The first thing that everybody says when they meet me is, “Wow, you're tall!” Not surprising, when you're a fifteen-year-old girl and almost three inches taller than the average American man (which, by the way, is 5'9). Whenever I hear this phrase, I laugh, and quickly change the subject. Unfortunately, height is still somewhat my enemy. But, if you were to look beyond the height and into my mind, you would find a very creative girl, someone who loves to express herself freely, especially with the inked sword. Descriptive writing is my forte, and the flow of words that stream from my pen never threaten to dry out. I write to distract myself and to free my emotions, or just even to get a good idea out on the paper. It is my escape.

Music is another one of my passions. When I find rare snatches of time I love to surrender myself to my guitar, allowing the ripples and undulating harmonies of the chords to fill my ears. I hate silence and am constantly craving music, especially when it is kept just out of my grasp under the pretences of prohibition. As mentioned before, my height brings along other things as well, such as volleyball. In grade eight, I joined the girl's volleyball team and, to put this nicely , we were all very new to the sport. I remember game after game standing still and watching the spinning sphere drop to the floor, wondering whether or not I was expected to pass it. Even though it was a short three weeks on a never-ending losing streak, I found myself enthralled with the game and quickly signed up with a league. Since grade eight, I have grown exceptionally and proved to myself that I can do things I never dreamed of, such as take part in a trip to Japan with the Mt Doug Senior Girls' volleyball team. Sometimes, it seems, I surprise even myself.

I am a dreamer, because what purpose would we have in life if we didn't dare to dream, dare to take risks, dare to live on the edge? My dreams include living in Europe , attending Oxford University and writing sequels to my successful novels. One thing I've learned is that positive thinking is the key to achieve happiness, and I've also learned how limits can be set when too many negative thoughts are present. And, of course, my friends are one of the biggest parts of my life. I don't think I could live in a world without them, without the endless laughter, without the comfort, even without the embarrassing antics that occur almost daily. I need them, my personal comedians. We've been through so much together, and they are my shining stars, my sisters in all but blood. When I feel as if nothing is going right and I'm losing control, they halt my careening world and fill me full of promises and smiles and warmth. They are everything to me.