Change of heart

      When I was in Jr. High I hated PE. I hated having to change quickly into work out clothes. I hated getting sweaty and then having to go to the rest of my classes feeling all grungy. What hated the most was the days when we would have to run a timed mile. At the time I could never run a full mile without stopping and my time for it was between eleven and thirteen minutes when I would try.

     Later when I got to high school I tried out for volleyball thinking it would be fun and easier then taking a P.E generic P.E class. Man was I wrong! The Oxnard High school volleyball program trains harder then anyone other program I know of. We would run at least a mile every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and that was when we weren't in trouble for anything. For example if one person didn't have there shirt tucked in that would count as one extra mile for everyone to do. If someone was late to study hall in the morning it would be two sprints for every minute they were late and a mile for every person that was late. With over 45 students in program the miles and sprints racked up quickly. Through my volleyball training became stronger and faster. I cut my mile time from about twelve minutes to about seven and a half. I did all of the running because I loved playing the sport and being a part of the team, but I still didn't enjoy running.

     One of the best things about not being in high school is not having to take a P.E class and never really having to run for anyone again. So when my friend RL told me about a run club that his girlfriend was starting and asked me to join my natural response was “No thanks.” He bugged me about it for a while and I finally gave in. Little by little more and more people have joined and we met regularly to run at the beaches around Oxnard and Ventura. Now I can finally say that I enjoy running. Maybe it is because I don't have to do it and I actually choosing to do it. Another reason I enjoy it now is because I am getting a chance to meet new people at every meeting and make new friends. At fist no thought this club was going to make it too long, but it has been going one now for about eight months and we have already done our first official 5k together, and are registering for a 5k mud run at the end of the month. Over all I'm really glad that RL convinced me to join.  

Mi Familia

      Growing up I have always been a little jealous of my two best friends Nikki and Emily, because they have these big, loud, fun families. Both of my parents were born in Mexico and moved to the U.S before my siblings and I were born, so my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and all of my cousins live in Mexico. Nikki and Emily would always tell me about their exciting family-filled holiday parties, and in comparison mine seemed dull.  My Family holidays usually consist of just my immediate family, and every year is basically the same. My eldest sister, Araceli, always insists on making the dessert which never turn out right. My older sister, Karla, never makes plans to make anything but always end up making potato salad. My dad and older brother, Enrique, sit around watching T.V and complaining about us taking too long. My mom usually makes the main dish but someone upsets her and she cancels the holiday and goes to her room, then comes back later to finish. Usually I end up doing everything including making back up desserts because no one is going to eat Aracelis’.  When it is finally time to have dinner, we all sit and start with friendly conversation but someone usually starts to pick on one person. Eventually everyone starts picking on each other and someone ends up crying. Realistically, I suppose if there we more people it would be even more chaotic then it already is.
As you can tell my family is pretty quirky.  We are all also very different. My mom is super hard working and when she is home she just likes to relax. My dad is Mr. Fix it, he loves to be in the garage or back yard working on projects. Araceli is the smartest one, but is also super bossy and controlling. Karla is more quiet and tries to keep the peace, although she can be extremely vengeful if you get on her bad side. Enrique is the ultimate jokester. Everything to him is fun and laughter, I think he keeps the family light hearted when he is around. I am the most independent of my siblings. I like to just have fun and not take life as seriously as they do, but at the same time I have a plan for my life.
All in all as much as I do wish I had a larger family per haps if I did id miss having the intimacy of the one I have now.  Looking at it now, I wouldn’t change my family for anything in the world. Although I do wish I could see y family in Mexico more.