After working on a fabulous fan-fiction for a few hours (including brainstorming while at work), I've decided to do a little questionnaire to take a break. My brain is fried, yo!
1. What’s your passion?
My passion is to teach others. I'm a nerd in my own right, and I study a lot of the time. I even avoid my friends just to study, and somehow, they're still my friends. Some of them, anyways!
Because my head is always in a book of some kind (or in my iPad to respond to messages or to look up some part of history or to learn a new Japanese word), I am always eager to tell my family or my friends what I learn. And most of the time...they don't really seem to care that I learned something. And I'm referred to as "Miss Know-It-All," which I don't particularly take pride in.
That's why I want to teach, both while I'm in the military and once I become a professor. I'm always so eager to pass on what I learn, and I hope to pass it on to an audience who will listen to me.
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2. What would you do in life if you did not need to work for money?
I would study and travel. I absolutely love traveling. I want to see the world and take as many pictures as humanly possible. As I've said before, I had the privilege of living in Germany and exploring the countries around Germany, and while I've seen a lot and made so many amazing friends, I want to see so much more and make so many more friends!
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3. Where do you want to be in 5, 10, 20 or 40 years?
I will be in the military for a while, probably for 10+ years. Growing up as a military brat, it isn't necessarily easy to get away from the lifestyle. Afterwards, I'm either thinking of traveling once again as an ECE teacher, or I may be a professor of linguistics at a university...I'm not sure which state I'll reside in yet yet, though I would like to live in California...we'll see.
I do know that I want a Doctorate degree either in ECE or Linguistics. I may even go for both, there are no limits!
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4. What are your fundamental life values?
First: Frugality. I'm...incredibly cheap. My mother taught me to be this way, just as her mother taught her. Our thing is and has always been: no student loans, ever. The very concept of owing somebody money bothers me, so I've paid for school out of my own pocket, as well as with grants and scholarships. Thank goodness for grants and scholarships.
Second: Sanguinity. It's nice to stay positive and confident. Yeah, I've been torn down tons of times, but that hopefulness and that "Maybe someday" in the back of my mind keeps me going.
Third: Solitude. I treasure my time alone. In my room. With several books around me and music from the anime A.R.I.A playing softly in the background.
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5. Who are the 3 most important people in your life?
Only three? Really? It's an obvious one: My Papa, my Mamma, and my brother.
My Papa and I have had conflict, but we're working things out. I didn't realize how important father-daughter relationships were until we decided to put aside our differences and talk.
My Mamma has been my friend for the longest time. We joke around all the time, and we laugh at the same things...though I have the habit of laughing until I'm close to passing out! People think we're sisters all the time because of how we act towards one another!
My brother is an absolute doofus; he looks tough on the outside, but his heart is absolutely extravagant, unlike anything I've ever witnessed. He protects me, and I protect him...if he hasn't already helped himself!
I do want to add another person as well: 
.
This chick is absolutely amazing. We have a ton of things in common, and I'm always ready and willing to stay up late to chat with her. I'm so thankful that she does the same for me. I can't wait until we meet someday! I have my kimono picked out and everything!
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6. What is your biggest dream?
I want to go to Japan. That is my biggest dream, and it has been for a very long time.
I remember the very first time I listened to Japanese music; it was in Germany, and I was doing homework. I wanted to listen to some music, and randomly on my front page was this foreign language that looked so amazing to me. So, I clicked and listened.
As a matter of fact, it was this song:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Df3Jz…
I had no idea what was being said, but I immediately loved it. When I found it was Japanese, the desire for wanting to go to Japan began. And it hasn't died down. It's actually intensified significantly over the years. I could daydream about Japan all day if given the chance.
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7. How much are you ready to sacrifice for your dream to come true?
While going to Japan is my biggest dream at the moment, it isn't my only dream. I'm sacrificing a lot right now to score the smaller dreams. I've taken up so much of my time studying, even staying away from my friends so that I can excel. When not at school, I'm at work working eight plus hours. I consider eating a luxury sometimes because I don't always have the time to sit and enjoy a meal. I'm a bit of an insomniac because I want to make sure every piece of work is presentable. I took up Zumba to stay in shape and ice skating to relieve stress while feeling graceful somehow. Sleep is like an acquaintance to me.
I'm not sacrificing so much compared to others...but it's enough, you know?
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8. What are the 3 things in your life that you would like to change?
One: Time management. I would like to spend more time with my friends. I've put them aside so many times and I feel guilty each and every time.
Two: Patience. I need more patience. I'm an instant gratification kind of girl. If I have to wait, I'll only wait so long. If I have to wait any longer than what I feel I'm supposed to wait, I start having breakdowns.
Three: Warmth. I'm a cold person once you get to know me. I'll be warm to people I've never met before, but once we get to know one another, I immediately have the tendency to shut them out. I don't know why, either. I'll just...do it. That's why I have a lot of respect for the ones who continue talking to me. These people are my true friends. But I shouldn't be doing that to anyone, period, end of story.
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9. When was the last time you laughed out loud?
My problem is that I can't stop laughing once I start laughing at something I find incredibly funny. Seriously, I will sit down sometimes, recall incredibly funny moments, and nobody will be able to stop me from laughing! Their words and disgruntled looks will only make me laugh even harder!
For instance: While I was working in Germany, a bagger was asking a customer how he was doing. The customer needed clarification a few times because he couldn't understand the bagger. The bagger asks one last time, and randomly, the customer asks, "Cake?"
He thought that the bagger was asking about cake!! You guys, I couldn't breathe. I was laughing so hard, my managers had to come over to see if I was okay! And even after the incident, I couldn't stop laughing; I'm laughing as I'm recalling this again!
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10. What are you grateful for?
For so many things. I'm grateful for the people I've been able to meet, virtually and physically. I'm grateful to have been given the opportunities I've been given. I'm grateful for having travelled where I have. Most of the time, I don't think about this particular question because my mind is always focused on what needs to be done...so it's good to sit and think about these things.
