it wasn't until I was about eight that I actually realized that I could turn my hobby into a career. That was when Mom started buying seasons of the old 70's show The Waltons on DVD, and I was introduced to John-Boy Walton - the eldest son of a Depression-era family who dreamed of being a writer and someday publishing a novel. Suddenly, thoughts of becoming a doctor, a teacher, an artist or a vet all went flying out of my head. From then on, no matter how much I waffled back and forth, I always fell back to writing as my life's ambition.
My mom has homeschooled my two younger sisters and I for our whole lives, which means that I've had a lot of free time over the years - free time I've used to bury my nose in books, and to work on writing my own stories. And of course, when it comes to schoolwork, my favorite subjects have always been those related to writing and English - currently a junior in high school, I love vocabulary, spelling and Language Arts, and always have. I'm also a huge history buff, and my favorite time period is the first half of the 1900s - from the Edwardian era to the Roaring Twenties, especially, although I'm especially fascinated by WWII-era. Due to this interest, I've written a number of essays, articles and papers on the time period and the people who lived during it. In fact, in the autumn of 2010 my essay about the Jewish artist and teacher Friedl Dicker-Brandeis, who was murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz, won Stage of Life's national essay contest. The press release read:
Margaret Dean, Communications Director for the My HERO Project comments, "Her thoughtful reflection on the character qualities that prompted Friedl Dicker-Brandeis to teach art and bring hope to children during the darkest of times, at great risk to her own life, paints a stirring portrait of the best of humanity."More recently, my article on remembering the Holocaust was published in the January 2012 issue of TeenInk magazine, much to my delight.
Besides reading and writing, I also enjoy photography, music, hanging out with my friends, watching Glee, playing with my pet ferret Felix, and being with my family. My favorite season is autumn, but I like spring and summer almost just as much - especially because I love to be barefoot! Typically, I like to read YA fiction, and my favorite genres are fantasy, ghost stories, historical fiction, some dystopian, and contemporary fiction, so long as it's not something that could be called "fluff" or "chick lit". When it comes to contemporary fiction novels, the ones I tend to read deal with the issues teens face, or are completely unique in some way, with a story that draws me in and emotions I can feel through the pages. However, I'm willing to try most kinds of novels, and book recommendations are always welcome! Click here for more information on book recommendations.
I've got big dreams and strong opinions, which means that I tend to rant about everything under the sun. Whether it's my staunch support of gay rights, my abhorrence for factory farms, or something else entirely, I often find myself rambling about controversial topics. And whenever I bring up my spirituality it usually sparks a big discussion, because my personal beliefs don't really line up with any one religion. But to each his own! I try my very best not to judge people for their beliefs, no matter how much they may differ from mine.
I think I was probably born to be a Nerdfighter - I'm proud to be nerdy, and I strive to make the world a better place. My motto is carpe diem, which I try to live by at all times, and I hope that someday I'll have made enough of a difference in the world that people will remember my name. Until then, though, I'll be here - rambling, writing, and trying to live life to the fullest. Thanks for stopping by!
