As far back as I can recall:
Aged 5: My mother and Aunt Bobbi took me to a nail place in University Heights and took me to get a manicure and I fell in love with the world of cosmetology.
1st grade: I went to my first sleepover party. All the girls, the giggling and the Spice Girls music petrified me. My father and his brother, dad and friends raised me on bluegrass (they hold together a bluegrass band), classic rock, old time Disney movies and "Beavis and Butthead". I didn't see a professional salon until my modeling began.
4th grade: This was a chief year. I went on a silent treatment for a few months (it was my reaction to a death in the family). I was a bit of a butterball and my complexion erupted. This was my ugly duckling stage. This was also the year when my family and I were informed about my not growing over five feet dilemma. I hated being short at the time (though I love it now). This was also the year my hair was dyed for the first time. This was also the year I won my first writing contest and began seriously observing the world of hip-hop. Tupac's, "All Eyez On Me" (1996) was the first album of that genre I ever purchased. This also marked the first pin-up movie I can recall watching. This of course was, "How to Marry a Millionaire" starring Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable.
6th grade: My musical taste moved around drastically. This was the year I went through a brief period when I was obsessed with disco such as The Trammps (yes, I DID have a pair of glittery pants and these paint-splattered chunky platform shoes that I sported constantly). From there, I uncovered Funk (such as Funkadelic and Parliament). I had a duration in the middle of all this when I listened to German Polka with my Mom's father. Reggae music (such as Buju Banton, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley and African Head Charge) was introduced into my life as well. This was also the year when "8 Mile" came out so I held a extremely bizarre, fanatic crush on Eminem for a few months. Some would consider this a "wigger" stage.
7th grade: This was my anarchist stage. I was completely anti-government and I shouted about it at the top of my lungs. Dead Kennedys, Sex Pistols, Anti-Flag and Bad Brains became apart of my music list. Clawed up vests and studded belts were apart of my wardrobe.
^ This is "Jello Biafra". He was the lead singer of Dead Kennedy's. He has since become a politician, representing the Green Party.
8th grade: This was a difficult year because I was anorexic/bulimic for a little over 6 months. Modeling was dying and no longer showing as an option for me. I did however, go through an abrupt stage where I couldn't stop listening to Macy Gray. This was also when I discovered screamo, black metal and progressive metal. This was the year I first heard Salt The Wound.
9th grade: I moved to Beachwood and knew I would be nothing like "them" (wear ritzy clothing and listen to John Mayer). I went back to early 90's hip hop and funk. I also dabbled in new rap (such as Kanye West and G-Unit) for a VERY short time period (I'm talking less than a couple weeks. I came to the conclusion that I didn't like it). I transitioned into industrial music (such as Skinny Puppy, Nimheil and Brainclaw). This was also the year I decided to study Wicca. Wicca is a nature-based and peaceful religion that originated in Britain. Multiple God's and Goddess' are trusted and believed in. Forms of "witch craft" are used, but there is nothing evil about it.
^Skinny Puppy in stage attire. I also dote on Mushroomhead for their unusual stage appearance (but I don't like juggernauts!).
10th grade: I quit smoking and labeled myself straight edge (this went strong for about a year). At-the-time Warped Tour music such as The Pink Spiders, Alexisonfire, Protest The Hero and The Gym Class Heroes caught my attention. Instead of shrinking to a size zero and wearing kilos of make-up, I developed a habit of covering myself. Oversize peasant skirts, trench coats and hoodies became a constant. I also began covering my face with bandannas; and wearing sunglasses was the norm. This lasted for a couple months.
The other chick was pretty cool, I just didn't ask her for permission to post her face. That was the ninja/neighborhood gang/cowboy chapter of my life that has concluded.
11th grade: I ended life as a straight edge person when I began taking medication. By this time, I had expanded my thinking and discovered a passion for sociology (I had always been an observer-the first time I wrote about peoples' behavior goes back as far as middle school). I decided to study potheads. I smoked weed twice a day for a month and wrote about what happened to me physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and socially. This introduced me to Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead and Phish in a whole new fashion. I also began recognizing the beauty and detail of techno and trance such as The Mother Acid Temple and Angerfist. Ska stood out more than ever (such as Reel Big Fish, Big D And The Kids Table and Streetlight Manifesto).
12th grade: This was a challenging year as well. I note a small time I went through when I wanted to date "good guys" and not live on edge. This sent me to sleep. I leaned the other direction and ended up with a guy so abusive I couldn't even turn my head without him yelling at me. After leaving him, I realized how courageous and brave that move was. I applied for colleges as soon as I broke up with him.
So yes, mixes of religious and sociologist studies, a drawn out list of music I have uncovered, the places I have dwell ed and the people I have met have made me who I am today.
A punked out, weed-smoking, straight edge, concert-hopping, politically active, disco-hustling, dorky, eccentric, odd, anarchist, anorexic wigger who practices witch craft that you can find a bluegrass shindig.
I still find more to investigate everyday.
"The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be"-Oprah Winfrey
-M.Junk
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