SHIFT: a. to shift for oneself: to provide for one’s own safety, interests, or livelihood (implying either absence of aid, or, sometimes, want of concern for others); to depend on one’s own efforts.
I grew up with separated parents, I depended on my single mother for the majority of adolescence. She taught me strength as she raised me and accomplished a higher education, although my father was absent, his presence was occasional and the moments we had were highly impactful and have brought me where I am today. Through my adolescence years, my home base was constantly shifting, I moved schools eleven times from kindergarten to my senior year of high school, I was constantly forced to adjust to new environments, new schools, new friends, a new bedroom. During these times, my father had a faint presence that was full of art and excitement, I was young and did not understand the pain he had caused my mother through his lack of financial support, so I cherished the moments we shared.
Throughout childhood, my mother was my foundation, no matter the location, she was always there. Although, my mother fought very hard to raise me, the constant shifts had pushed me away and forced curiosity on a life with my father, who had presented an increase in maturity and a life of design and excitement. From grade school to middle school, my mother had dragged me across the state for a “better life”, unfortunately the men she was dating depicted my new home, El Paso, Texas. I was unhappy and I soon began to fantasize a world with my father at a performing and visual arts high school back home in Dallas.
Towards the end of my freshman year of high school, I was finally asked what I wanted, where I wanted to be. My mother understood that this opportunity was going to benefit my future, although my father’s past actions and lifestyle had caused doubts and fear for my life in Dallas. From sophomore year to senior year, I was attending a school that sparked creativity and expression and life with my father, although not traditional, I was encouraged to make art, always ask questions and obtained the freedom to be myself.
ADJUST: a. trans. (refl.). Originally: to position oneself in relation to something. Later: to adapt oneself to something.
Throughout my childhood, I was constantly forced to adjust to a new school, a new house and connect with new people. I was the “new girl” on campus. Throughout the years of adolescence, it was easier to make friends and start over. The biggest geological shift occurred when I moved from Dallas, Texas, my home to, El Paso, Texas. I was now residing in a small town, every citizen had grown up together, so settling here was difficult. As I grew older, it became more difficult to find people that I could easily connect with.
Skipping through a number of shifts, I landed at my last high school, where I graduated alongside friends that had grown up with me and witnessed my true self. It is true that I was forced to adapt, but I never felt the need to change who I was because of my location.
EXPRESSION: b. An action, state, or fact whereby some quality, feeling, etc., is manifested; a sign, token.
I express myself through my face, my words, my art and my clothing. Although I have been in many new environments, where my self-expression had never been understood, I have never felt limited in my actions. Throughout my high school career, self-expression was not only welcomes, but it was encouraged. The nonexistent fear of expression has carried over into my college career, here at, Parsons.
The environment of New York City thrives off of individuality and creativity, the perfect home for students who are creating based on themselves.
CURIOUS: a. Desirous of seeing or knowing; eager to learn; inquisitive. Often with condemnatory connotation: Desirous of knowing what one has no right to know, or what does not concern one, prying.
As a child I was always one to ask, “Why?”, I never felt afraid to question something I didn’t quite understand, my parents encouraged me to ask questions if something wasn’t understood, they attempted to answer anything they could. Here at Parsons, my yearn for knowledge has caused excitement for these next four years.
My need to ask questions is going to flourish into new knowledge at Parsons, new opportunities here in New York City and new creations based on all my new knowledge I will acquire throughout my lifetime.
