Dear Past Self

Dear Past Self,

Hi! How are you doing? Is that Barney the Dinosaur episode good? I sometimes wish life were still that simple. If I told you everything that is going to happen in your life up to the big age of 22, you would probably hide under your Disney Princess covers with all of your stuffed animals protecting you. Is life scary? Absolutely! However, it is nothing you can’t handle.

Soon, you will start going to big girl school with so many kids. You’ll feel different and feel left out. That’s ok! You just think differently from most kids, and our brothers gave you a unique perspective on life that not everyone will understand. While other kids are playing freeze tag in the field, you will be in your own imaginary world with all of the Kung Fu Panda characters (that’s a movie that you will see very soon, and it will change your little life) or play with our older brother and his friends. It might not seem like it at the time, but eventually you will make friends… and those who are patient usually get something special… and the friends you make along the way will be some of the most special people in our lives.

The adults at school will be some of your biggest role models. Right now, I am at the big, big, BIG girl school studying to be one of those adults. They will always be there for you when you are sad, mad, or just need someone to talk to. They will educate you about the world and teach you everything you need to know, even if it is hard. Remember that you will make it through, especially math. Learning new things is so cool! History is going to be one of our favorite things to learn about. These adults will always be there for you… And you will find a way to share your appreciation, trust me.

You’re not an athlete by any means. Being aggressive is not a skill you have yet. That’s ok! You still find a lot of fun things to do. You do crafts every month in Girl Scouts, and you play the clarinet in the school’s band. You know those people who march in the parade? That is going to be you someday! You participate in several school clubs, and sometimes you try out sports. You will also read some amazing books and write some amazing stories. You’re creative! Don’t ever forget that.

Family is so important to you now, and it will continue to be. As you get older, you will feel like you are hanging out more with our family than most people your age… and that’s ok! This keeps you out of trouble. Daddy always shows you cool things about the world, while Mommy helps you understand situations the world throws at you. Our brothers will annoy you sometimes, but the connection you have with them is one of the best sibling connections ever. For most of your life, there will always be a dog at your side, and guess what? Each dog will be bigger than the last! You will lose some family members along the way. Some might be harder to handle than others. It will be hard to see our family sad, but it will pass. Just like a thunderstorm before the rainbow. Don’t worry if you feel like you are not hanging out with them enough. I promise there will come a time when you are stuck with them (literally).

The world is not always as kind as you think it should be. There are people out there who will make bad choices and use their power against others. Everything you will be taught in school on how to be a good citizen will show you how many people don’t know how to be a good citizen. Some people will lie about situations, and others will always want the attention on them. There will be some mean people that you see in the world and that you encounter. One of the biggest tips I have is to kindly stand up for yourself. Don’t let them walk all over you. Anytime I let that happen, nothing ever good came from it.

As you get older, you will notice that things around you seem scary, but as mommy says… We’re so lucky that everything works out for us. I promise you this is true. No matter what you go through, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel. When you look back at what happened, you will always see the positive in any situation and see how it worked out for the best. This will be hard, trust me. Some scary things are going to happen. Some sad things are going to happen, but always keep your head up and look at the bright side, because it will work its way out. Even if it feels like you are in a thunderstorm, there will always be a rainbow after the storm has passed.

That was a lot… now go get back to that Barney the Dinosaur episode.

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Always Be Kind

Kindness is being understanding towards someone, even if you don’t truly understand. Kindness is thinking about how others feel instead of just thinking about yourself. Kindness is caring, even if you don’t need to. Kindness is what makes the world so amazing.

However, it is no secret that we are currently not living in a world full of kindness. Just this week, we have seen countries fighting each other and countries divided by political beliefs. In today’s world, it is really hard to find moments of kindness while watching current events unfold in front of our eyes. Children are scared to go to school, worried that they won’t survive the day. Families are starving around the world, while others sit on billions of dollars trying to hide what they did wrong years ago. People are being killed just for being part of a different political party, while politicians ignore these tragedies or use them to strengthen the hate towards the opposite side. So yes, the world does not seem like the best place to be right now, but if you look hard enough, there is still some kindness.

When I walk into a building, there is always someone holding the door open as I walk in. When a tragic event happens in a community, community members come together to support. When someone is going through a rough time, friends are there to simply talk to and support one another. Although kindness is hard to find, it is still there.

Yes, a lot of current events happened this week that did not fill our hearts with joy. A lot of people have different opinions, which is leading to more divisions throughout the world. I do agree that some opinions are simply not ok, but this is not the time to divide from one another just because someone has a different opinion than you. If we want to see any change in society, we have to work together and put our differences aside and do what is best for each other, not ourselves. If you are wondering if you should do something and it does not fit into the “always be kind” mantra, maybe you shouldn’t do it. If more people put kindness first, the world would be a much better place.

Always Be Kind!

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Dear Americans…

If you are someone who is part of a political party and you support everything that political party does, you are not a true American. Let me explain. Let’s say you support our current president and everything he has done in the last six months. What if a Democratic president did the exact same things? Would you agree? Don’t just say yes, I want you to truly think about it. This goes to people on the other side of the political spectrum as well. If you wouldn’t agree if the other political party did it, you should not be agreeing with your political party doing it. If you do, you do not have freedom of thought. Please do your research and learn your history. If you are a supporter of our current president, there is no way that you would agree with everything that he has done… and I don’t see enough people on his side speaking up for the country. Donald Trump is not the United States, so speak up for your country if you think he is doing something wrong! Our current president is locking people up in cages just because they aren’t American enough for him. He just signed a bill that will affect Medicare for millions of people because his friends will benefit. He just took millions of dollars away from public schools because he thinks that they are “too woke.” At this point, I don’t care who you voted for. Don’t support the politician, support the country.

Just something to think about!

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To Be A Good Musician (the story of my clarinet journey)

Since 2013, I have been playing my trusty clarinet named Clarie… ok, I can’t lie, there have been six different Clarie clarinets in my life, but that is not important. What is important is that I have been around musicians for the majority of my life. Even before I started playing the clarinet, I did music therapy and participated in my elementary school’s choir (and yes, I did learn to play the recorder). My point is, even though I am not majoring in music in college, there is one philosophy that I have learned as a clarinet musician. “Just because you can play an instrument or sing well, does not make you a musician.”

To understand my philosophy of this, I have to go back to the beginning of my clarinet journey. If it wasn’t for my family, I would have never participated in my school’s band. In my mind, I knew I wanted to do something musical, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play an instrument or sing with my peers. In the end, I chose my school’s band program… except I had one requirement. I would be playing the clarinet. Even when one of the band directors tried to get me to try out the trumpet, I was adamant that I would be playing the clarinet, and that is the instrument I was given.

Was I the best player in the band? Absolutely NOT! I didn’t understand that scales were simply the notes going up and down until four years into my musical journey. I thought that if the stem of a note is hanging down, it had to be a high note. Every time one of my band directors would check my embouchure, my mouthpiece would wiggle in my mouth. Playing in tune was also not my strong suit (but we will get into that later). Even with all of my musical flaws, I made some of the most amazing friends in the band program. We would chat about the songs that we were playing, try to teach each other new fingering on our instruments, and just life in general.

When I moved up to high school, I joined the school’s marching band. Four words I DO NOT LIKE DRILL! Even today, I will tell any of my music friends that. I could not figure out how to properly read my drill charts. I would go one way, and in fact, I was supposed to go the other way. I almost always had to have one of my two band directors on the field to help me learn and memorize the drill. There were a lot of tears when it came to the marching band. However, when I look back at my marching band days, it is one of my best memories from high school. Why? The marching band gave me so many new friends of different ages. I remember my freshman year, all of the seniors hanging out with me when I was alone. The students my age always included me and cheered me up when I felt like giving up. As I got older, the younger students that I connected with made me feel important. The marching band was one big family that went through a lot in the four years I was there. We won competitions, we didn’t win competitions, we phased a pandemic together, marched down Main Street USA (aka Walt Disney World), and made the community around us smile.

High school was also the time when my clarinet skills grew significantly due to starting clarinet lessons in my sophomore year. The crazy thing is, I would never have started clarinet lessons if it wasn’t for one clarinet player who bullied me in my freshman year. I was in the back of the band, and I guess this one kid either had a crush on me or was just in a bad mood. He didn’t say extremely nice things to me. The only thing keeping me in the band at that time was the band directors, my friends, and the fact that we were going to Disney World the next year. From my freshman year to my sophomore year, I went from 14th chair in the concert band to 4th chair in the concert band. The things that a bully can do, I guess?

The rest of my high school band experience went well, even with the pandemic impacting my last year. I ended up moving up to the 5th chair in the symphonic band (a tad more advanced than the concert band). Sure, there were still some hiccups, but if it wasn’t for my clarinet, I don’t think I would have made it through high school.

For the first two years of my college experience, I went to a local community college in my area. I was planning on still taking lessons with my clarinet teacher, but I didn’t know if there would be any musical experiences for me at the school. However, that changed just two weeks into my first year when an old friend told me about the school’s Wind Ensemble. I was thrilled that I would get to still be part of a band. I was not prepared, however, for the number of people in the band. At the time I joined the band program, there were maybe twenty band members, and I was only the second clarinet player in the band. That didn’t matter; the first month of being part of the Wind Ensemble was amazing. I was making new friends and was able to play music, just like I did in high school. I was so happy.

Unfortunately, that didn’t last. Things seemed to shift as I continued in the band program. I started getting attacked by the band program. Every day, I was told that I couldn’t play in tune… sorry, I couldn’t play one note in tune. The band director tried to help me, but things only got worse. Every day, I would go to band knowing what was going to happen, and it did. The tuning would happen, I would be asked to play the note, I would either be told I was so out of tune it was unreal, and a good chunk of the band would make it a scene. Trying to grab my clarinet, they tell me that I don’t know what I’m doing, or that I just wasn’t good enough. More than multiple times, I was told that I sucked, was one of the worst clarinet players, and that the band doesn’t need me. I had severe panic attacks during class and would leave crying almost every day. Some days, I wouldn’t want to go to class, knowing that if I just made one mistake, it would be an uproar in the band.

If this happened to everyone in the band, I maybe would have been more understanding, but it seemed to always be me and the newest clarinet member (who became my best friend in the band). Things got so bad that at the end of the year, I purposely broke my clarinet (the week of our last band concert, might I add). If it wasn’t for my clarinet teacher, I would have had no clarinet for the concert. I knew what was happening wasn’t ok, but what could I do about it? If it wasn’t for my close friends, the band director, and the fact that I got to play music, I probably would have quit after the school year.

The next school year, I was not letting that happen again. I told my band director that I broke the clarinet and more about what was happening behind the scenes. I tried not to throw anyone under the bus, but eventually I had to. If I were going to be part of this band, I needed a little more structure and compassion in the band. Did things get better? Yes. The band director put his foot down a little bit more, and the bullying slowed down a little bit. Things seemed to be looking up. I even joined the school’s sports band and got to play at a bunch of games, but then the craziest, scariest events happened that to this day have still left behind a little bit of trauma.

About midway through the first semester, we were getting ready for our first concert when the band director had a medical emergency during class. It wasn’t just a simple I have a cut and need to leave to get a band-aid. It was a 911 call, ambulance, firetruck, and hospital visit kind of emergency. It was sudden and unexpected. To give you an idea of how severe the emergency was, the band director could have died or been severely impacted if it wasn’t for some amazing band members. The vision of the band director being taken away on a gurney was stuck in my head for days. Believe it or not, the band director came back a week later, and we pulled off the band concert with only one medical emergency backstage from a band member (not as bad as the previous week). However, I was still a little on edge. I almost lost the one person who I felt could protect me during rehearsals, but the band director came back. If they could do that, I could make it through my last semester.

My final semester part of the Wind Ensemble was good, even though my best friend in the band left after that semester (didn’t blame her, to be honest). I stood up for myself more, and the bullying slowed down. I even got a nice exit at my graduation from the band. I was sad to leave some of the people, but I was not sad to leave the experience.

Currently, I am at a university where I have been part of the concert band. In my first year in the program, all of the musicians were kind to me and to everyone. If people were mean to others, I did not see it. The only problem I had in my first year was my trauma from the previous band. I was always on edge and freaked out anytime we tuned or I made a mistake. If it wasn’t for the amazing band director who supported me, I would have struggled extremely. Every week, I would do lessons with my band director every week who helped me calm down before rehearsal.

Everything seemed perfect! Until my band director said that he was stepping down from the concert band the next school year. Yes, I was heartbroken, but I understood. The band director had a lot on their plate, and it seemed right for them to give the responsibility to someone else.

The next semester… was close to a nightmare. First, let me say that the band director who directed the concert band was amazing, and the fact that they were never a band director. However, I was again put in a situation where I had to stand up for myself. Due to the pandemic just four years before this, the enrollment in the college band program had decreased significantly. To give you a rough idea, between the two bands, there were only eight percussionists and six clarinet players. Because I was a non-major, I auditioned for the concert band ONLY, while most people auditioned for both. Then, a “team” would split the bands for rehearsals. I don’t know what team was there to support both bands because when I got the roster back for rehearsals, I noticed something was off. Yes, I was where I expected to be. In the concert band, below the music major clarinets, but there was one small problem. I was the only clarinetist in the band.

The split between the two bands was not even AT ALL. The other band had five clarinets; my band had two (a saxophone player joined me on clarinet, THANK GOODNESS). The other band had six percussionists while my band only had two (how does that work?). Overall, the other band was about double the size of my band. We did get to all play together for part of the concert. I honestly did not enjoy that too much. Most of the clarinets didn’t look at me as part of their section. I got eye rolls every time I walked into class. Anytime the clarinet section was called out, I was the first to be blamed by them, and one time I was even called stupid… FOR DOING THE SAME THING THAT THEY JUST DID!!! Not all of the clarinets were like this, but enough to bother me.

When I talked to the band directors about it. The concert band director was very supportive and wanted to help, but was also restrained by the department. The other band director had a few more things to say. When I emailed them my concerns, I was told that it was my fault that I only auditioned for concert band, they needed to cover Eb clarinet and 4th clarinet (parts that are rarely in music and were never needed that semester), and that they were not setting the concert band up for failure. At the time of writing this, the concert band could not come back the following semester and might not be able to come back next semester. Over half of the concert band quit, including me. However, that was not the end of my music journey.

During this whole nightmare of a band situation, my old band director still gave me weekly lessons and understood the seven times I cried in their office. They are the main reason I made it through that semester of concert band. Honestly, they were probably my number one supporters during all of this. That is why I was so excited when I got to be part of the school’s University Band, where they were the director. BEST COLLEGE BAND THAT I HAVE BEEN A PART OF!!!! There were 10 clarinets, yes TEN! We were all friends, and the music we played was wasaudience-friendlyy. I went from playing a bunch of Russian songs at my community college, unfamiliar songs that confused the audience the previous semester, to playing creative songs, The Lion King, and World Premiering pieces in the University Band (and the concert band before the band director switched). If it wasn’t for the University Band director and the amazing friend I made in both bands, I probably would have given up on playing. Even though I am planning to take a semester off, I am planning to come back better than ever.

So, long story short. What makes a good musician? Yes, playing your instrument really well or being able to sing multiple songs well is important, but kindness is what really makes you a good musician. If you can’t support your fellow musicians in your band or just be kind to them, you can’t be a musician. A musician needs to be able to work together while demonstrating their musical skills. So yes, I have played with a bunch of amazing musicians, but I have also played with a lot of amazing players that aren’t quite at the musician title yet… at least in my opinion.

If you are wondering whether you should learn to play an instrument or learn any new skill. DO IT! No, it will not be easy, but it will be worth it!

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My Life on the Autism Spectrum

*For the last few weeks, I have been trying to figure out how to word this entry. I have already spent countless hours writing about my life on the spectrum and I couldn’t figure not figure out how to reword this entry to make it any better without stealing away from the original message. So if you were on my personal social media in April 2024, you have possibly already read this, but for those of you who were not around or just missed when I shared this, here is My Life on the Autism Spectrum (written in April 2024).

On the outside, it seems like I have my life put together. I have a loving family, amazing friends, good grades, etc. However, if I had to be honest, every day is not all rainbows and butterflies. I never seemed to be relaxed, as I am always worried about the future, even though I want to live in the present. Any loud noises overwhelm me, especially if they are chaotic or unexpected. I sometimes have a hard time finding the right words to say in certain situations, even if I know what I want to say. People my age do things that I don’t feel ready to do, even though society thinks I should be ready.

Although there are some rain clouds in my life, I would not trade it for the world. I have been blessed with a unique perspective on life that helps me understand people with disabilities better. Although the obstacles have made my life a little challenging, I have tried to focus on the present the best I can. I avoid loud noises when I can. I use alternative ways of communication when I have a hard time communicating. When I am worried about not being like everyone else, I think about how great my life is. Sure, I don’t drive a car, but I am excellent at riding a bike and using public transportation. I might not go to college parties, but you can find me rocking on my clarinet or taking my twin brother to sporting events. Yes, being on the Autism Spectrum has made my life different and challenging, but I would not have it any other way.

For people on the spectrum, Autism Acceptance Month is every month. I can’t speak for everyone on the spectrum, but I know for me, I just want people to accept me for who I am. I want people to understand that I might struggle with somethings that might be easy for others. I don’t want to have to wear a “mask” to fit in with society. I want to be able to myself… and I am so lucky that I have amazing family and friends that have been understanding and let me be my happy smiley self.

*Since this post, there has been a lot of press about Autism Spectrum Disorder and I do plan on addressing that in later posts, but I just wanted to get something out as I had not fully shared about my life on the spectrum on this part of my social media.

Always Be Kind
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What if it was you?

What if you were the one living in a war zone with limited resources?

What if you were forced to be separated from your friends and family because someone wanted more power?

What if you were told that you were strange and publicly sent death threats from politicians for trying to help humanity?

What if you were trapped in another country and your country didn’t try to save you because you had different views on life?

What if it was you? What would you want others to do?

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Politics Seems Staged

If you were my elementary school librarian, you would have noticed that there was one book that I checked out way more than the average elementary student. It was a book about all the United States presidents, from George Washington to George W. Bush. I loved learning about the United States Presidents, especially Abraham Lincoln. I mean, we both experienced a significant event on April 14th, I was born, and he… well, he was assassinated, but to second grade me, that was an amazing connection to a president. Anyway, as of today, I still love learning the history of presidents. If I ever see a historical fiction movie about a president, you bet I will be adding it to my list.

However, I am not that little elementary girl anymore; I am a college student who is living through one of the craziest political times. If someone ever asked me what political party I ama part of, the simple answer would be Democrat. I mean, I am part of the College Democrats club at my school, and I tend to agree with more Democratic views compared to Republican views, but I have never felt fully Democratic. Some of the concepts on the Democrat side seem a little extreme, and I feel like you have to be extra cautious about what you say, or d,o or else you will be canceled. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Republicans seem to think that they are the country of America (which, ch if we are being pro, per, should be the United States of America, we can’t forget about South and Central America!). They don’t seem as open to social changes of acceptance and want things to be more traditional because to them, the “old” United States was the best United States. I’m not sure if that is the perspective because, as I said above, I lean more left on the political spectrum, but that is the impression that I get.

The phrase “political spectrum” stands out to me as an Autism advocate. For years, we have been trying to show that Autism is a spectrum and not one people are the same. I believe that is the same for politics. Not one person agrees with everything another person has; that is why we have a political spectrum and not just a red and blue line. In other words, there is a gray area in politics; it is not just black and white, which makes it more complicated. In my opinion, there are not just two parties; there are two parties with different variations.

Ok, you’re probably wondering why I named this post “Politics Seem Staged.” I will try to explain my thoughts in the best way I possibly can. I watch a lot of late-night talk/comedy shows. You know, like SNL, Jimmy Kimmel, the Daily Show. Of course, they lean more left, but these types of shows also show me a different perspective on the political world, along with showing present and past political clips. One clip that stands out to me is a clip of Donald Trump in 1999. It was of him saying that he is pro-choice. Fast forward to 2025, and he is very clearly pro-life. Of course, opinions can change, but part of me wonders what if he is just putting on a show. What if all politicians are putting on a show? They pick a party, run for office on those views, and follow those views strictly in office to have continuous support from their party. I mean, that might explain why so many politicians have changed their opinions in my lifetime because of the massive Republican switTrulyruly believe that if an idea to be voted on was brought up by a Republican, Republicans would vote yes, and most Democrats would vote no. However, if the same idea were brought up by Democrats, most Republicans would say no, and most Democrats would say yes. For example, what if Biden brought up the idea of the Gulf of America, do you think Republican Senators and Representatives would have voted yes on that?

That is one of the questions I have currently been asking people when Donald Trump does something during his term that, in my opinion, seems crazy. I ask some people who agree with him, Would you have the same opinion if Biden did that? I have yet to get a definitive answer. I think that it is so important to have a definite answer because it shows that you have your own opinions and you are not just following a political party blindly because it seems right.

Looking at current politics and past politics, it just seems to be forming one big story with distinct two sides that are not as distinct as they are portrayed. I think that is the problem with politics. It is on a stage that only represents two perspectives and does not take into consideration the spectrum of political opinions. If someone at your “party” does something wrong. You shouldn’t just come up with an excuse; you should share your thoughts on why you think that was wrong. I think that one of the ways to fix the current political craziness in the United States is not to blindly follow a political leader just because you mostly agree with them or they are in your political party. Hold them accountable and…

Always Be Kind!

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My Special Relationship with Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you were to ask me what my favorite dessert is, I’d immediately say, “a chocolate chip cookie.” Who doesn’t love a freshly baked cookie with melted chocolate chips? To most people, it’s just a delicious treat—but to me, it’s so much more.

Growing up, my parents always made chocolate chip cookies. Even today, we still bake a homemade batch or grab store-bought dough if we’re short on time. The smell alone would bring me into the kitchen in an instant. My grandma also baked amazing desserts—everything from banana bread to, you guessed it, chocolate chip cookies. That cookie became a symbol of home, comfort, and love.

The summer before eighth grade, I learned that my papa was diagnosed with kidney cancer. I already knew he was sick, and deep down, I feared it was cancer. That fear was confirmed at the end of July. My papa was one of the smartest people I knew. He gave the best life advice and shared the most random facts, many of which somehow connected to everyday life. I remember him explaining how a roller coaster worked and then seamlessly comparing it to the ups and downs of life.

I didn’t see him for two weeks after I found out. I was scared. He didn’t want his grandchildren to know, but I was the first to figure it out. Even though it was an accident, I felt guilty. When I finally gathered the courage to visit, he was thin and weak, but still in good spirits. And he asked for one thing: a chocolate chip cookie.

So my grandma and I baked a batch together. Starting that day, every Monday after school, I would go to my grandparents’ house and bake cookies while my papa sat in his white loveseat, waiting patiently for one (or two). It became a cherished ritual.

On October 10th, 2016, like every Monday, I went over after school and baked cookies. My papa sat in his usual spot. But when my grandma offered him a cookie, he declined. He never said no to a fresh chocolate chip cookie. I felt a pang of sadness, not because I had worked hard on them, but because I knew what it meant: he was getting worse. One week later, on October 17th, my mom woke me up and told me that my papa had passed away early that morning. I still went to my grandparents’ house that day, but there were no cookies.

Fast forward to April 2018. I was a freshman in high school. Life after my papa passed wasn’t easy. My family faced personal challenges that I won’t go into out of respect for their privacy. School became my escape. No one knew what was going on at home, and that allowed me to focus on something else.

Two days before my birthday, I brought store-bought chocolate chip cookies to school for my teachers. I had done this before, but it was my first time doing so in high school. Everyone enjoyed them, but one teacher stood out—my Spanish teacher. He said, “Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite.”

If you knew me in high school, you knew how much I adored my Spanish teacher. He reminded me of my papa. He offered life advice, looked out for me, and always had my back. Seeing how happy a cookie made him created an unexpected and touching connection between him and my late papa. For the next three years, whenever I sensed he was having a rough day, I’d bring him a chocolate chip cookie—or two, or five. Every Christmas or end-of-year gift I gave him always included a bag of chocolate chip cookies.

Chocolate chip cookies have always been my favorite dessert. But now, they represent more than just a sweet treat. They’re a small way I’ve been able to show love and appreciation to two of the most important people in my life. Sometimes a simple dessert can make a cloudy day feel a little sunnier.

If you’re ever wondering how to say thank you or brighten someone’s day, consider a treat. Or better yet, remember to

Always Be Kind!!

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Welcome to My World: All About Me

Hello! My name is Isabella Donaldson, and I am currently navigating my twenties in the great state of Michigan, where I have lived my whole life. Fun fact, the only time I have moved is when I moved into my university apartment to study elementary and special education. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a special education teacher for children… I’ll probably talk more about that in a different post. When people ask me about my hobbies and interests, here are some of my general responses

  • Pandas: I have at least 20 pandas in my bedroom alone.
  • Kung Fu Panda: All-time favorite movie since the tender age of 5.
  • Reading: Although I often fall into a reading slump, I love diving deep into a book. My favorite books are A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and the Harry Potter series… which means.
  • Harry Potter: Yes, I know the author is not the best person, but I love Harry Potter. It turned me from a struggling reader to an advanced reader in less than a year. Controversial option, my favorite character is Albus Dumbledore.
  • Traveling: I love a good vacation, you will often see my family traveling to amusement parks in the summer or down south for the winter. My favorite trip that I have ever taken was a tour of parts of Spain. My high school dream came true on that trip. P.S. Churros with a thick chocolate sauce are the BEST!!
  • Only Murders in the Building: Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short are three of my favorite celebrities, so I LOVE this TV series. My mom and I always watch it together, and every season leaves our jaws on the floor.
  • Survivor: My favorite reality TV show that my roommate and I recently started watching. The current season (Season 48) has been amazing. Eva or Joe better win!
  • Old TV Shows: Batman with Adam West, Star Trek, the Dick VanDyke Show, and Hart to Hart are some of my favorite comfort TV shows. I obviously watch more current TV shows, but these shows just have a special place in my heart.
  • Clarinet: For over twelve years, I have been playing the clarinet, and it has been a love-hate relationship… more about that in another post, but clarie (the clarinet’s name) and I are best buddies.
  • Dogs: Next to Pandas, I love doggies. I currently have a 100-pound standard poodle named Toby. I’m sure he will appear in a post soon, but you will always see my eyes light up when I see a dog.
  • Writing: Writing is one of my favorite pastimes. The number of stories that I have written on Google Docs is crazy, it is how I express myself… which leads into the why of this website.

One big aspect of my life is that I am on the Autism Spectrum and have an Anxiety Disorder. These two topics are for sure going to appear in a post soon, but for now, I want to use these two disorders to explain why I made this blog. Honestly, I have thought about making this blog for years. As I stated above, I love writing, and it has been a great way to express my feelings. At the end of every semester, I write letters to my teacher in case they don’t know how much I appreciated them during our time together. When a current event happens that I have big feelings about, I tend to express my thoughts through writing. The current social media algorithms are not super kind to long posts, so why not make my own platform to express my thoughts? This is what I intend to use this website for. To express my thoughts on the world around me and the thoughts that are swarming around in my head. I also plan on using this website to share my appearances in different projects, my interests, and some of my favorite photos that I have taken (right now, a majority of the photos are from Spain). I will try to keep this website as positive as I can, but sometimes I might just need to rant… I mean, this world is crazy, but there is one important message that I always keep near and dear to my heart, and that is how I’m going to end this post.

Always Be Kind!

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