Category: Humans of MLEC

A few days ago, I interviewed student Adrian Arrieta. In the lengthy interview I learned a lot about him; who he is, who he was, what’s he’s learned, his talents and some of the things that shaped Adrian into the person he is today.

Past Relationship

“Last year, I was in a relationship, and I didn’t expect us to break up. I expected her to still be around me because we were ‘best friends’. For a long time, I was stuck in the past. It was never easy to say goodbye. I didn’t expect her to move on. I had to learn that it’s unhealthy to heavily depend on someone else. You have to know who you are and what you’re capable of. You can’t always expect things things to go your way; you can’t be selfish.

In the end, it was a good thing that we broke up. I used to be antisocial, but now I talk more, volunteer, and I’m living my life to the fullest.”

Arts

“I used to paint animals. The last animal I painted was a tiger. I find tigers symbolic and meaningful. They’re usually secretive when they hunt and they show power. They’re very dominant.

I also know how to sing, dance, and I can play the guitar, and a little piano. I was always an active kid. When I was younger, I wasn’t exposed to technology or anything like that. I’d just go outdoors, break dance to usher, have dance battles with my friends, and do all sorts of things. I was energetic.

When I moved with my dad, I didn’t do that as much. I started to play a lot more video games and occasionally go outside to ride bike with my friends. He’s wealthy, so the new friends I made were accustomed  to having so much games because they could afford it.

I’m getting back into music and dancing, though. I believe that I was very good at in, and my interest in art in music continues to become more apparent. ”

How He Sees the World

“I have photographic memory. When I’m studying for the test, even at the last minute, I have the ability to make that information long or short term.  I know what’s relevant and what’s irrelevant.

My imagination is vivid. You see the way you’re looking at me right now? Let’s say your eyes represent a camera. I can picture the camera facing me right now, and I can picture how I look at this moment… Sometimes I look at a 2-D blueprint and turn it to something 3-D in my head… If we were in the middle of the basketball court right now, and there was a drone in the air, I can imagine that I’ the drone looking at myself and covering the entire perimeter.

I always thought everyone saw the world like I do. ”

Then, Now. and Later On

“I often think about how much I’ve changed. Not only am I more social now but I’m also more respectful. I used to be stubborn and ignorant, but now I respect people for who they are, and their values. I used to aim for a luxurious life, but I’ve humbled myself. I learned that money is not worth as much as it seems. In this life, you also need other people. And I have grown to be a pacifist. I don’t think fighting and destruction solves much.

One thing that I like to do is watch “family movies” because I want that sense of family and happiness in my life. In the future, I’d like to be a Navy medic or a Veterinarian; I love dogs and I love volunteering.

I think that I have a great purpose in this world, like I have something to offer. I want to be that person who positively influences and helps others. ”

— Adrian Arrieta, Junior, Health/Medical Assisting

“Every year, my family goes skiing. One year, we went skiing at North Carolina Sugar Mountain. It was the first day of the new year, everyone was happy. I wanted to go skiing again. The temperature was a little warm, so they put artificial snow on the mountains. The artificial snow plus the recent rain made the mountain slippery. As I went skiing, I lost control, and fell out of the ski. I landed on my right shoulder, then started to yell. My ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) snapped, my MCL (Medical Collateral Ligament) tore, and I needed a temporary brace and crutches. I remember yelling at a man who was trying to help me because I was in pain. I didn’t get to do surgery until two months later, and that made my legs worse.

Since I couldn’t go up the stairs [when I got back home], I slept on the sofa bed. I thought about how I couldn’t do anything and I was worried that I would never be able to run again… I started to focus on what I wanted to accomplish before something like that happened again… It also made me value my legs.”

– Daniel Garcia, Senior, Health/EMT

As I interviewed Ally (left) and Tracy, I learned fun facts such as Tracy’s left handed and Ally’s right handed, and that when they were younger, the pair had the nicknames “Kiki (Tracy) and Kiwi (Ally)”. However, what stood out the most was their bond, which was explained during the interview.

“No matter what, we will always stick by each other. We can’t really go anywhere without each other or it feels empty since we’re literally each other’s half… your twin is your ride or die. Throughout elementary we would hate to be apart and panic if the other one wasn’t there. In middle school it was a bit rough, but we went through it together and our bond is like no other because we love each other so much. We wouldn’t be ourselves without each other…”

Allyson then added, “Even though she’s annoying, she is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Having her as a twin is amazing because it makes us see that we don’t have to face the world alone but together”, concluded Tracy.

-Tracy and Allyson Bojorge, Entrepreneurship/ Financial Services