Extracurricular
ROLLER SKATING
I cannot even begin to describe in words how roller skating has helped me during this pandemic. Like a lot of people, in the beginning of the stay at home order I struggled with anxiety so I stayed isolated in my room a lot of the time. My mom had to beg my sister and I to take walks and get us out of the house. Eventually she had the idea to go rollerskating outdoors, something we had done in the past in the safey of a roller rink. I was nervous at first, because concrete is hard! But after I watched the movie Whip It, something unlocked inside of me and all I wanted to do was skate. Eventually we gave up our walks at the park and around the block for rollerskating in a vacant parking structure (across the street from my high school ironically) and at the beach. It was invigorating and I felt invigorated and free, despite the scariness of the world. I finally had something to look forward to besides a computer screen and four walls!
It's been almost two years now and not only has my mental heath improved, but my physical health as well. And I have progressed so much as a skater! When we started skating outdoors, I had just a little bit of indoor rink experience. I retaught myself how to go forwards and backwards and basic stopping techniques on concrete. Once I was able to master that, I started doing tricks! I had a pretty basic pair of starter skates that wore down real quick as soon as I started speed skating so I needed a new pair.
My awesome mom was able to buy me a pair of Sure Grip Boardwalk skates which were so rad! But I wore those out as well and have now graduated to a pair of Moxi Jack Boots (which are known as the glass slippers of roller skates)! My new skates are able to withstand all of the new and fun tricks that I've been doing which involves higher jumps, faster skating, hockey stops and touring bowls at the skate park.
I love skating fast and hard while blasting music in my airpods. It's such a great stress reliever! I plan on continuing to master tricks so I can pull off so much more. One of my biggest inspirations in the skating world is Estro Jen, creator of Moxi Skates. She was actually one of Margot Robbie's roller skating stunt doubles in the move Birds of Prey. EJ is an INSANE skater! When she hits the skate parks, everyone watches her. She can flip out of the bowl and jump into handstands and do these crazy turns... she's an inspiration! And I am so willing to work to skate at the degree that she skates at.
With that said, I don't just want to be a trick girl. I aspire to join a roller derby team. The summer leading up to my senior year I was lucky enough to practice with a local team that showed me the derby basics - and it was awesome! A total dream come true. I unfortunately had to step down from the weekly practices but I still train by myself whenever I can!
I have to be 18 in order to officially join and play on a team and lucky for me, I only have 4 more months to wait!
Drawing
Art to me is self expression. I love adding hints of things that I like such as skulls, bones, roller skates, beautiful female characters, leopard print clothes, curly hair, big earrings, red roses, bloody wounds and so much more in my artwork. Basically everything that makes up me!
A lot of my influence comes from my own personal taste in fashion, music and the biggest being, pop culture. I am a comic book fanatic. I love it all... from super heroes, to villains, to time travelers, to zombies, to roller derby stars, to little dead girls: everything!!
In the picture to the right, my artwork was showcased at the Fender Museum in Downtown Fullerton. My piece, 'Scar', paid homage to all of my influences, especially the strong female role models in my life. In the background, there are panels of Marvel comics only including female super heroes. In the center is an illustration of myself in my scuffed up white skates, my leopard print hot pants, and my favorite sporty raglan! The skates are a nod to some of my favorite skaters including Estro Jen, Suzy Hotrod, Bonnie Thunders and Miss Tea Maven. The shorts are suggestive of my LOVE for leopard print and rockabilly culture. All of the little wounds including the scrapes, knee gashes and busted lip & nose are indications of my bravery. I've learned a lot during this quarantine and my biggest life lesson that I've learned thus far, and one I got from skating too, is that you're bound to get hurt, that's just the human in us, but you always have to get back up. After every single trip I've had whether that be a bad day in school, or something mental, or hurting my derriere from a fall, I've always gotten back up. And I've gotten stronger from it too! In the drawing, there's a red bass strapped to my back which represents me being a musician but also a nod to my bass idol who has a gorgeous red bass herself: Jennie Vee. It's also a dedication to Fender Music Instruments originally created in Fullerton, which I'm proud to play on.
Like I mentioned previously, my art is very personalized so you'll notice a little of me in each. Here's a few of my favorite doodles...
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Unfortunately due to the stay at home order, I haven't been able to keep up with in-person community service projects. In the first few months of the pandemic, my sister and I helped my mom make hundreds of face masks for local first responders that were running low on PPE. After that, we started making and delivering masks to our family and friends.
I have been doing research on different ways I can continue to support the community and later this Spring I plan to work with local hospitals to create art and write letters to those that are terminal and in need of pen pals. I had planned to physically volunteer at hospitals but that has been put on hold due to safety concerns. I am also looking into helping seniors get the supplies they need during this time.
Of course when it safe to do so again, I'll be back to performing music at local community service events!