During my childhood, I was a kid filled with curiosity of the world, freely open to various kinds of friends and activities, and asking my parents lots and lots of questions about everything, like how was I born, or the meaning of a Filipino word they said. It became a struggle to keep my openess especially during grade one where my family and I had to move to BC. I entered a new realm where I left all the friends that I made and all the memories I had back in Winnipeg. I didn't know anyone or any places here in BC at that time and if felt like as if my whole life restarted. The environment, the people, and our home was different. I struggled for many years learning how to accept this vital change in my life, and this fear of a new life led me into a more shy and timid child. Nonetheless, this gradually changed as I entered highschool.

Still, many people, good and bad have influenced me and shaped who I am today. In my elementary school years I always hanged out with classmates of bad influences, being motivated by the intention that I wanted to fit in with the "cool" kids of the school. This led me to develop a mindset that I should just change my self entirely in a way that I can be appreciated by this group of people since they were with me every class. Throughout elementary I had to deal with following others and leaning into their interests whether I liked it or not or if it had good intentions or bad and I had difficulty knowing what person I really wanted to be. However, during highschool my whole character evolved into something more of who I truly am. I was introduced to new friends where I instead picked those who I connected to the most, ones that revealed the best out of me socially and academically. I used to be a shy person who always followed those who seem I could fit in with even if they never really cared about me. But now with the help of a better community around me, I have progressed into a more wise and open-minded person where I chase after my own passions and ambitions, not others.