2010s Reflection

Television

Naruto- I talk about this show so much today, but growing up I was actually embarrassed to admit I watched this show! I remember coming home from school every day with Naoni closing the door and having the volume on super low because my mom did want us to watch this show. Once me and Naoni were apprehended my mom just accepted it and me and Naoni would stay up late when it got changed from after school show to Toonami due to the "violence." Some episodes were scary, like the ones with Orochimaru. Some were super empowering like the ones with Itachi and Rock Lee. I loved this show I loved the art style, the outfits, the storyline, and the overall theme. I just loved it!

Maury- I used to watch all the trash television shows after school in middle school. I stopped watching anime because that was "for kids." Anyway I would mindlessly watch TV. After a while though I got back into anime and decided to stop caring about what everyone thought of me.

Fruits Basket- I have never really watched such an exquisite show with such awesome friends. I love that it was a mix of both my childhood and today. I read and watched the show in like middle school(when I was a closeted weeb lol), but never really able to talk about all the things the Sohma's were going through with people who would understand. I enjoyed talking about with Naoni, Caitlin, Stacey, and soon to be Erin. Anyway Fruits Basket isn't the only show that I have watched recently. Animes like Full Metal Alchemist, Nabari no Ou, Owari no Seraph, Angel Beat, Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z, Attack on Titans, etc. have all affected me and have somewhat shaped me into the person that I am today!

Books

I don't know if y'all know this, but growing up I was super shy and quite and all I would do all day was read. It was so bad that unlike the other people in school who get in trouble for their phones I would get in trouble for reading. At family events I would read much to the chagrin of my aunt. I have read too many books to count, but I stopped reading once I got into college because I didn't want to distract myself from my academics because when I read a book I don't put it down until I finish it!

Judy Moody Series- This was THE book series for me. I had a hard time reading things especially when it was boring so it would take me a really long time to read things nonetheless a whole book series. But this book just sucked me into the bibliophile world. I would not put the book down until I finished it. I wanted to live in Virginia so bad like she did. As a kid I was a scary cat and used Naoni often times as a guinea pig even down to things like food The adventures that Judy Moody would go through inspired me to be more adventurous, imaginative, and less fearful. It was the book I can attribute to making me a reader!

Percy Jackson Series- I don't think I need to go into too many details about this. I was obviously the Greek and Roman mythology nerd and would not stop talking about the disaster the movie was.

Frankenstein- This book is transformative! Questions about morality often times in American society is very black and white. Either you're a bad guy or not, but this book shows that a gray area always exist. Discussing this in class made me interested in the first time in really analyzing books. Today I play the devil's advocate not because I like to argue with people, but to show that there's always two side to a coin and that just because one side is "more" right means that the other is completely "wrong"(Frankenstein was the most innocent in my opinion). This book made me more of a debater and understanding of the world around me. Everything is interconnected to each other and a sticky messy web.

Movies

300- One of the best movies in my opinion. I remember sneaking into the auditorium as my mom was in another one watching some boring movie. I got enraptured with the whole story and the fight scenes was well choreographed in my young eyes. Now today I wouldn't say that it's perfect, but I can't forget the effect it had on me.

X Men- A1 movies

Joker- The best movie of the decade to be honest! It has the moral ambiguity, mental health awareness, and angst that I needed. The soundtrack was perfect as proven by the award it won. The cinematography organized so well. I just can't rave about this movie enough

Music

Viva la Vida (Coldplay)- This song made me want to become a cellist, so I can never forget about this song.

The Kill (30 seconds to Mars)- everyone has an emo angsty rock music phase. I like to believe that my music taste was good, but in reality it was like anyone other middle schooler's taste in music. I really thought that I wasn't like the other girls (TM).

Scary Love (The Neighbourhood)- This song got me into the Neighbourhood again and I appreciate this song for that. The Neighbourhood is the greatest band on Earth and I need y'all to jump on this train with me!

Experiences

The time I broke my toes- When I broke my toe Stacey and Naoni told me I was being a party pooper, so I had to act like I wasn't in pain. I continuously broke it over and over because I am clumsy. I would try to massage it because I thought it was just sore from my shoes, but I would feel the bones grating against each other. My mom thought I was acting and stomp on my toes and my sisters followed suit as a way to keep me in check. I finally went to the doctor, but the lady was like if it was broken I wouldn't be able to touch it, and she proceeded to twist my toe and I felt the bone crack once again and after the appointment my toe swell into a cute little grape. I didn't trust the doctor and ended up going to the another hospital a couple of weeks later. The doctor was a black woman, and she took the time to believe me and x-rayed my toe it ended up having a giant crack across it. My mom and sisters felt bad and I ate it up! I got so many sympathy favors from them and I rubbed it in their face. I'm not usually a vengeful person, but this was after months of people not believing me and continuously hurting me. It felt good to be right the whole time. But the reason why I mentioned that the doctor was black is because she is the main person who encouraged me to become a doctor. I wanted to become one, but in the whole 16 years of my life she was the first black woman I met. She told me it was possible and to follow my dreams even though I never saw myself occupying that space.

Top floor of the Empire State Building- This was my Percy Jackson dream come true. I wondered on the top deck if it was possible that Percy Jackson world was actually possible and the mist was too strong for me to see through it. It's crazy thinking about it now, that I book could tempt me to believe in fiction.

Paris & Barcelona- This was the trip that solidified that I lived an isolated life. I didn't really know about world events but after traveling outside the US I realized there's more to life and the world than America, it was a truly eye-opening experience and will never forget it.

Prom- Senior prom was the first and last dance I went to in all of my schooling. I must say that I did enjoy the preparations. I straightened my hair for the first time since I shaved it in 10th grade, and I was surprised by the length. Dress shopping was stressful, but exciting. I was happy to be the only one wearing my dress, aside from Naoni. Naoni, Sebastian, and I rode together with my uncle which was kind of awkward because he thought one of us liked him. Went to this fancy Italian restaurant with my friends which was fun. I was stressed about food stains, but in the end I should have been worried about Naoni's lactose intolerance and the cool kids coming. We arrived at Lake Lanier for the party and were disappointed by the drink options and the music, but we found a way to have fun. We were on the dance floor until everyone starting grinding on each other. In order to breath and not get trampled my friends and I decided to play tag. It was the best game of tag I ever played and honestly my favorite part of the entire night!

First house meeting- I remember looking at everyone in the room and not believing that I was actually in college, Growing up people always told me that I was never going to make it through high school, nonetheless make it to college and I internalized that. Luckily, my college and career adviser encouraged me to try applying to at least one college and Smith was just one of the few mail letters that I actually read, and so I was like why not, you know. It was far from Georgia which I need because I hate this state. It was what I was comfortable with, but I was able to grow in the way I needed and knew I had to leave. I applied early decision and found out in January that I was accepted with over a quarter of a million dollars promised to me. Once I saw that I could leave and be financially okay with doing so I left without question. I love my home, but I can't stay here and Smith College showed me that.

The Bahamas & Montauk- The Bahamas was a graduation gift that was a year late, but truly fantastic. I love being able to see the world especially with those I love. It makes it that much more fun and granted we didn't do much, but we laughed and talked and were able to take it slow for once. And Montauk was truly a spectacular beach. I went during the winter and it was just as enjoyable as it was in the summer. It's only place I been to so far in my life that I could leave myself living there forever!

Montreal & NYC- These were the two trips I have done without my family and honestly I was surprised how different it is to family with friends than family. We did more discovering than eating and I really appreciate that. I hope that in the 20s I will be able to travel even more with my friends!

Ugh I lost momentum towards the end because writing too long kind of sucks. I hope this gives a glimpse into what the 2010s has done for me and how much I have grown during this decade. Enjoy!