OUTLINE
I. Introduction
a. Name
b. Age & date of birth
c. Place of birth
d. Likes & dislikes
e. General family information
II. Past
a. Moving to the USA
b. School
c. Culture
d. Growing up
III. Present
a. Back in Mexico
b. UAA
c. Friends
d. Job
IV. Future
a. Masters (undecided on what)
b. England & Canada
c. Work at UAA
d. Own business
e. Going back to the US… or not
V. Conclusion
a. Background
b. Summary
c. Experience
d. Personal opinion
Introductory Essay
My name is Chris, I am 27 years old and I was born on April of 1983. I am an easy-going person, friendly, and not hard to get along with at all. I like knowledge, rather, I crave it. There are not many things I dislike, but two such things are lies and prejudice. Having been born in Mexico City I was overprotected by my parents. I would hardly ever leave home unless it was absolutely necessary, such as to go to school, which I hardly remember. I have but a very faint memory of the house I used to live in, but it is gradually fading away, and my family’s history is somewhat surreal. Apart from my immediate family, I know only a few cousins and uncles, though much of my family seems to know me. They contact me regularly, but I don’t always know who they are, which makes me very weary of what I say at all times. Due to this, many people say my life is very strange and peculiar; I tend to agree.
I moved to the US when I was a very small boy. So small, in fact, that I do not even remember when it happened. Whenever I ask mom about the series of events that led to our sudden move, the most I get out of her is “because of your dad’s job”, so it is not much to go on from. My dad used to work for SEARS but I do not remember much of it. Growing up in Arizona was nothing out of the ordinary for me. I did not really have a sense of the major decision that had been made on my behalf, and so it did not hit me as an enormous change, or any change at all. I simply grew up as any other boy in his hometown. I often try to remember how long it took me to learn to speak English, but the times fluctuate too much and I end up asking mom, to which she informs me that the big number is six months. It is no wonder, then, that I also picked up the culture in just as long. Having had no culture of my own yet, I adopted the American one, while my parents instilled in me my very own Mexican origins. People often ask me what I consider myself to be, and the question is easy to answer, but the answer is not always easy to understand. I love my Mexican roots but I could not help to grow up within an American culture. It is a different, vastly criticized culture, but it was all I had.
A couple of years ago I moved back to Mexico for reasons I rather keep to myself. I immediately fell in love with Aguascalientes, especially with Mexican cuisine, as well as the rich Mexican culture. I started traveling here and there within the nearest states. After a while though, I decided it was time to make better use of my time, and I decided to study. Although ELT was not my main choice, I decided to give it a chance, and I am glad I did. The people I have met are very friendly and generous, and the friendships I have forged are invaluable, so much that the best of my friends know me more than I know myself. I have also been lucky enough to find a job that I can handle. I teach English lessons at a private institution, giving me a great opportunity to gain experience, and to develop in my future field of work.
I have big plans for the future. I am an ambitious person in that aspect. I want to get a Master’s Degree, though I am not yet sure in which area, but I want to get it in either England or Canada. Afterwards, I will be coming back to Mexico and try to get into the ELT BA at UAA. It is probably presumptuous on my part but I know I can get there. I am an entrepreneur at heart as well so the idea of owning my own business, or businesses, constantly flows within my mind. It is an expectation I will fight to the end to accomplish. I have not yet decided whether or not I want to go back to the US someday. I suppose it is inevitable, and most likely to happen once I retire, but it is a decision I do not have to take yet. The future looks very promising from my perspective, but I know nothing is set on stone, though I think everything is possible. I like to keep a positive attitude.
My life is not shrouded in mystery like many people believe. It may be peculiar in certain aspects, and I like to keep to myself for the most part, but I make my experience my own. I love my family, I love my culture, and I love my life. Although I would very much like to change bits and parts of it such as regrettable mistakes, certain behaviors, a few bad decisions, and some bad habits, I would never change it for any other out there. My friends are very important to me. They have helped me tremendously to assimilate the drastic change of culture I went through. On the whole, I am making new memories that I will cherish forever, and gaining new experience on every step. I look forward to my future plans. There is still a long way to go, and I expect to live it to the fullest extent I possibly can. Destiny plays the strangest of cards, but I am a great believer of all things happening for a reason, and they have for me so far.
