On the Cover
By Gia, age 18, Florida
Sweet Designs Featured Writer
Hey everyone! I'm Gia. I'm 18 years old, and I live in sunny, beautiful South Florida, and I've been writing for Sweet Designs Magazine since November 2008. To know that people are actually reading my writing makes me so happy. I feel so fortunate that Stephanie chose me and my writing to be featured this month.
To understand me, you have to get where I come from. I wasn't born here, rather in South America. I was adopted by my parents. I have a twin sister who is the complete opposite of me in every way, shape, and form. I live in South Florida, which is amazing! I live where people come to vacation. One of my favorite things to do is to people watch at the major tourist attractions because it's fascinating to hear all the different languages and see how people act on vacation. :)
I started writing when I was in 8th grade, when I would fill journal upon journal of notes and lines. Now I make all of this gibberish I write into either a story or poem and send them to Stephanie to make sense of! Writing for Sweet Designs Magazine and writing in general is so enjoyable to me because when I was going through my first few years of high school I had no one to talk to and would just write it all down. Now I get to show other girls that a lot of the problems that I thought were abnormal are actually what happens to a lot of us! As I've gotten older, my work has evolved into something completely different from five years ago. When I go back and read what I wrote a few years ago, even a few months ago, I cringe and wonder where I got the inspiration to write that.
I'll be off to college in the fall. Originally I intended to go out of state, but now I plan to attend a small liberal arts college in South Florida. I hope to be studying broadcast journalism, with maybe a minor in sports management. It's a bit out there, but it's what I enjoy. One thing I will miss is my best friend Katina, whom I've been friends with for over a decade! She is more like my sister and I couldn't imagine not knowing her. We like to watch High School Musical and dance like we are young. I know, it's lame, but it's better than doing nothing on a Saturday night.
I have a boyfriend named Dennis, who is my muse of sorts. How we met is a funny story. A ton of my work is either about him or dedicated to him. He's my best friend, even though all girls say that. We're really happy together - just your normal high school relationship. We are staying together when I leave for college in the fall, so I'll be interested to see where that brings my writing. I'm super in love with him, and I'm really glad that he is with me. A perfect day for me is seeing him, watching cop shows together, and having him make me dinner. Ha! He sees my work when it's just a bunch of ideas, but he gets me.
Other than writing for Sweet Designs, I'm a Girl Scout, I do The American Cancer Society Relay for Life walk every year, and I'm on the debate team. Relay for Life is the most important to me because cancer has affected my family for many years. Being on debate team with one of my favorite teachers is so much fun. I feel so powerful with my words and having a presence. I hope to do something with that when I go to college. I am also a very big supporter of TWLOHA (To Write Love on Her Arms) and the RED campaign. My dream is to spend a summer in Africa becoming involved in the culture. Do you know that song "We Are the World" by Michael Jackson? That song is my theme song when it comes to how I want to help the world. Without making this world a better place for the children, we won't have anything successful.
My true loves are music, writing, and sports. John Mayer, Coldplay, Dashboard Confessional, Michael Jackson, Ben Harper, Guster, and Cobra Starship are among my favorite musical artists. I love going to concerts and listening to music really loud. I love the Heat, the Celtics, the Red Sox, and the Patriots. I'm more of a New England girl sometimes because I've spent so many of my summers there. Sports are the one thing (other than cupcakes) that can make me feel better. I love old black and white movies, especially on rainy days. They are always much more entertaining than recent movies, but I do have a few favorites. I love TV so much. I have a TiVo, which now I couldn't live without. I watch all the teen shows, but I have a fondness for Cops, Dog the Bounty Hunter, and Steven Seagal Lawman. My favorite author is F. Scott Fitzgerald because I fell in love with The Great Gatsby last year. However, I'll read anything that I find interesting.
My favorite subjects in school are debate and history. I was a pretty good student throughout my high school career, but it wasn't until my senior year when I learned just how much I like public speaking and things of the past. My high school experience was great, and one I wouldn't have changed. I love my Class of 2010!
The thing that probably makes me the most unique is my hair. I've colored it so many times since 7th grade that many people are surprised it hasn't fallen out yet. I love having really short hair because they're very creative cuts, so it takes forever to look good. I won't ever go back to my normal black hair, only because it helps make me stand out from the crowd. Plus, have you ever seen your hair as the color comes out? It's pretty awesome!
I'm all about respect, trust, and having fun. If you don't respect me, I want nothing to do with you. My trust issues stem from getting my heart broken. I don't blame anyone for this. This heartbreak has made my writing what it is.
Having fun to me isn't necessarily going out, but just being with my friends. I love taking pictures when I'm with them because I couldn't ever describe the fun I have with them in words.
My hero is Pink because she doesn't care about how different she is, and she won't succumb to a stereotype. I wish I was that comfortable with myself. I love Michael Jackson because he was the reason I danced for the years that I did. I love holding hands because that's when I feel the most connected with someone.
A few of my favorite quotes are:
"Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold." - Zelda Fitzgerald
"If you enter this world knowing you are loved, and you leave this world knowing the same, everything that happens in between can be dealt with." - Michael Jackson
Photo credit (Cover, and also 1st row, left, 2nd row, 3rd row, right, and 5th row on this page): Vanessa Lucero. You can visit Vanessa's blog at: http://ohsnapitsv.tumblr.com
