The Things I Carry

The things I carry go deeper than physical items just like the soldiers in The Things They Carry. I carry my friendships, problems, and goals on my shoulders each day as well as tangible items.

The one item that cannot leave my side is my cell phone. My cell phone is constantly near me at all times. I am not sure if this is a good or bad thing. I feel like I have to be connected to my family and friends, and this is why I panic if I cannot find my phone.I also love social media sometimes and I try to keep up with my other friends this way. Music is also my escape and all my favorite songs are on my phone. I listen to music through my phone in my car, art, and at home. I carry my phone.


I also carry my dream and goals with me everyday of my life; however, some more than others. My dreams help me get through my day, and also manage to weigh me down and realize how much I want to accomplish. I carry the weight of going to a good college, becoming successful, being happy, and so many more I could not even manage to list them all. I want to be happy and successful and this is something I think about everyday. I carry my dreams and goals.



My relationships with my friends and family are another thing I carry. My friends and family help me get through my day, and are constantly in my thoughts. Samantha is my confidant and best friend. She helps me get through life and she is the one person I can do nothing with and have the best time. I am glad we are friends because she helps to lighten the things I carry. My mom is the other person in the world who just manages to brighten my day with the simplest of words. She is one of the many people I carry with me. I carry my family and friendships.


Who am is something I carry with me all the time. I would say the three words that describe me are structured, understanding, and ambitious. I am a very structured and organized person. I like routine and having organization in my life. It defines who I am, and it is a large part of how I live my life. I am understanding as well which means I am the type of person who can relate or forgive people even if they do something wrong or upset me. I try to make sure I am understanding because I feel it is important to think about how others are feeling. If we do not put ourselves in their shoes we cannot judge a person because we do not know what they are going through. Finally, I ambitious. I like to try new things sometimes and I have high goals and standards for myself. I do not like to settle or just be content with something I want to make sure I am committed and I love what I am doing. I carry my personality.

I think what defines me the most are my memories, and the mistakes and events that have occurred in my past. I try to learn from some and others simply just shape who I have become. My past friendships have also deified who I am. One memory that stands out and has stuck with me though is when my grandfather died. I wasn't that close with him, but I had known him since I was a child and it made me realize how short and sweet life is. I was on vacation in Canada with my family when we got the news. We missed the funeral because we were out the country. I feel like I never got to say goodbye to him and I wonder sometimes if I should have made more of an effort to be closer to him. I felt like the fact I missed the funeral of someone I had known since birth disconnected me from him and made reality sink in. Now I am able to appreciate my other grandparents so much more because of this though and that is why this memory has shaped who I am. I carry my memories.