We have to do this assignment for Digital Arts class where we create a poster that advertises ourselves. Which is kind of impossible to do, when you think about it, because humans are, like, the most complicated creatures on the planet. But, for my assignment, this is what I turned in, and I still like it. I like quotes: short, catchy, easy to remember. My brain is always moving at a hundred miles an hour, so I don’t have time to process deep, symbolic stuff.

For me, life revolves around the track. I’m a runner. I also pole vault, which isn’t something you hear a lot, I know. I have track meets and practice every Monday and Wednesday and then pole practice every Friday and Saturday. Mom says I’m wearing her out and she can’t wait til I get my license so she don’t have to drive me to everything. Between me and Maddy, my sister, she’s pretty much a chauffeur these days–but aren’t most moms?

I’m fifteen, a sophomore, and a pretty good student, but that’s mostly because I have to be in order to stay on the teams. Outside of sports, I run with a good crowd of friends. We do typical things like shop for clothes, talk about boys (athletes can have a love life, too) and eat. I love anything Italian, but I can’t have it very often with all the sports training I do. That doesn’t stop me from devouring the gallons of mint chocolate chip ice cream Mom brings home from Baskin Robbins: that stuff is delicious.

Oh — and I’m adopted, so I don’t look like my family. Sometimes I feel like I have to just clarify that because one time, when I was younger, this jerk thought my dad had kidnapped me cause he’s White, and I’m not. I’m darker skinned with really curly hair and glasses (I wear contacts during practice). My sister is adopted too; she was born in China but came home when she was just a baby. Mom calls us a mosaic; I like that. The hardest thing about my family is that we’re so normal. There’s nothing really that stands out about us, except that Maddy and me are adopted. Maddy’s not curious at all — not yet. She’s twelve, so I give her another year or two before she starts questioning things. I don’t want to be curious…. because then I feel bad, like I’m betraying my parents for even thinking about my bios… but I am curious. Mom and Dad are open to questions, they’ve never been weird about talking about the adoptions or anything, but I just don’t want to hurt their feelings, so I don’t bring it up, but I’ve started trying to find out stuff.

Other than that, we’re your typical family that does your typical stuff. Except one day I plan on entering the Olympics. That’ll be fun!