The First Woman President

When I was in fifth grade, I went on a whale-watching field trip. I remember being excited, shoving the crumpled $20 bill my dad handed me, deep into my back pocket with the money I had previously collected from my mom.

I hopped into the front seat with Dad. He never drove me to school, but today, I had to be at school by 6 AM and Dad had so graciously offered to take me. I smiled up at him as he drove me 20 minutes away to my school. I looked up at my dad, filled with admiration at the man that had raised me.

He turned and smiled back at me and we began to talk. Somehow the conversation got to the topic of what I wanted to be when I grew up. I beamed at my dad when he asked me the question, and without any hesitation I blurted out, "I'm going to be the President of the United States."

I know that every kid that is born and raised in the US-at least once- dreams of becoming the President. What separates me from all of those kids is that my dad was probably as excited, if not more, for my campaign for President.

At once, he began coming up with slogans for me! Telling me, an innocent 11-year-old who knew nothing about politics, and just happened to be sitting in his passenger seat, who would be on my cabinet, who my vice president would be, and what party I would run for.

I was elated. Forget that I had no idea what he was saying, but he actually thought I could become president!

The reason that this story is so important is because I was raised to believe that I could honestly become anything I wanted to be. It didn't matter if I was a girl, it didn't matter if I was a Muslim, it didn't matter if I was only 11 years old! I could be whatever I wanted; whoever I wanted.

So, for anyone that decides to read this story, I want to be that figure, that my dad was for me, for you.

Stop worrying about everything that you believe is holding you back. Stop using those things as excuses. The only thing holding you back from attaining whatever- whoever- you want to be, is yourself. So throw away all of your inhibitions, and seek out that personality that you want to strive to embody.

Really think about this, and ask yourself: Who do you want to be?

Where I'm Coming From (Part 2)

Continuing on from Part 1:


Thinking for so long that I wanted to be an English teacher, it came as a shock to me when I came to college and realized that I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.

People around me had known since elementary school that they wanted to be a dentist, a doctor, an artist, a politician. People around me knew what they wanted in life- and that honestly scared me.

I enjoy writing, that's no secret. In fact, I love it. But a career as a writer? That wasn't something I could see myself going into. Sure, I liked to entertain the thought of going into journalism; covering some hard hitting stories that would uncover piles of lies, piles of corporate filth.

But that was just a fantasy to me, nothing more.

So I began to sit back and really think about what I wanted in life. I had it engrained into my mind, and probably the minds of others too by now- I wanted to make a difference. But that didn't help me in any way. You don't have to be a doctor or social worker or a teacher to make a difference in this world.

That was the reason I had so much trouble sorting my thoughts.

Anyone, with the right intentions- regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or education- can make a difference.

Luckily for me, it was as if fate decided to lend me a hand, make my decision easy.

My older brother asked me to read through his paper for law school. I begrudgingly gave in, not looking forward to reading, what I assumed, would end up being the driest, least interesting piece of writing I had ever had the misfortune of coming across.

I instantly fell in love.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. It was as if I had finally grown up and made a decision I knew I could stick with.

I wanted to go to law school. I wanted to become a lawyer.

I had never really felt this way about any career paths I previously wanted to take.

I instantly began researching what I needed to do in order to separate myself from the thousands of applicants I'd be competing against. I decided to take a Poli Sci class and test the waters. My mantra very quickly became Law School or Bust...

But the one thing I did differently from my previous 'career epiphanies'- I didn't tell a soul that this is the path I wanted to take. And for some reason, now I'm comfortable sharing this with anyone who chooses to read my blog, even skim through it perhaps.

So, keep me in your prayers, in your thoughts, in your mind. And hopefully, if/when I'm a successful lawyer, I can help this world in the ways it needs to be helped.

Where I'm Coming From (Part 1)

I've always wanted to do something big. Make a difference.

Erin Gruwell. A teacher at a high school in Long Beach, California.

I saw her speak at a TEDx conference and my life was changed. I was so sure I wanted to be a high school teacher. And since I planned on majoring in English, I figured I could be JUST LIKE ERIN GRUWELL.

So I went a few days, a few months, a few years, thinking that I wanted to teach; making myself believe that I'd be a teacher and that I'd make every bit of difference, just as Erin Gruwell had.

I went through my college applications, tick-marking English when it asked for my major. People would ask me, "What are your future plans?" and I'd answer, almost monotonously, almost robotically, "I want to teach high school English."

In comes Ms. Blakeney- my senior year English class's student teacher turned long term sub.

She was this bubbly and happy 23 year old, freshly graduated and newly credentialed, child, that had come to tame a class of twenty-some wild and unruly 18 year olds.

There was no way she would last.

Fast forward 2 months. Ms. Blakeney had successfully gotten even the most disruptive of students to read AND understand Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Again, I was in awe. Inspired by this angel who had come and subdued my senior class. I placed Ms. Blakeney on the same pedestal as Erin Gruwell.

I wanted nothing more than to become an English teacher, and make a difference like these 2 influential and impassioned young women. Sure, one managed to tame a group of city raised kids who had lived a harsh and cold life while the other just took of a bunch of suburb raised, spoiled children, who had it easy their entire lives, and made them read a book; but for some reason these 2 women helped me set a goal.

That goal was to make a difference, change the world for better, do something great.

Why I Made A Blog

I don't really know why I'm starting a blog.

I don't really know what's to come of it.

I just know that I've been having thoughts that I want to put down somewhere. Not necessarily thoughts that other people will find interesting, but it's nice to have somewhere to put my thoughts down. And hopefully through this- my writing will improve.

I want to do something with my life. I want to make a difference; make a change. And hopefully this writing thing will set me on that path.

Wish me luck!