The screaming, the banging and the fresh hole in the wall hardly fazed me. I’d seen much worse from my older sister. Cecilia is bipolar. Mental illness badly skews her perception of the world. You never know what will set her off, but somehow, I was always protected from her wrath. She physically and verbally abused everyone around her, but never hurt me. I was trusted, protected. Under these odd conditions, I felt almost special. I was the only...

I was eight years old when I was cast in my first musical: a kid’s production of Mary Poppins. I was new to the group and at least a head shorter than the other kids. Being cast as Mary was quite a surprise. I remember how special I felt in my oversized costume with my hair and makeup done by my mom. When the audience applauded after my first song, a rush of exhilaration washed over me and filled...

I fear that this is going to sound trite, but I don't know how to say it more honestly. Performing makes me happy. When I stepped on a stage for the first time, I knew right away that I never wanted to stop. I was eight years old and the lead in a kid’s production of Mary Poppins. I found my grandma’s smiling face in the audience, and the clip-on microphone made me feel loud and powerful. When...

Innovation and creative freedom intrigue me. Google is developing a new kind of car that functions without a driver. It can automatically navigate roads and highways safely amid normal traffic. This means that people with disabilities and handicaps will be able to travel independently, which, to me, is both groundbreaking and exciting. When this driverless car becomes available, people whose lives are now limited to their homes will be able to escape and become independent. What makes this so interesting...

If I were to write the story of my life until now, it would be entitled “My Life as a Third Grade Dropout”. In third grade, I was diagnosed with a major illness that required so many hospital visits that I had to leave school for the remainder of the school year. Even though I’ve recovered completely, I feel that the time I spent fighting illness, isolated from my peers and forced to be brave, has greatly defined who...

I plan (hope)...