I don’t know if I can really say I currently live anywhere since I have been traveling in Europe since the end of January. However, when I return stateside at the end of August, the plan is to live with my dad in Overland Park and commute to the University of Kansas the two days each week I have classes.
As for work, I still have my photography business. I spent the last semester in Angers, France, studying abroad at the Université Catholique de l’Ouest. I am still a student at the University of Kansas though.
Wow, the biggest change in my life since finishing the show? I really don’t know how to answer that! I mean, I’m not married or popping out any babies (or pregnant, just to clear that up!). Heck, I don’t even have a boyfriend. I guess I would have to say living abroad, and in December I can say that I am a college graduate!
-Wait–I just thought of one big change. I can officially say I am no longer a picky eater (thank you, Europe!). I will try, if not eat, everything presented to me…except for nuts and mushrooms. That is a huge change, for those of you who don’t know me, which is, well, basically every person reading this!
My goals and aspirations have changed time and time again since I was a freshman in high school. The funny thing, though, is that I am now basically back to the same aspirations for the future that I always had. At 14, I wanted to be a Spanish teacher. Then I switched to a photojournalist, and then a portrait photographer. Every time I changed my career path it was because of money. Teachers didn’t make enough, so I decided to switch to photojournalism because I loved photography. Photojournalists didn’t make enough money, and once I found I had a knack for portrait photography, I became interested in that. Now, after doing some soul searching in Europe, I have realized that goals are not about money; they are about being happy and doing what I love, which is teaching. Well, photography, too, but it has always been teaching first, photography second. So the ultimate goal and the ultimate aspiration is to be happy, first and foremost.
I don’t like how we are referred to as “cast members” since we weren’t acting. But as for the other girls in the documentary, no, I wouldn’t say I have a relationship with any of them. However, thanks to Facebook, we occasionally send each other messages just to check in, but outside of that, I haven’t really seen anyone since the show aired.
Being a part of the documentary did not affect my high school experience in the least bit. I don’t think I would have done anything differently had I not participated.
You know what I miss most about high school? The half-baked cookies at lunch, which they don’t even have anymore. So in that case, absolutely nothing!
For somebody about to start high school, all I can say is hold on to your dreams, and don’t ever let anyone change your mind! The world out there is scary, so don’t let these next four years pass by too quickly. Don’t forget who you are, and what you stand for. Also, ask your school about studying abroad! It’s possible for high school students, and it is so worth it!
While I loved being able to go to New York City with the HSC girls and be a part of ABC, I would rather have not been part of The Tyra Show. However, it was an experience, and now I can say I have done it and I know it is not something I want to do again. Also, I would have pushed for more interviews, made my own videos, and written things down along the way, so as to not forget anything.
I am living my life in a way I never thought I would, and I would say that is pretty exciting! I’ve spent nine months in Europe, learning new languages, couch surfing, and meeting great people from across the globe along the way. Yes, life is pretty good!
Plans for the future–whoa, this is a loaded question! The future this summer includes traveling through eight countries in Europe, then returning to Kansas to finish my last semester of my undergraduate degree in French. Then, come January 2010, I will be moving to Spain to learn Spanish, and in October 2010 I will be returning to France to teach English until June 2011. After that, it’s pretty unclear. Either I will return to the States to participate in Teach for America and get my master’s degree at the same time, or I will continue to couch surf my way through Europe. Someday, I’d like to travel the world doing photojournalism to give people a voice who normally wouldn’t have one. Eventually, it would be great to get married and have kids, but now is not the time or place for that. Oh, and I’d like to write a book. Yes, a book might be something nice.
Studying in France has been the best thing I have ever done in my life. It has helped me find out more about myself and what I want to do in the future. Of course, my plans for the future change on a daily basis, but I would love to live in France (or Europe) for the rest of my life. However, visas are complicated, so we’ll see what happens. I do know, however, that I will be here at least from January 2010 until June 2011, if not longer.
Are Beth and I “still” close? I don’t think we ever really were close, expect maybe in middle school. Do we talk? Yes, from time to time, but it is usually just about the babies. I hope to be able to help her out with them, but that is obviously all up to her, so we’ll see what happens!
Religion is no longer a huge part of my life; in fact, it’s not really a part of my life at all. This is a complicated question to answer, because, quite frankly, I don’t even know what to believe.
The photography business is doing great. It keeps me busy, that’s for sure, but it is often hard to balance the business and school. I would much rather be doing my photography than going to school, but there are some things you just have to do in life, and school is one of them. Since I am moving out of the country again, I will not be pushing any advertising because I don’t know when I will be back. The way I look at it is that I can get it started again in any city in the world that I want, and as much as I have loved living in Kansas City, it is not where I want to be for the rest of my life, and having this type of business allows me to relocate it anywhere I like. So while I am young, willing, and able, I am going to explore the world, find a place I want to be, and then start the photography business there, or teach. But more importantly, I just want to do what I feel I need to do in order to be happy, whether I’m making money or not.
EXTRAS:
At the age of 50, my dad asked his doctor about getting a routine colon cancer scan, and the doctor said it wasn’t necessary since he was healthy. After he got a second opinion from his best friend, who is a doctor, he went ahead and had the scan done three years later. The doctors found precancerous cells and decided it would be best for my dad to have part of his colon removed, just to be on the safe side. When they removed it and did more tests on it, they found that there was actually cancer. The moral to this story is always get a second opinion, and follow your gut.
If you would like to know more about my sister, she graduated from cosmetology school, and has recently located to Denver, Colorado! While she is still searching for a job, this is a great thing for her! She is happy and is starting a new chapter in her life, and I fully support it. We are probably closer now than we have ever been, and I am thankful for that. We can still only spend so much time together before going crazy, but it is more than in the past, which is a start. She even got me to cry for two hours on our 21st birthdays when she called me at midnight and made me feel guilty for not being together…yeah, that’s what sisters are for, right?
After I finished my studies in Angers, France, my dad met me and we traveled for two weeks. We rented a car and drove all over France. It was the best time of my life, and there are so many memories I will never forget. We talked about everything under the sun, and cleared up a lot of misconceptions I had about his relationship with my mom and with my stepmom, and my relationship with him when I was a child. I learned so much about him that I never knew, and never understood. My dad is a great guy, and I am so lucky to have him in my life, but I already knew that!
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