Vignette 1 & 2

1) During my time in HTMMA (which is two years,) I have gained many more friends than before. All my friends here are made either from the school I went before (Dana,) total randomness (they just come up to me and start talking to me,) and acquaintances/friends of friends, which means we either became friends because we are alike and like the same thing or my friends thought that their friends were really like me and had the feeling that we should meet. And, we also had 8^th grade retreat which is a great time to hang out and make friends, so I made a few friends there too. See, at 8^th grade retreat there were my friend's friends hung out with us so we would start talking and having mini parties (sort of parties) in the cabin rooms and just like that we became friends. Sometimes random people would talk to us too. The thing is about them is that most of my friends sit at a same table during before school and lunch. All my friends are friends with each other too, which makes it even easier. The personalities are diverse too. There’s shy, annoying, stubborn, quiet, loud, screamer, hyper, artistic, energetic, sluggish, etc. You get the point. All in all, I have made more friends here than in any other school, which makes me way happier. The feeling that I get from having all my friends is like when a little kid is really happy. You feel really giddy inside and you just let out. But at times I feel a twinge of annoyance. Sometimes they go over the top and then you feel like in a bunch of happy balloons inside of you, the needle of negatives just popped one (that just came on the top of my head. Please feel free to laugh.) But it really gives you ha happy feeling as happy as Adam Burnier’s happy face (if you have ever seen his happy face.) This experience should never be forgotten because these friends were some of the best I have ever had. I’ll keep this as a happy thought (obviously.)

2) While in HTMMA, I have had a great learning experience. What’s so great about it is that it’s hands on experience. In my opinion, hands on experience helped me learn better, because I love hands on things and personally, I think that it will be easier if you look back because when you look back and you see yourself doing that project and for me, when I look back, some things that a teacher taught just suddenly pops into my head. Hands on experience is for me is like building blocks. I have, for example, Lego pieces or something like that, and I think for a minute or two to myself then immediately start building something. I learn how to build or fix things myself. I basically learn from building blocks which is why I’m interested in tackling robotics, architecture, and machines/technology. I have built crazy stuff when I was really young, and being at that, I learned to fix, build, and destroy. That’s the same with hands on experience. It’s in my hands and after I listen to the instructions, I build my knowledge and project. If it needs some updating and some improvements, I fix it, and if it’s not working, not fulfilling the requirements, then I destroy it and do it again. It really teaches me something and I can actually look back and see myself building and all kinds of other stuff in stead of sitting at a desk doing worksheets and getting all kinds of textbooks that we need to carry around. I can remember it but it would take me longer because I did not experience it. That’s why I enjoy this learning environment.

My Dream

My name is Emily Fang and I am 33 years old. Here's some information that you might want to know.

When I was at least 15 years old, I took drugs and I started smoking. It was bad influence. My mind slowly turned dark and I couldn’t take my family any longer. I ran away. The police went searching for me, but since I was hidden somewhere where nobody went to they gave up the futile search after a year had passed. I was alone and in darkness. I stayed in my dark hideout for another year, and then I couldn’t take in any longer. I went back to my family just to see that they were gone. With no money and food, I became a homeless scavenger. I stood on the streets for years begging for money and food. My only shelter was that hideout. It was so dark and lonely. I became depressed and I had thoughts of suicide on my mind but I was determined to live this out. I had hope that I would sooner or later get out of the mess I created. I had a mixture of hope and hopelessness. But that was when I was still a teenager. Now I still am homeless, and sometimes I wonder if I will ever get out of this situation.

Just joking! That was all a lie. Fooled you, huh? Here’s the story about my life, and this one is real (if you don’t believe me, your making a fool out of yourself.)

I am married and I have two children. One at the age of 5 (a girl,) one at the age of 7 (a boy.) My current career is an inventor/engineer and my husband's career a business man. I chose this path because I as a child loved building, creating, destroying, and repairing. I loved mechanisms and always wondered how they would work and in school I took robotics and engineering classes. I followed this and continued all the way until now. I graduated college with an engineer's degree and I got a job at the Irvine Technology Corp which I happily joined at the age of 22.

I went to the high school called High Tech High. During my four years there, I joined the robotics team winning several competitions. I enjoyed building the robots. It was really enjoyable with all the parts and assembly. And to see your robot work makes you proud.In college (Caltech,) I took as I said earlier, robotics and engineering. I wanted to sharpen up my skills and it really did buff up. With those classes I took Mathematics because it's practically used for everything and it's required when taking engineering and robotics. Math class was not particularly difficult since I have been advanced in grade school (I was doing calculus, trigonometry and other stuff like that in 9th grade.) It wasn't all that difficult. But I did have some difficult times. After graduating from college (I was 22 years old,) I was looking for a job. I got one right away at (happily) The Irvine Technology Corp. During the first few years, it was a tad bit difficult. I had to find a schedule I was able to cope with, then I had to find my way around the place. I got lost a few times but soon I knew my way around. I then needed to learn the procedures and I had to know how to use the equipment and how to handle things. It was a tedious task but I got it (in about a year.) But really ever since then, it's been smooth and cool all the way. Now I'm successful and getting $50,820 a month.

My favorite, lasting memory (there are two) was when I gave birth to my little girl, Tammy, and my son, John. They are both really sweet (well not really for John, he’s more of a toughie.) I was happy to see a girl and a boy born. It makes a balance. It's really a delightful sensation after giving birth. You're heart feels light and happy and you're happy that it's over with and you can see your child.

I believe I have made the world a better place. An invention that I made is a water powered delivery truck. This helps because there will be less pollution in the air. Then trucks don't have to run on diesel. It helps the environment and what comes out of the exhaust contains no poison or any harmful substance.

This is the end of this entry so far. More on soon!