Ava Hartman Mr. Mahoney AP U.S. History 28 August 2022 2.1 CW - Personal DBQ Despite starkly different family origins, my parents miraculously landed at the same high school in a town of 5,000 people in rural Southwest Louisiana, where they first met. Together, they both followed their aspirations of becoming physicians and married in 1997. I was born in 2006, prior to numerous global events, with some being the invention of the iPhone, landfall of Hurricane Harvey, and plight of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was born in Minnesota but have also lived in Alabama, Missouri, and Louisiana. In 2010, my family and I moved from Springfield, Missouri to New Orleans, Louisiana, which I would call home; growing up in a city with such great historical background has been an incredible experience. I have three brothers, Henry, Oliver, and Hugh, who I consider to be my best friends; I also have two dogs, Roger and Lulu. Although I enjoy traveling because it allows me to explore different areas of the world and baking because it provides me with a relaxing outlet, the three things that are most important to me are family because it continues to shape me into the person I am today, running because it allows me to train toward an objective goal, and learning because it encourages me to explore a wide range of disciplines. Family is important to me because it has shaped me in many respects, and it continues to do so today. My maternal great grandmother was granted United States citizenship in 1966, as seen in the petition for naturalization (Doc 1). When my great grandmother immigrated to the United States in 1966, the Castro Regime had assumed control over the Cuban government, following the Cuban Revolution and Cuban Missile Crisis. Hearing my great grandmother’s first-hand experience is inspiring as her wisdom and grit have forged opportunities for me. Additionally, my paternal great grandmother only spoke French in Southwest Louisiana. My father’s French background has prompted my love for learning various languages, specifically French. Both of my parents’ Cuban and Cajun upbringings had huge emphasis on family and community, which has been cemented in me. My family and I often enjoy quality time with each other, especially through traveling. In recent years, my family and I traveled to the Vatican, as seen in the photograph of the six of us (Doc 2). When we traveled there, it was the summer before the COVID-19 pandemic, so there were no travel or quarantine restrictions of any kind. Witnessing the historical and religious significance of the Vatican was a great shared experience that embraced my ancestor’s emphasis on family. From my ancestors’ experiences to recent adventures, family has remained an important part of my life. Running is important to me because it allows me to train toward an objective goal, while also finding enjoyment. I began cross country and track in sixth grade, upon beginning middle school at Newman. I was initially inclined to join the volleyball or swim team; however, after my mother encouraged me to join cross country, I discovered my love for running through local competitions, as seen in the picture of my first cross country meet (Doc 5). This photo was taken at Highland Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana during my first cross country season in 2017; at the time, I was eleven years old and had just began attending Newman. Furthermore, running has presented me with a competitive outlet that objectively reflects hard work and dedication. In addition to running’s aspect of competition, it has also enabled me to meet new people with similar interests and travel to various places. Although many meets are within the state of Louisiana, last year I was also able to run in other areas, such as Texas and Alabama. Throughout the past six years of running, I have kept many of my racing bibs to remind me of the progress and memories I have made since middle school (Doc 4). In the near future, I look forward to more amazing running experiences. Lastly, running has introduced important factors into my life, specifically my dog, Roger. Named after Roger Bannister, the first person to break the four-minute mile barrier, my dog was adopted as my running companion about a year ago (Doc 3). From Roger’s point of view as a half-Bernese Mountain Dog with a double fur coat, summers in New Orleans are far too hot for running. Instead, he often prefers a casual walk, quick sprint, or nap on the cool tile in my house. Recently, he has started to run more now that he is exiting his puppy stage; moreover, as cooler weather approaches, Roger will hopefully be able to run more often with me. Regardless, from a mere hobby to a form of intense competition, running has become one of the most important aspects of my life. Last but certainly not least, learning is important to me because it expands my capabilities and broadens my horizons. As a student, I am presented with new adventures and challenges daily that unveil opportunities in a wide range of subjects (Doc 6). Regardless of the topic, learning teaches me fundamental knowledge about the world around me and emphasizes the importance of past discoveries that shape the modern day. Additionally, my love for reading stems from the importance of learning in my life. From fictitious tales to historical treatises, reading prompts me to investigate abstract ideas, controversial topics, and key perspectives through each novel’s respective plot; each author’s words have influenced me in some way, shape, or form. I have accumulated a stack of my favorite books over the course of my journey as a reader (Doc 7). Regardless of the form, learning has remained an important part of my life and will continue to be pertinent as I continue my education to higher levels.
