Hi, I'm Hannah! I'm 16 years old and live in the suburbs of Chicago. My family is fairly small, with it only being my sister, my mom, my dad, and myself. Of course, one can't forget the 2 dogs that roam around my house delivering kisses and snuggles on the daily. I haven't played any sports since I injured my shoulder about a year ago playing tennis. I'm involved in my school's Law Club and Animal Welfare Club. My friends constantly bring food over to my house and don't give me any of it, which is so very sweet of them. Even though they don't feed me, my friends are even better than I could have imagined. My friends are a huge group in my life. Because of my time in sociology, I know that my group of friends are what I consider to be my "ingroup". These are the people I am with constantly and identify with the most. I will always view myself as a member of this group and identify myself as a friend to the people I consider to be closer to family than friends. I consider my parents to be my friends first and parental units second, which is pretty rare for a teenager to say. Due to my time in sociology, I know that this is because they treat me as a friend but also teach me the way a friend would. They support me with everything I do and constantly provide me with advice on anything I ask. My sister is the only person I can go to for everything and is still my best friend, even though she is 401 miles away from home attending the University of Missouri. Sociology has taught me that my relationship with my sister is another ingroup. Whenever someone asks me who I am, I will always say a sister first. The lessons my sister has taught me make her so much wiser than her 18 years and make her a role model to me. Although I am not planning on attending Mizzou, I am still planning on following in her footsteps and attending college after I graduate in 2016. My dream school is Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Because that's a reach academic wise, I am also looking into Auburn University, Clemson University, Ole Miss, Emory University, and University of Miami in Oxford. After getting my undergrad in Biomedical Studies I hope to attend Law School with an emphasis on Patent Law. As a career, I hope to practice in a law firm in Charleston or any other medium-sized city in the south. I now know that society has taught me that I will be successful in life due to the salary a lawyer usually earns. Consciously, I chose this career because it combines science and law, my two passions in life. Unknowingly until now, I subconsciously chose this career because I knew that I could provide for myself and my future family. I knew this because society places a value on money and a lawyer is often times thought of as well-off in salary. While my plan to become a lawyer has not changed, I am hoping to be sociological mindful as I am spending my money, similar to the subject in the documentary I Am, to make sure I am spending my money wisely. All that being said, I consider myself a practical person so I know that plans change. I'm okay with not ending up doing all of that, as long as I'm happy where I end out. I'm happy where I am now and I'm hoping to be able to say that throughout my life.
Thanks for reading!
Hannah
