On most school day’s at around 1:15, I can be found sitting on a cement block watching teenagers socializing over undercooked and over-priced pizza. Looking around I see one group of popular girls gossiping over what happened in second period, the predominantly African American group grooving to their iPod music, and the football players talking about their upcoming game. Me, I’m not like them. Though I am good friends with each group, I refuse to be placed within a stereotype because I feel I am too complex to be labeled.

At first glance I might look just like the other kids at El Segundo High School, but in reality I am nothing like them. Rarely am I able to have an intellectual conversation with my friends for their normal topic of choice is the upcoming party this weekend. Though I am a part of the select few of our student body that receives an invite to the party, I never actually attend. I spend most of my Friday nights at Borders reading or working on my film or art projects. Most teenagers find my choices strange but I feel knowledge is the most valuable thing a person can own. I would rather choose expanding my mind than filling it with blurry memories of a party. Sometimes being separated from the “normal” high school students can be difficult but I enjoy being different. While they are planning out ways to get past their parents’ rules and how they are going to get home safely, I am exploring what this world has to offer. I have kept myself away from the average high school experience by keeping myself busy with sports, clubs, community service and multiple jobs. Through sports I have learned to work together to achieve goals and to be a leader. As a sophomore I was voted captain of the Varsity team because of my ability to keep our team together through challenging situations. Being a representative of such clubs as Save The Angels has showed me that some people do not even have food to eat so I should truly be appreciative for the life I have been blessed with. To earn some extra money, I have worked several part time jobs since freshman year. One job I had through my junior year was being a waiter at a small restaurant. There I was able to observe the many different walks of life as new people trickled in every day. With each new customer I was introduced to a new story, but with each encounter my own story was being written. Even though to them I was just the kid who took their order and brought them their food, they were a part of life lessons I will remember forever. Working in the restaurant taught me to be respectful, organized, and efficient. No one has said it better than Jack Kerouac, “The best teacher is experience and not through someone’s distorted point of view” and I believe all my experiences have taught me more than I could ever learn in a classroom.

At the moment I am a little frightened at the thought of starting my life, but the possibilities ahead of me are endless. I know that the next four years will be the greatest and the most challenging times of my life. So as I sit next to a pile of books at Borders or as I observe my surroundings from my block, I realize that whatever my future holds good and bad that will shape me into the adult that I am meant to be. As Lao-tzu once said, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” and I know my feet are ready to walk.