Around My Wrist

When I was one years old my mother gave me gold earrings, old bracelets, and a gold necklace on my first birthday. She said it was a tradition and so she would show me baby pictures of myself and pointed out the gold bracelets I had worn. Eventually I got older and I lost it somewhere. When I was four years old my mother gave me a beautiful green marble bracelet to match with hers. I was so happy to match with my mother because her mother gave her the one she wore when she was little as well. It was heavy around my wrists and I couldn’t even lift up my arms, but it was worth it.  Eventually as I got older, I found myself losing that bracelet that I cherish. When I was eight years old I had a best friend that was not my twin sister. We would sit next to each other in class, eat with each other during lunch, and during recess always together under a big tree looking at the sun. One day we decided we were going to be best friends forever and got each other friendship bracelets. The bracelet meant the world to me. Eventually as I got older, I found myself moving to a different school, a different city, and a different state.  When I was 12 years old, a close family friend of my father decided to move over to work for my parents. I would never imagine being god-sisters with his daughter in a million years. Now three years later she became the best of friends with my sisters and me. We took dance class with each other, we took piano class, told each other about our dreams and our goals in life, and cheer each other up when one of us is down. Then one day we all decided to get matching bracelets, which I have worn throughout middle school. Eventually I got older and I realize friendship does not always last. When I was 14 years old I finally had a boyfriend. The relationship was a distance-relationship. And how did I met him? Well, he was a childhood friend of mine that I grew up with. After I move we began to talk and I guess it was more than friends. I did not know if I could even make a boy like me neither the less having a boyfriend. That time we were together for eight months already and I decided to go back to visit my relatives and him. He gave me a present when we finally met, it was a couple’s bracelets. I wore that around my wrists ever since that day. Eventually I got older and was going into high school. I decided to focus on education and looking at my path in life and his I knew it was not going to work out in the future, so I decided to let him go. When I was 16 years old, I remember one of the most beautiful and cherish moment in my life was receiving confirmation. I remember the only gift I got when I received confirmation was from my mother. What she got me was what I ever wanted, a rosary from Vietnam. Ever since that day I wore it religiously and never took it off of my wrists, it was always there. As I’m 17 now, I wonder what could my next bracelet means to me? 

I am...Cindy Phan

I am…

a granddaughter of two amazing grandparents, missing afternoon walks around the park, morning coffee, story-times, playing hide-n-go-seek in the supermarket while Papa and Nana grocery shop.

A daughter, born and raised in California, move to a small town called Springfield, and trying to make it through high school.

A sister, the guinea pig, oldest of six, and have high expectation of becoming a good role model for my siblings.

I am…

Ice green tea, Dr. Pepper, chocolate, and seafood.

Hot sunny days, with the a/c on, in the backseat, listening to music, looking outside from the car window, staring at the spontaneous adventures that awaits me.

Old stuffed teddy bears, teared up baby blankets, Barney on repeat, animal crackers with milk.

Church school on Saturdays, dressed in a uniform, waiting in line to go to class, talking to friends while the teacher is talking, and secret admirer notes being passed around the room.

Sunday mass at 10 a.m. , dressed to impress, arriving late, learning and understanding more about God, family lunch at a buffet and afternoon prayers.

Staying up late on weekdays, projects to finish, tests to study for, and essays to revise.

I am…

17 turning 18, a senior still trying to discover herself, still speaking Vietnamese at home and English at school. blue jeans, simple t-shirts, hoodies, and converse. Almost at the end of a chapter in my life, I hope I will grow wiser, happier, and healthier.