Journel #2 Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan

           Just like Tan, I too felt the pressure to fit in. When I was in high school, I saw that most of my friends of the same culture were out ditching class, talking to girls, hitting the streets trying to get paid, they always ask why, I did not go with them or start pushing like them.
           To myself I always thought "I just want to go home and play video games and chill with my boys, fix computers with my father". I  never wanted to start Hustling, I never wanted to try picking up on girls at the mall "though let me clarify, I did".
            At that time it was not on my priority list, but because my school was a popularity contest all four years, I had to maintain the Identity that I was one of them, when I never wanted to be one of them.
          I had to always be careful of what I said or what I did around those that went to my school, just so they did not know that I just wanted to be a "Nerd", and that I enjoyed what others would classify as a nerd.
          After reading the story by Amy Tan, I kinda went back into my memory of all the things that had transpired while I was in high school, and kinda realized how stupid it was to hide who I really was to a lot of people. I wonder how things may have turned out if I was secure in myself at that time to be myself. Where I might be now in my career instead of barley on my way there. 
          I really was ashamed to be myself in high school, I was ashamed to enjoy all the things that I enjoyed. Instead of Embracing what I liked I distanced myself from it and by doing so I put my life on hold to be someone that I was truly not.
           Its funny now that I am twenty-Five years old. I think about how dumb I was back then, I don't wish I could change it though. My experience with that gave me a lot of humbleness and life experience, and without it, I would not be where I am today.

A little about myself.

            Well to start, my name is James Edward Dennie Junior, I was Born September 12, 1985, in Queen of the Valley Hospital in Los Angeles, California. I am Currently Attending the Art Institute For a Game Art and Design Bachelors. I am the youngest of eight, I have three brothers, and four sisters. Growing up my father got me and my siblings into video games and computers to keep us off the streets and to keep us out of trouble.

            Once me and my siblings got to about the age of fourteen we moved to West Covina, where we meet our friends Richard, Steve, Henry, and Josheph. Growing up with those guys changed a lot about me, we as a whole got into a lot of trouble! and also stayed out of trouble!. Where I come from I learned that friends are no different then family, so we learned to cherish that and appreciate what little we do have.
        

That is just a little bit about myself                 - JJ