Quinn's Life
Autobiography, 9th grade, 2015
Chapter one
A name is a title of a story and a story that will never be repeated. Like most stories the title doesn't matter much. The title doesn't change the story, make it better or worse. It's the ideas and emotions related to the title that matter, the title itself doesn't have much meaning at all. Therefore, since my name is my title it isn't very important, and that makes me smile. My name only becomes meaningful when my story is told, and my title remembered by the ones I care about. I make my name, my name doesn't make me. My name is sharp like knife; saying it fast cutting through stone with the sharp edges digging into each individual crack. My name is light like ballon floating in mid air only to slowly drift down into a smiling child's hand. The small child smiling only to mutter one word as the ballon reaches his finger tips. My name. How it's said and thought of, is my decision. It can be whatever I please, soft or sharp.
Now, how I got my name is like the prologue of my story, very important. My parents originally were going to name me gala, like the party. Looking back on it I'm happy I wasn't named gala because it sounds like I was named after an apple. My dad, Donn, actually came up with my name on the way to the hospital. He was in the car with my mom, Holly, and he looked out the window for split second and saw a sign. He never actually saw what the sign said, but he thought it said my name, not gala but the name that they decided to give me. My dad thought it was a beautiful name and wanted me to have it; my mom agreed. I'm not sure where my older sister Arbour was when all of this was happening, but I would guess that she was at dance or school, because that's all she ever does. Dance, dance, dance, dance, and occasionally school work. I'm not sure how long this car ride took, but I'm guessing it seemed like forever for my mom. After we got to the hospital a lot of things happened. My mom gave birth, I was born, my sister came to the hospital to see me, but I'm going to skip through all that boring stuff. The point is, I was born on May 13th 2000 in the afternoon and I was in the hospital for a while.
Now that I'm named the first thing my dad did was give me nicknames. I have 15 nicknames exactly and I love them more than my actual name. My nicknames represent who I am, my name doesn't. My name was given to me before anyone knew what I was like or what I want to be. All my nicknames come from stories and experiences I've had as a child. Two of them came from soccer. Tangle foot and Grace. My dad called me grace because I am just so GRACEful on the field and tangle foot because, realistically, I am the clumsiest person on the team. My nicknames represent all that I am and all I will ever be. You get to choose your nicknames, but you can't choose your name.
This is My name. My story. My life. My title. My nicknames. My experiences. Who I was, who I am, and who I'm going to be is all in my story. My story is what's important not my title. The title of my story is only on the cover, and you never judge a book by its cover.
-Anonymous
Chapter 2
When is your birthday? May 13th 2000
Find your age in days with this Age Calculator. 5,225 day
Can you find out what the moon looked like on the day you were born? Insert an image.
Waxing gibbous
Visible: 78% ↑
Age: 10 days
List at least five famous people who share their birthday with you. What are they famous for?
Debby's Ryan- actor
Robert Pattison- actor
Stevie wonder- singer
Francisco Lachowski- model
Hunter Parrish- actor/singer
List at least ten things that happened throughout time on this day in history .
May 13th:
Season finale of glee season 5
Pope John Paul II, is shot in St Peter's Square in Rome in front of 20,000 worshippers. Police in the square apprehended Turkish citizen Mehmet Ali Agca after the shooting.
A warehouse in Enschede storing fireworks starts on fire and causes over 170 tons of fireworks to explode with devastating results killing more than 20 and injuring nearly 1,000, the explosion was so bad over 400 homes were completly destroyed and more than 1,000 other homes severly damaged.
Find out how much these things cost:
a postage stamp: 44¢
a luxury car: 12,000
an economy car 6,000
a four bedroom house in Media 40,000
a gallon of milk 2.60
going to the movies 5.50
Who was President?
Bill Clinton
What movies came out?
X-men
How the grinch stole Christmas
Almost famous
Who were the biggest movie stars?
Robert Williams
Most popular TV shows?
Friends
Music?
Thong song by Sisgo
Kryptonite by 3 doors down
There you go by Pink
What a girl wants by Christina Aguilara
What were the fashion trends?
Peasant tops
Shiny pants
Neckties as belts
Layering tank tops
Favorite memories/pictures
Chapter 3
Summer sister
I found a photo. A delicately thin piece of photography paper. On the photograph was a picture of 3 girls, but within it was a story of hardship and love. First there was me on the end; pulling my shirt up just high enough to see my tiny three year old belly button. Next to me was my sister striking her model pose that only a 6 year old could've come up with. Then, on the other end slightly farther away from me and my sister was Ira. By just writing her name tears start running down my face, if I were to say them out loud I may crumple to the ground, sobbing. She was my summer sister, at least that is what we called her. She lived with us, but only during summertime. As a child I had no clue why she was here or why she only stayed for so long. When I grew up I was told, at least most of what happened. She was from right outside of Russia. She lived in a bad part of the world with horrible food, education, and air; the air was highly polluted. She came to us for help. She was part of a program in Russia to help children get a better life, we were also part of that program, but we were the ones helping out. She stayed with me and my sister, played with us, and fought with us for the whole summer. She was practically our third sister, we loved her.
She came every summer. When she was here we gave her clothes, food, money, and education, but most importantly we gave her another family. Every day we would have a babysitter come to our house and play with us in the summer and she would teach Ira how to speak English. After a while Ira could talk to us and understand what we would joke about. She fit right in. At the end of the summer we would send her back with some money to help buy things back home. Sending her back would be the hardest part for me because even though we gave her so much, she gave us so much more. When ever I was upset she would comfort and hug me. She was a friend to me when no one else was. She would never complain or ask for more, she would just smile. Ira came back every summer and our bond would only grow stronger. We did everything together. Ira, Arbour, and I were like the three musketeers that could never be separated.
One summer we were having an addition built onto our house. Before they started building the addition they had put cement on top of ground to level it out. As the workers were putting the cement down one of them called us over. We were confused but gladly came over to see what was going on. He looked at us and smiled, he then said that he needed our help. We all nodded and giggled with excitement! He then said to put one of our hands in the wet cement to leave a hand print. We all did as we were told, ecstatic to know that we were 'helping' out. Till this day our hand prints are still there, the three of them in a row. I can't see them anymore because the house is on top of it, but I walk on top of it everyday and remember our three small handprints engraved in the cement below.
That was the last summer we saw Ira. After that summer the program was cancelled because a girl didn't go back home when she was suppose to. She was scared to go back and she didn't want to. She liked her family and refused to leave. Sadly the program found out too late, all the kids were already home and the parents of the girl were furious that she did not come home. Eventually the girl did come home and everything was fine, but the program had to be shut down. We tried to have Ira come over by herself, but it was practically impossible. Even when she was old enough and capable of coming her mom didn't allow her too, and even if her mom allowed her to come, Ira had to work.
She is 19 now. I haven't seen her since I was little, but I still love her. We are trying to have her come over sometime soon since she is now an adult, but I don't know what's going to happen. We keep in contact, but it's hard to communicate. I miss her. She is like another older sister to me. No matter how far away or how long it's been since I've seen her, I promise that I will always miss her, I will always love her, and she will always be my summer sister.
Chapter 4
Music plays a big role in my life. I have seen over 40 bands in concert and I listen to music almost everyday. My family actually plays music constantly in the house on a low volume. 1/2 of the music I listen to is alternative. The other 1/2 is split between rock, pop, Christmas songs, and what ever the glee cast sings. When I'm happy I listen to either alternative, pop, Christmas songs, or glee. When I'm sad I listen to Kodaline, and only Kodaline. When I'm mad I listen to alternative or rock. When I'm studying I listen to alternative.
Favorite bands/Singers:
Artic monkeys
Panic at the disco
Imagine dragons
Cage the elephant
Fall out boy
Paramore
Glee cast
Glee cast (holiday)
Coldplay
Red hot chili peppers
Green day
Of monsters and men
Mumford & sons
Blink 182
Weezer
Foo fighters
KONGOS
Fitz and the tantrums
Milky chance
The naked and famous
Kodaline
Twenty-One pilots
New politics
MSMR
Passion pit
The all-American rejects
Songs I love (favorite from the artist=*):
Little talks*
Dirty paws
Mountain sound
Thnks fr th Mmrs
Alone together
Young valcanoes
Phoenix
Centuries
I don't care*
Sugar, we're going down
Dance, dance
This ain't a scene, it's an arms race
The scientist
Paradise*
Yellow
Best of you
My hero*
Everlong
Bones*
Hurricane
Fantasy
I Write Sins Not Tragedies
Miss Jackson
Nine in the afternoon
Ballad of Mona Lisa
But it's Better if You Do
Nicotine
Harlem
Tonight you're perfect
Berlin*
High hopes
Love like this
Pray*
All I want
One day
Can't take it
Dirty little secret
Move along
Night drove
Ends tonight
11:11 pm
Straight jacket feeling
Top of the world*
The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year
We Need A Little Christmas
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
All I Want For Christmas Is You
Extraordinary Merry Christmas
Let It Snow
Santa Baby
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Christmas Eve With You
Little Drummer Boy
My Favourite Things
Oh Hanukkah
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Christmas Wrapping
Do They Know It’s Christmas?
Last Christmas
You’re The One That I Want
I Kissed A Girl
Don’t Stop Believin
Hate On Me
Keep Holding on
Sweet Caroline
Defying gravity
Don’t Stand So Close To Me / Young Girl
True Colors
Don’t Rain On My Parade
Hello, I Love You
Express Yourself
Run Joey Run
Jessie's Girl
Dream on
Bad Romance
Bohemian rapsody
Billionaire
I’m A Slave 4 U
Toxic
The Only Exception
Losing My Religion
Lucky
Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me
Time Warp
Teenage Dream
Umbrella/Singin’ In the Rain
Valerie
Bills, Bills, Bills
Thriller/Heads Will Roll
Sing
Blame It On The Alchol
Misery
Raise Your Glass
Loser Like Me
Somewhere Only We Know
I Feel Pretty/Unpretty
Go Your Own Way
Isn’t She Lovely
Pure Imagination
New York, New York / I Love New York
Light Up The World
It’s Not Unusual
Run The World (Girls)
Candy man
Uptown Girl
America
We Found Love
Scream
Smooth Criminal
Cough Syrup
Hungry Like the Wolf/Rio
Fighter
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Shake It Out
Cry
Dinosaur
I won't give up
It’s All Coming Back To Me Now
Americano/Dance Again
New York State of Mind
Womanizer
Crazy/You Drive Me Crazy
A Change Would Do You Good
Barely Breathing
Don't speak
Juke box hero
Dark Side
Holding Out For A Hero
Let’s Have a Kiki/Turkey Lurkey Time
Being Good Isn’t Good Enough
Don't Dream It's Over
Torn
Diva
Hung up
Shout
Old Time Rock and Roll/Danger Zone
Footloose
How To Be A Heartbreaker
Got to Get You Into My Life
Drive My Car
Help
A Hard Days Night
Hey Jude
Marry The Night
Applause
Movin' Out
An Innocent Man
Into The Groove
I Believe In a Thing Called Love
Broadway Baby
American Boy
I have two theme songs:
Loser Like Me- Glee
Yeah, you may think that I'm a zero
But, hey, everyone you wanna be
Probably started off like me
You may say that I'm a freakshow (I don't care)
But, hey, give me just a little time
I bet you're gonna change your mind
All of the dirt you've been throwin' my way
It ain't so hard to take, that's right
'Cause I know one day you'll be screamin' my name
And I'll just look away, that's right
Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the words you got and knock me down
Baby, I don't care
Keep it up, I'm tunin' up to fade you out
You wanna be
You wanna be
A loser like me
A loser like me
[Cory Monteith/Finn]
Push me up against the locker
And hey, all I do is shake it off
I'll get you back when I'm your boss
I'm not thinkin' 'bout you haters
'Cause hey, I could be a superstar
I'll see you when you wash my car
All of the dirt you've been throwin' my way
It ain't so hard to take, that's right
'Cause I know one day you'll be screamin' my name
And I'll just look away, that's right
Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the words you got and knock me down
Baby, I don't care
Keep it up, I'm tunin' up to fade you out
You wanna be
You wanna be
A loser like me
A loser like me
A loser like me
Hey, you, over there
Keep the L up-up in the air
Hey, you, over there
Keep the L up, 'cause I don't care
You can throw your sticks, and you can throw your stones
Like a rocket, just watch me go
Yeah, l-o-s-e-r
I can only be who I are
Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the words you got and knock me down
Baby, I don't care
Keep it up, I'm tunin' up to fade you out
You wanna be
You wanna be
A loser like me
A loser like me
Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the words you got and knock me down
Baby, I don't care
Keep it up, I'm tunin' up to fade you out
You wanna be
You wanna be
A loser like me (A loser like me)
A loser like me (A loser like me)
A loser like me
this is one of my theme songs because I used to think I was a loser, I fact I still am, but when I'm older everyone who ever treated me like crap will regret it.
Favorite lyrics:
Push me up against the locker
And hey, all I do is shake it off
I'll get you back when I'm your boss
I'm not thinkin' 'bout you haters
'Cause hey, I could be a superstar
I'll see you when you wash my car
I Write Sins Not Tragedies- Panic At The Disco
Oh,
Well imagine,
As I'm pacing the pews in a church corridor,
And I can't help but to hear,
No, I can't help but to hear an exchanging of words:
"What a beautiful wedding! What a beautiful wedding!" says a bridesmaid to a waiter,
"And, yes, but what a shame, what a shame the poor groom's bride is a whore."
I'd chime in with a
"Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things
With a sense of poise and rationality.
I'd chime in,
"Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things
With a sense of...
Well in fact,
Well I'll look at it this way,
I mean technically our marriage is saved
Well this calls for a toast
So, pour the champagne
Oh! Well in fact,
Well I'll look at it this way,
I mean technically our marriage is saved
Well this calls for a toast,
So, pour the champagne, pour the champagne
I'd chime in with a
"Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things
With a sense of poise and rationality.
I'd chime in,
"Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things
With a sense of poise and rationality again.
I'd chime in,
"Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things
With a sense of poise and rationality.
I'd chime in,
"Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"
No, it's much better to face these kinds of things
With a sense of poise and rationality again.
This is my other theme song because when I was 8 I decided that this was my favorite song and promised myself that if anyone asked what my favorite song was I would always say I Write Sins Not Tragedies by Panic At The Disc. It later became known as my theme song. I will always keep that promise and love this song for all that it is.
My favorite lyrics:
As I'm pacing the pews in a church corridor,
And I can't help but to hear,
No, I can't help but to hear an exchanging of words:
"What a beautiful wedding! What a beautiful wedding!" says a bridesmaid to a waiter,
"And, yes, but what a shame, what a shame the poor groom's bride is a whore."
Another favorite/theme song is Top of the world by The All-American Rejects. It's been one of my favorite songs since I could remember. When I was 7 I fell in love with it on the radio, but when I asked my dad about the song he said he couldn't remember what it sounded like or what it was called. For the next year I listened to the radio everyday trying to find the song again, and when I finally did I swore to never lose it.
[Verse 1]
Is there anybody out there?
That wakes up with a bitter taste?
It's a king that we put up there
And he's a short way to fall from grace
It's slowly filling upward.
You can stand but you have no ground.
I hear it from the lost words.
They say it's time that you lost your crown.
[Chorus]
Don't be so greedy.
A dollar's a penny to you
When hearts are beating
Say what you want 'em to do.
Wasting away... I see you.
When the top of the world falls on you
Finding a day, don't wanna be you
When the top of the world falls on you
[Verse 2]
Is there anybody out there?
That can see what a man can change?
It's better that you don't care
Because he knows that he's in his stage
I feel the paranoia.
When there's a time, put you in your place
In the eyes of those who watch ya
Well they can wait 'til you hit your face
[Chorus]
Don't be so greedy.
A dollar's a penny to you
When hearts are beating
Say what you want 'em to do.
Wasting away... I see you.
When the top of the world falls on you
Finally a day, don't wanna be you.
When the top of the world falls on you
Paint yourself a picture
When you waste another picture
And you win, and you win, and you win
Paint yourself a picture
And then you break another picture
And you win, and you win, and you win
And you win, yeah you win, and you win
[Chorus]
Don't be so greedy
A dollar's a penny to you
When hearts stop beating
Say what you want 'em to do
Wasting away... I see you
When the top of the world falls on you
Finding a day, don't wanna be you
When the top of the world falls on you
Wasting away... I see you
When the top of the world falls on you
Finding a day, don't wanna be you
When the top of the world falls on you
Favorite lyrics:
Paint yourself a picture
When you waste another picture
And you win, and you win, and you win
Paint yourself a picture
And then you break another picture
And you win, and you win, and you win
And you win, yeah you win, and you win
Chapter 5
One Medium Suit case:
1.) I would take a credit card with my parents account set to it so I would never go hungry and die. This not only helps keep me alive, but entertains me in the form of shopping or going miniature golfing on weekends.
2.) I would bring my bear, Beary. I got him when I was little and I take him everywhere with me. My bear has problem travelled to more places than most people have. He's my best friend and I love him so much.
3.) I would bring my iPad because it has so many memories already on it. It has all my pictures and friends which are irreplaceable.
4.) I would also bring some photos that AREN'T on my iPad, because I've only had it for a year and I've been alive for 14 years.
5.) I would bring my blanket too. I've only had it for a few years, but it's the softest blanket ever and I can't live without it.
Chapter 6
My Triggers
Revealing the things that I regret is like giving away part of myself to a paper, and I am not ready to do that. Of course, I've made some mistakes that are practically insignificant at this point in time, but why write about those? No one wants to read about something that isn't important. You start to unlock the important things as soon as you write anything personal about your life, especially your mistakes. Mistakes happen throughout life. Sharing your mistakes happen throughout writing, but I'm not ready to share.
The point of this assignment is to learn from your mistakes and reflect on what you did as a child. I don't need to write a paper to think of all the mistakes I've made, all I need is a single word. A trigger word. One word can allow me to reflect on things I've made mistakes on. For insistence, when someone says 'perfect' it creates confusion and regret in my head. For other people it just means : having no mistakes or flaws : completely correct or accurate : having all the qualities you want in that kind of person, situation, etc... Everyone has trigger words, numbers, or phrases and that's all I am willing to share right now. They may mean nothing to anyone else who reads them, but to me they show my life.
My trigger words:
1. Perfect
2. Quack
3. M&M
4. Internet doctor
5. Gay neck collar
6. Mpfs
7. 16
8. Never
9. Frozen
10. That smile
11. Trust
12. -er
13. Olive oil
14. 11
15. Elf
Chapter 7 (year in reading)
Chapter 8
Quinn Pancakes
Ingredients:
2 cups of happiness
1 cup of insanity
1 1/2 cups of craziness
1 cup of kindness
1 cup of stubbornness
1/2 cup of sarcasm
1/4 cup of annoyance
2 tablespoons of laughter
One drop of talent
Steps/Instructions:
1.) Combine happiness with kindness in a medium bowl and set asid.
2.) Combine all the dry ingredients: insanity, craziness, sarcasm, annoyance, and talent in a large mixing bowl. Whisk stubbornness into the happiness and kindness. Pour the dry mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone.
3.) Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with laughter.
4.) Pour 1/4 cupfuls of the mixture onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.
5.) take pancakes off of the skillet and serve it warm with a side of apologies
Chapter 9
I have a lot of great friends, and a lot of people who I care about. All my friends are amazing, but I have 3 friends who really understand me and I considered to be my bestest friends. My first best friend is Ally shearer. We met about two years ago at ice works (we are both figure skaters there). She is one of my newest best friends, but I can always count on her and tell her everything. My next best friend is Lucy Jones. I love her for so many reasons, but mostly because she's like my sister. I've known her since I was 4 and we have never gotten into any fights because we are always just there for one another. My last best friend is my very best friend, he means the world to me. His name is Max Pinheiro and I've known him since I was 6 months old, he's my neighbor.
I always saw Ally at the skating rink and thought she would be nice, but I never actually talked to her until one day she came up to me and told me she liked my sweater. I said thank you and we just started talking. We found out that we both knew Lucy Jones (I knew her from school. She knew her from a camp.) and that we would be going to penncrest together the following year. After that, we always talked during skating and got jobs as CIT's at the summer camp they have at the rink, Camp Chill. Everyday we just became better friends and when we started school in the fall, she helped me find other amazing people to hang out with. I love my other friends, Caitlyn, Maura, Emily, Annie, Abby and so many others, and it's all thanks to her I met them. She's my goddess and I will always thank her for being there when I need her most.
Lucy, how can I describe our friendship? Strong. Our friendship is strong. I've known since I was 4 and we've never gotten in a fight. Sometimes we go a month or two without talking and as soon as I see her it's like we never stopped talking. She stands up for me, even when I'm wrong. She listens to me, even when I ramble. She talks to me, even when she doesn't have time. I have never known anyone to care about me as much as Lucy does. She may not be perfect, but to me she's the most amazing friend in the world. I always say that it doesn't matter how long you've known people, you can become best friends in a day, but my friendship with Lucy has lasted 10 years and I can't wait for it to last 100 more. She's my sister and I love her so much. Nothing could ever break us apart, because no matter what, we have trust in eachother, and I'll never let go of her.
Last, but not least we have Max. He's my neighbor and I would be lying if I said I didn't hang out with him everyday. We skate together, listen to music together, watch Doctor Who together, he is like my twin. Unlike all my other friendships we fight, a lot and it's hard, but we get threw it. We've been having some hard times right now, but it just shows that we will always be friends no matter how difficult it becomes. We may not have the most honest friendship or the most trusting friendship right now, but we've always had the most caring friendship. If anything were to happen to max, I don't know what I would do. It breaks my heart every time we fight, but I know deep down we will always make up no matter what. Our friendship may be the hardest, but it's by far the most rewarding. I just hope that I will always find safety and comfort whenever I see him, because he means everything to me.