As I Live and LearnBack   to   My   Universe

      The best description of me is that I am a people person. I make friends
easily and relate to others very well. I like doing things or going places
with others, and I like just talking with people. It is also pretty easy for me
to determine a person's mood, and be able to respond to it, without upsetting
or offending that person or myself. Even though this is my basic nature, I
still, like every person, need time to myself to be alone. I am very private
about my life in my room. Even my family and closest friends do not know what
I do or how I feel when I am alone in my room with my door closed. Every now
and then I need to be separated from the rest of humanity by four walls, a
roof, and a closed door. When I have my music on it is like a decompression
chamber just for me, and I like it that way. I definitely want at least one
roommate, but no more than three please. I am a very neat person, except for the
top of my desk where I keep everything that does not have a designated space.
I also like to be able to work in a quiet area where I can concentrate, but I
occasionally like to listen to music while I work. I do like to watch
television most evenings, especially Saturdays and Mondays when Star Trek: DS9 and
Star Trek: Voyager are shown, respectively. I don't talk on the phone very
often, but when I do it is usually for an hour, possibly more. I also keep
myself busy with many activities which could keep me popping in and out at all
times of the day. I do not like shopping often, only when I need or want
something specific. Even though, I am not a late night person. I try to be in bed
between ten-thirty and eleven-thirty every night, by twelve on Fridays and
Saturdays. I am also NOT a morning person. When I wake up, I like it to be dark
and very quiet. My family goes out of its way to make sure I am left alone for
five to ten minutes after I wake up (usually by sleeping later than I do),
and I do not allow anyone to speak to me for twenty minutes after I wake up.
Occasionally someone will say something to me if there is a good or important
reason, but I still become annoyed with that person. For this reason I am
asking, May I please have a dorm that has a sitting room and separate bedrooms for
my roommate(s) and myself?
      All I would like in a roommate is someone who I can be good friends with
and do things with, but who will leave me alone when I want to be alone. She
should not be perky or enthusiastic in the mornings nor should she stay up to
all hours of the night (unless a paper is due, of course). My roommate should
also be able to tolerate my obsession with Star Trek, and all related fields,
and my love for science fiction.

My Brother

      I remember the day my brother, Michael, was born when my Father took me
to see him and my Mother at the hospital. I was excited and happy to have a
baby brother. I brought him a toy but, when we reached the room where Mom was,
Michael wasn't there. She thought I would be jealous of him if he was with
her when I was not. Instead, I became upset because he was in another room with
other babies and not with her! I believe my love of children, especially
babies, began when I finally saw Michael for the first time.
      One day eight years later, I was home alone after school when a friend's
mother knocked on the door. She said Michael had fallen off a slide. She
brought me to the school but the ambulance was already there so we followed it to
the hospital. I was very worried about him even though I had been mad at him
for ruining something of mine (I can't even remember what it was). When we
reached the hospital the doctor wanted to x-ray his leg to determine if it was
broken but they needed my Mother's permission. Michael wouldn't stop crying
and Mom couldn't be reached so I asked my friend's mother to take
responsibility for the x-ray. I then stayed with Michael until I was told I had to leave
the x-ray room. By the time we returned to the area where he was being kept
Mom was there.
      For weeks afterwards Michael received all the attention. Being the older
of us two, I had always been able to have attention whenever I wanted it.
Because I was being ignored I was so upset that I cried. Furthermore, that
term Michael earned the best grades he had ever received and I got a C for the
first time in my life. Despite my bitter feelings towards my brother for all
that had occurred, I learned a few valuable lessons. The most important one is
that I should be happy when someone is able to enjoy his (or her) well
deserved turn in the spotlight. I even went with Michael when he picked out a toy
for his great report card without being able to get one for myself.
      One summer, while Michael and I were visiting our Father, Michael's
asthma began acting up. Dad would put him on his machine, which helps control his
asthma, only two times a day instead of the three times a day he needed.
Michael's coughing at night was loud enough to wake me. His wheezing was so bad
that I would order him to use his machine, but he wouldn't. I didn't know how
to work the machine so I had to wake up Dad. I was always afraid Dad would be
upset because I woke him, but I was also afraid Michael might go into asthma
distress. After five nights of this I learned how to work the machine and I
put Michael on it myself when his coughing awakened me.
      Michael and I have shared many good times. Most of these happened when we were sharing a mutual interest of ours. We used to create and act out
elaborate stories centered around our Lego people. We still have the Lego city we
built in the basement, and occasionally we'll add or change a building or
vehicle. We also collect all kinds of Star Trek cards together. I always enjoy
trading, or trying to trade, cards with him. The most fun we have is
dressing up as characters from Star Trek with our Mother and going to conventions or
working at Star Trek promotions. One other thing I've really enjoyed is
watching Michael's interest in books grow. He is finally realizing what I
discovered long ago. I would stay up until all hours of the night reading just to
finish a book or magazine. I still love to read and I also like to recommend
books to Michael that I think are wonderful.
      Last year, Michael had a difficult time in school. His teachers were not
understanding or helpful. Michael has always had problems because he can't
hear phonetics and his attention occasionally wanders. Mom tried helping him
with his homework but she doesn't have the patience and they ended up
bickering. I eventually became tired with this situation and began tutoring Michael
myself. Each night it took him a while before he would concentrate, but I stuck
with it, patiently forced him to focus, and soon we were able to accomplish
much. This year he entered Arlington High School. His teachers relate well to
him and he completes his homework by himself, without prompting or tutoring.