RIHLA #16

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A mountain I have climbed since the beginning of my time at UICCP is getting accustomed to the school environment/discipline. Believe it or not, i was quite rebellious in grammar school (at least in 7th and 8th grade when i started experimenting with my identity). I really wanted to go to high school with my best friend, but my mother wanted me to go to UICCP. Everyone like my aunts, uncles, and siblings were all on my side, but my mother, fighting the crowd, still went with her gut feeling and enrolled me at UIC. It was really tough for me to get use to the school because it was like night and day when comparing the discipline in my grammar school and UICCP. Since i knew the harsh consequences to my action, I kept myself in line because i really didn't want to get in trouble. After a while, i got use to it, and i made sense of all the rules. I learned that professionalism is important and the discipline helped me become more professional myself.

I know that I'm going to do well the rest of the semester in terms of my classes. I have faith in myself. However, there are so many things I need to get done for college, and just getting ready to graduate is stressful. Additionally, i have to pass the fitness test in order to graduate, and I'm worried about the running because last time i took the fitness test i didn't pass the 1/2 mile run, so i need to get in shape/run more so that i know i am able to conquer that mountain.

A big goal that I have for myself is to just be happy with anything that I do. I want to be able to make a difference--- make some type of positive impact on this world--- and that's what will make me happy, and I want to travel to atleast 30 different countries.

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