At first I was this cute little asian kid who couldn't tell the difference in Tagalog and English.
I lost the language, grew a unibrow, and had a horrible hair cut from my mother.
I moved to where I am now, and continued to move into the extremes.
By age 9 I was no longer content with my hair colour and began to have my mother dye it.
I realized my eyebrows were horrendous and began to pluck them, knowing how to at all.
I got rid of my unibrow, but it was still terrible.
I disliked the style of the "preps" and dressed as opposite as I could.
Sure everyone talked to me back then, but I was always the oddball of the group.
I didn't really know how to be normal.
I never really fit in anywhere.
But the odd things that I wore always started up a decent conversation.
There were many "miss"es and little "hit"s.
By 7th grade I started to find my own muse and dressed to it.
I started learning about hair, but still nothing about clothing.
Everyday it was something different.
I began to cut my own hair and found my favourite general style.
That hasn't changed much.
Still, I did some outrageous hair colours.
My apparel was just as outrageous as my hair.
And my personality was probably just as obnoxious.
I kept to the darker colours the majority of the time and was ridiculed by my peers.
All throughout junior high I was known as the girl dressed in rainbows.
I even had blue hair for a year.
That was also the year people learned not to mess with me.
I had anger problems (still do but it's now controlled), but it didn't keep me from trying to be nice.
Honest, I really was a nice person, but when someone was on my bad side they never saw the end of it.
Now that I look back on it, I wish I could go back and pull off blue hair the right way.
High school is where I began to change.
My sophomore year I still wore tutus and dyed my hair with coon stripes and what not,
but I began dressing in a more contemporary fashion.
(And on the occasion I would wear the same kinds of outfits I did back in the day).
My social skills werer still a bit off, but I made it through.
Junior year I didn't pay much attention to what I looked like.
I'd just put my hair up in some fashion (usually braided) and wore whatever I felt.
That year I started getting rid of the extreme side of me.
Now, a senior, I am happy with what I've become.
I grew into music and found my own style.
Thanks to a friend, I mostly wear v-necks
and I've never strayed away from skinnies since 7th grade.
Who I am now reflects the many stages I went though,
but in a more socially acceptable manner.
I may not have grown a bit in size,
but my style and my personality have grown to make up for it.
Many other events have happened throughout my life that origionally scarred me,
but the scars have blossomed into strength and independence.
I credit my most positive change to governor's school; without it I wouldn't be the same person.
It tought me to open my eyes (more than they already were)
It tought me how to react in any situation,
It tought me to be okay with who I am,
It tought me to love myself for more than just being obnoxious.
It gave me a real reason to love myself.
I realized how much tallent I have and all the potentials there are available.
I am an artist.
My main medium may not be tangible, and I may not be the best,
but I am great I what I do and I intend on continuing painting the world though the ears of a musican.
I'm still a crazy teen that loves to live,
but I know what I'm doing with my life.
I have my future planned out to a T.
One day I will be great.
One day people will remember my name,
even if it's just because they met me at band camp back in junior high.
I may not be famous, but I'll love my life.
I may still be a bit awkward, but people will love me for it.
Hello, My name is Ellen.
I go by many other nicknames.
I've had a long life in a short amout of time.
I'm here to tell you that everything, bad or good, happens for a reason.
The reason? To grow into a great person.
Everyone has the potential, even when things are down.
It's a pleasure to meet you.