Why do I do What I do?

[Clara Tsao]

Still there are days when I glance in the mirror and stare at my reflection with doubt. Imperfections in my face, a mask of clay, “Who am I..I think it’s time to recreate myself”. If my life was a book, Chapter One would start with my past. I grew up with a clone, a fraternal twin named Rachel, who ignited my mind with light. She was my best friend, also my worst enemy, and we blazed each other’s paths with competitive fright. We pushed each other to the limit, in school, in academics, in athletics, and never seized to let the other one down. We comforted each other through our parent’s divorce troubles and dreamed to make our parents proud. During Chapter Two when puberty hit, we went separate ways. Peer pressure and boys changed the way my twin acted and behaved. I took another path, and went into sports and academics. My mom thought I was a lesbian for my little interest in boys. During Chapter Three I discovered my personality. A talkative, chirpy optimistic bird, the Engergizer Bunny. I also discovered my interest in international relations and fighting world poverty. I also loved volunteering as a hobby. In Chapter Four I went through the dark ages and had low confidence in myself. At 13 years of age I over exercised, and freaked doctors out. My weight dropped to 65 pounds and my body was really worn out. After therapy sessions and counseling, I survived the wave and rode it out. And this all leads to Chapter Five, who I am today. An upbeat, friendly person, who listens most to her heart. A hard working student, who does not let her brain cells starve. An ambitious seeker who established at age 16, a 501© (3) non-profit organization to build sustainable communities. A quiet giver, who likes doing good deeds for others when they are not looking. A maverick who likes paving her own path in life. A thinker who likes examining issues from different lights. Many people are lost in their identity and I like to help others find their way. My dream is to be a psychiatrist to help those whose lives have gone astray. Everyday I seize the opportunities presented to me and strive to question my actions because, as Socrates best phrased it, “ The unexamined life is not worth living.”