Jan 06 2009
Before we begin…
Before you begin reading this blog, there are a few things I feel you should know about me. First and foremost, my name is Keith. I am 18 years old, and live in MA. I play lacrosse competitively, and also play hockey on a regular basis. I grew up in a house with my single mother and two grandparents. My whole life, I have been under a tight reign, and often times I feel as if that has restricted me. My father left the day my mother told him she was pregnant. No sympathy, please.. I have survived thus far without him, and I have no desire to include him in the life he was not interested in. My mother often tells me that I am the best thing that has ever happened to her, which is why I understand why she has been so strict on me. I know that in the long run, she has done her job by teaching me right from wrong, although I do not always make the best decisions. Please try not to judge me, everyone has their quirks and no one is exempt.
When I was eleven, I found out that I had been born with only one kidney (Yes, normal people have two kidneys). In a hockey incident, I was injured and was in the hospital for two days.. This has affected my every day life, and it was also the basis for my college essay. I figured, every school gets essays about how one’s community service has made them a better person, or how travelling to a different country changed one’s outlook on life. But how many colleges get essays about a kid having one kidney? (Very few, considering 1 out of every 750 people are born this way, but 98% of them never find out throughout the course of their lives.) This is far from a sore subject.. A few nicknames (that I do not mind at all) that I have gotten are Captain Kidney, Han Solo, Kidney, and probably whatever else you can think of. It is a way to distinguish myself from most other people, and I view it not as a hinderance, but perhaps a blessing.
I do not show my emotions easily. I am probably one of the most sarcastic people you will ever meet. Don’t take it personally, it’s just who I am. When faced with problems, I often push them aside and try to hide from them and cover them up with sarcasm. Probably not my best character trait, but it is one that defines me as a person. I am a good person, or at least I try to be. It is obvious when I am being serious, and there are certain things I will never joke about. The list is short, though. I try to have a good sense of humor, and I have been told that I am funny. I will never admit to it, but I try.. Sometimes too hard. Take that however you want to. If I had to sum up my personality in one sentence, I would have to use a quote by Orison Marden. I will never forget it: “Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition which you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.”
Now I know that very few people are interested in my life story, and believe me, it’s not that interesting. But to understand where I am coming from, you need to know these few things. This blog is of my personal experience and thoughts and ideas, so do not at any time assume that I am trying to persuade or convince you of anything. That is not my intent. My intent is merely to share these experiences so that you can learn from my mistakes, or know that you are not the only one who is going through this.
