Hey CASA! I’m not much of a writer, and this will be my first time writing in a blog ever, so please bear with me. I’ve come to realize that in spite of my dashing good looks and award-winning personality, not too many members know me well enough. So, my blog post this week will be sort of an introduction of myself in the form of a list of 7 things that are important to me.

1. League of Legends: There’s no better feeling than carrying your team through a hard-fought and well played 50-60 minute long game, then immediately trash talking the other team once victory is secured. If you’d like me to carry you as well, add me! My summoner name is ‘Turbojiang’. I think I’ve been suspended for verbal harassment though, so give me a few days to respond.

2. My Pillow Pets:  I own two Friendly Frogs, one regular sized and one Pee Wee, named Jamal and Maurice, respectively. They make excellent cuddle buddies, and both of them have always been there for me- I couldn’t ask for better friends than them <3

3. Sports: Surprisingly enough, I wasn’t always the physical specimen that you see today. During my middle school and early high school years, long before the days of me carrying CASA flag football on my back, I was the typical scrawny kid that was picked last in gym class. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school, when my friends convinced me to join the cross country team that I started to become athletic. Since then, sports have become a huge part of my life.

4. Hip hop music: One thing that relatively few people know about me is my love of hip hop music. I first became hooked when a friend let me listen to his copy of Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP back in the 3^rd grade on the back of the school bus. Everything about this album fascinated me; the brilliant storytelling on ‘Stan’, his total disregard for societal taboos on ‘Kill You’, the emotions pouring through his lyrics on ‘The Way I Am’. My perception of hip hop was changed from it being just “black people talking in rhythm” to being a real and captivating form of art. Since then, I’ve grown to love hip hop music, and have spent countless hours just sitting back, drifting away, and listening.

5. My parents: Without my parents, I could not have been where I am today. Sure, as with all parents, there have been plenty times when they’ve made me want to punch someone in the nuts, but when I look back, I understand that everything they’ve done has been for my benefit. They’ve continued to be supportive through all my successes and failures, and continued to believe in me even through the times that I wanted to give up on myself.

6. My fellow CASA officers: When I first became an officer, I had no idea whether or not I’d be able to get along with the others. I was friends with only a handful of them, some of them I had only talked to a few times, and many of them I did not know at all. Now, I think that I can honestly say that these 13 people are some of the best friends I’ve ever had – even Izzy (ew). Looking back, I’m a little amazed at how close we’ve become; when I’m with them, I feel like I’m with family.

7. My girlfriend: These past 8 months that I’ve been with her have been some of the best 8 months of my life. Just thinking about her makes me smile. She makes me happy. I love her  : )

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Thanks for reading!