My Adventure

of a Lifetime
A brief trip from my past to my (possible) future.
Ken Tucky

"Pura Vida, Costa Rica!"

Whenever I take a glance at my Costa Rica jersey, I am

always reminded of my uncle, who got me the jersey in
the first place. I remember his auburn-colored,
rectangular glasses; I remember his steel black undercut
with slivers of silver and his granite-colored stubble; I
remember his tropical buttoned shirt and its vibrant
colors such as blue, red, yellow, green, and orange; and I
remember his lanky, tall body towering over me as if he
were the giant alien robot in The Iron Giant. My uncle
was also quite funny, pulling jokes at all corners and
always finding a way to make us laugh. Moreover, he was an artist by profession, usually having his art
consist of cats as his idols and such vibrant colors that would make a hippie from the 1980s blush. Just
watching him delicately, calmly paint the landscape with his oil pastels was a true experience, for it was
like seeing a butterfly slowly blossom into its true splendor. Above all, he was my beloved uncle, who
cared for me and always had this cheerful mood.

Thus, the jersey represents a large part of my ethnicity, for I am also Costarrican. It speaks out about
my cultural background, it reminds me where my mom came from, and it brings me memories of my
uncle and my brother in Costa Rica. Whenever I put the shirt on, the maraschino red and azure blue
always bring this sense of pride, conveying my joy of being Costarrican.
If youre going to San Francisco,
be sure to wear some flowers in
your hair. - Scott McKenzie

Everytime my mom or I call my dad on the phone, we

always hear the opening two verses of Scott McKenzies
San Francisco - one of my dads favorite songs, as you
can imagine. Yet, the song brings this comfort of home to
me, and I have begun to understand why.

Just about every two weekends, my mom and I go to San

Francisco, whether its to observe the art at the De Young
Museum, to see the animals at the Academy of Sciences,
or to stroll through the Embarcadero Center. What I had
begun to notice when we made these trips was the more
we visited San Francisco, the more its culture had
imposed on me. Its diversity, its people, and its freedom
of expression have all helped influence me to become the
person I am today. From their culture, I have learned that
I shouldnt be ashamed to be myself and instead be free
to be me. To me, those two arches dont just represent a big part of the Bay Areas history, but also the
gateway to the mecca of free belief and style. To me, the Golden Gate Bridge is a sign of hope and
positivity to be able to express yourself liberally, as well as a safe haven for those who are afraid of or
restricted from voicing their identities. Whether someone is part of the LGBTQ community, Hispanic,
Muslim, African-American, or of another race or religion, they have the granted freedom in San
Francisco to convey what defines them.
 Every man gotta right to decide
his own destiny. - Bob Marley

In the future, I see myself travelling to various parts of the globe as a news reporter, covering stories
that must be told and telling truths that must be heard. I see myself in Europe watching many soccer
games amongst the lively crowd, whether its watching Manchester United create history at Old
Traord and chanting along with the crowd Spirit in the Sky, bouncing with the German fans at Signal
Iduna Park during a Borussia Dortmund game, or going to Vienna, Austria, to see The Derby of Love
and experiencing a family feeling between the fanbases of Wiener Sportklub and First Vienna. I see
myself living in a comfortable and beautiful house in a calm, friendly neighborhood with two manx cats
walking past my desk as I finish an article or a drawing. I see myself having (at least) bachelors degrees
in the English Language Arts and mathematics hanging proudly on a wall outshining everything else
like glistening diamonds in a pile of golden doubloons. Most importantly, I see myself together with my
parents, feeling the warmth of their kind smiles and knowing that I had made them proud in
accomplishing all of my dreams and goals; whatever happens in the future, what Im most confident of is
that my parents and I will always be together, whether physically or spiritually.