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Birth
My due date was June 15. My mom went into labor on March 29 at midnight. I was born at 3 pounds 14 ounces, and I went directly into the NICU. -
Going Home From the Hospital
On June 1, 1995, I had been out of the NICU for 4 days and I was able to go home, the size of a normal baby. -
Dan is Born
On August 28, 1998, my best friend was born. Even though we're 3 1/2 years apart, Dan is one of my favorite people on Earth. -
Heart Arrhythmia
One afternoon after school, I passed out while playing in my backyard, and my parents rushed me to the hospital. After staying overnight, I was diagnosed with a heart arrythmia, or an irregular heartbeat. It's a condition that I still monitor today, and will for the rest of my life. The only reason I know the date is because I watched the Twin Towers fall from my hospital room. -
Meeting Kara
When I was thirteen years old, my parents told me that I had a half sister. My mom had a baby at 18, and decided that she couldn't care for her, so she gave the baby up for adoption. For my sixteenth birthday, I finally got to meet my sister, Kara. -
Meeting Gabee
During my junior year of high school, my high school counselor asked if I would be willing to tutor a girl from Thailand, who had just moved to our school and spoke almost no English. After working with her every day for two years, she became one of my very best friends, and I had the honor of presenting her with her diploma when she graduated in 2015. She is also the reason that I want to get my ESL Education degree. -
High School Graduation
Graduating from high school was a huge deal for me. My senior year was incredibly hard, and I honestly didn't know if I would graduate on time. -
Grandma Passes Away
On January 4, 2014, my grandma passed away. I was her youngest granddaughter, so we had a very close relationship. It was the first time that someone very close to me had passed away. I want to live my life in a way that would make her proud of me. -
Leaving For China
I left for my summer abroad on June 27, 2015. I had traveled abroad before, but this was the first time I had ever traveled abroad alone. It turned out to be the best summer/time I've ever had. -
Visiting Chinese Orphanage
Of all my experiences in China, the one that impacted me the most was our trip to a Chinese orphanage. If it were legal and financially possible, I would have rescued all of those little girls. That trip made me realize that international adoption is almost certainly a part of my future.
