Personal Responses
My name is Abrahan Rebollar, and this is my story on what makes me, well me. I’m very passionate about music and literature. I truly believe that if it weren’t for music, I wouldn’t be sitting here and typing this. Now what I just said was like a “woah” moment, but believe I’m doing better. I’ve been clinically depressed ever since high school started, so I’ll be honest and say that I don’t really know who I am just yet because I’m still learning and growing out my depression and anxiety. I’m from a Spanish background and that has impacted I guess to my personality and how I view things because anyone from a Spanish heritage knows that we never give up and are hardworking but it also has it’s setbacks because as something serious as depression, it simply isn’t in my family's vocabulary, so for the longest time, I’ve been treated like I was just going through a teen rebellious phase, and being ignored and constantly told to suck it up. That has truly formed me to the person I am today. Not only did I have to deal with my problems alone, I’ve learned to understand where my family comes from and that they’ve never had someone in the family who has never enjoyed life. I guess I was the first. I grew up with three older sisters, my childhood was good. Apparently I come off as very feminine for a guy and I couldn’t agree anymore. I suppose I’m just more open-minded and not stuck with that manly man mentality, probably because I would always be with my sisters when they would play with their dolls or painting nails. I’m not ashamed either though, It’s who I am. Music plays a huge part of me as well, I grew up with music. My father loved that west coast gangster rap like 2Pac and Eazy-E while on the other side, my mother loved those lowrider oldies like James Brown. While growing up, my sisters would all have different tastes of music, one of them would be listening to Nirvana and Green Day, the others would be listening to R&B like R. Kelly, and the last one would be listening to like Bachata music. Anyways, the whole point was that I grew up loving all types of music. I truly love all types of music, even country! Music is what makes me, I personally have had my fair share on creating music too, well in a way. I love writing, and there would be times where I’d just write a rap or something and find a beat and just rap to it. I love writing poems and it’s just a great way for me to express how I feel when I have no one to talk to. I see music as the most impacting art form and it can be so beautiful to see how much music can move people. It definitely has moved me. Now, how am I unique? Well, we’re all different and see things differently. I suppose our personalities is what makes all of us unique. We all have opinions, and I respect that. Im truly a peaceful person, and people tend to come to me for help. Which I love doing. I guess that’s what makes me unique. I’m always there for people, and all of that is what makes me.
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Can you think of a time your viewpoint was unique compared to others? What was the issue or problem from your perspective? Now think of the same situation from the perspective of another person who was there with you. How was your approach different from that other person’s?
One time I viewed something completely differently was when I was with my friends. We were trying to determine whether or not Madvilliany by Madvillian was a masterpiece or not. While we listened they were just so focused on what he was saying and his flow of words. While I was acknowledging his bars, I was also trying to see the production of the song. The samples they used in their songs and where its from, how they mixed it and to see if there wasn't any reverb on the track. Also the many metaphors in his lyrics and what they mean is great. Not something you catch on the first listen. Was there ever a problem where your imagination and intuition guided you to the solution? No. Do you have a passion for music, theater, visual art, dance, etc.? What have you gained from it that has affected other parts of your life? I have a passion for music, I get so artistic and criticize music as if I was trying to decide whether or not, an album is worth to be named the best. I see music as a great expressive tool that anyone can do. That’s what is so great about music, it all has a meaning. To lift spirits and all connect. This has affected me by just being able to connect to others who love music. I’m so diverse when it comes to music taste, I listen to everything so I’m able to connect to any type of music. Which helps me connect to others. It helps give me more vocabulary. As strange as that may sound, I learn new words from music. I learn what rhymes and what doesn’t. What sounds go well with other sounds. Were these talents or skills the same a few years ago? What changed? What improved?
My talent for writing whether it would be poetry or writing raps, i feel as if every time I make a new poem or rap. I progress and get better, I have had criticism before and that has helped exponentially. Which one of the three talents or skills you listed is the most meaningful or important to you and why? Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Uhm, It kinda came naturally I guess. With having a journal on me at all times, when I come up with something I always write it down. I keep a personal journal too where I write my own problems like my day at school or something. I guess I just came up with these things while writing down on my journal like “hey I can express myself in poem form” and it just kinda clicked. It means a lot to me, just being able to express myself in a way for people to read and say “hey I relate to that”. It helps with my depression and it just feels good knowing someone out there is going through the same. Writing makes me feel like I’m a part of something. Even though I’m not yet, Once I begin fully committing to it, I can make something for myself. I have that confidence, and also because it’s probably the only “skill”, I have so might as well give it my all because it’s all I know. 1. An educational barrier I’m facing is trying to catch up on credits on prior classes I’ve failed due to my lack of motivation, which wasn’t helping when I am currently dealing with depression and facing lots of problems like addiction where I’ve been hospitalized before for it and I’m not ashamed to express this either because it’s what makes me. My past and my decisions is why I’m a stronger and better person today.
2. An opportunity I took advantage of was asking for help. If I had never asked for from my counselor, I would’ve been lost and would have no idea where I’d be going because I was scared to talk to my counselor, I was scared to hear that I wasn’t gonna be able to graduate. Thankfully, that’s not the case yet. 3. I’m not exactly prepared for college, but I am trying my best to try and graduate high school, which is a difficult task when you’re behind by a lot on your junior year but thankfully with the help I have gotten from my counselor and motivation I’ve received was truly inspiring but I’m facing this barrier with my education and all the work I’m behind on. The only barriers I’m truly facing is trying to graduate, but if we’re speaking of small barriers like being behind on an essay or something. Well that too, a barrier at the moment is the essay we’re expected to finish for history about the Civil Rights Movement, but it isn't that bad. I feel like I’m able to do it because I truly love history but I tend to go off topic. |