Step 1: Who am I

What do you want someone to know about you?

Write down about 10 qualities, passions, or values that are fundamental to who you are.

A quality describes who you are: a deep-seated character trait.

A passion is what you love: an interest, a hobby, an activity, a cause, etc.

A value is what you believe: what guides your decisions and actions.

• Artistic  Q
• Ambitious Q
• Encouraging Q
• Imaginative Q
• Noble Q
• Optimistic Q
• Justice V
• Journalling P
• Singing P
• Animals P

From this list of 10, pick 3-5 that are MOST important to you:

• Justice
• Optimistic
• Ambitious
• imaginative
• Singing

Step 2: How did I get that way?

Step 3: What stories do I have to tell?

Freewrite #1 Quality: Optimistic

I`m in the car with my mom ranting to her about the school, I feel exhausted, frustrated, overwhelmed. We are driving back from school to the house. I remember telling her that it was too much and that I wanted to move schools. The workload was a lot and I felt stupid in my math classes. I remember her encouraging me to stay and to ask for help and keep trying. I knew that the school I decided to go to was going to be very rigorous, but I thought it was going to be a piece of cake initially but it's easier said than done.

• What feelings did that bring up?
  I felt exhausted overwhelmed frustrated
• How did it feel to write about that?
  It was kind of hard to remember but it actually felt good to write about that experience challenge I overcame.
• Did it come out easily, or was it really hard to put yourself back there?
  I would say that it was in the middle, not too hard, not that easy.
•  Did you want to keep writing when the timer went off, or could you not wait for the timer to sound so you could stop?
  I did because 5 minis too short

Freewrite #2 Passion: Art

My passion for Art started when I was in 6th grade. I took art class just for fun not because I was really into art. And one time my teacher asked me if I wanted to participate in an art contest so I said sure and I created an abstract piece that won a medal. After that I noticed that I had some talent so I started to draw and paint in my free time. Some of my friends encouraged me to make customized art pieces and I did get some order requests in and that made me feel so proud of myself that others also liked my work.

• What feelings did that bring up?
  Happy, exited encouraged
• How did it feel to write about that?
  It felt pretty good
• Did it come out easily, or was it really hard to put yourself back there?
  I think it did come out easily
• Did you want to keep writing when the timer went off, or could you not wait for the timer to sound so you could stop?
  I wanted to keep going

Freewrite #3 Passion: Advocating for Social Justice

The news personal experiences have gravitated me to advocate and speak up against injustices. I myself as an immigrant have had to go through many obstacles. The news and the media have opened many eyes. Racism is real and the fact that many people in the government want to abolish Critical Race theory makes me want to throw up. I have heard stories from my friends and many people of color that have experienced racism in their life. The fact that many want to make it seem like its not a thing is hypocritical.

• What feelings did that bring up?
  Empowerment, ambition, the need to do something
• How did it feel to write about that?
  This is something that I'm passionate about writing
• Did it come out easily, or was it really hard to put yourself back there?
  It's something that i have written for already some time so it was not hard
• Did you want to keep writing when the timer went off, or could you not wait for the timer to sound so you could stop?
  Keep writing

Step 4: What story do I want to tell?

Outline

My Message

What I want the reader to know about me

1-3 of my fundamental qualities, passions, or values:

• How optimistic I`ve been throughout my life.
• My passion for advocating for social justice.
• My admiration and love for Art.

My Medium

Aspect of selfhood I’m focusing on

This is the experience(s), identity(ies), or relationship(s) that are the main topic of your narrative. (At least one, but no more than three recommended or else you probably won’t be able to meaningfully integrate everything in one short essay.)

• The transition of immigrating  from Mexico to the US, the challenges that came with it and the greatness. How a large portion of my life revolves  over that.

Major moments in my narrative

These will be the “plot points” of your story. Think of your story as one hiking path through the woods of your life. You, the writer, are the guide who is leading the reader on the hike, showing them the way and getting them from point A to point B. What are the major signposts along that path? (Add or delete bullet points here -- there’s no “right” number!)

• How I wanted to drop out of my high school.
• The language barrier that I had to overcome.
• My mother  and teachers inspired me to continue my education and to always give my best.
• How many times have I gotten in trouble for standing up and fighting for equality, human rights and uncomfortable conversations that are not talked about but needed.
• My achievements.