I never had to choose my subject-my subject rather chose me- Maya Creamer

Fears- not being happy or successful, losing family/friends to illness/catastrophe/accident, being involved in an accident, contracting a serious illness
Annoyances- the stigma that smart people are uppity or conceited, being forced to be outgoing/ assertive when it's not my style, when people criticize others for their eccentricities
Accomplishments- member of The Girl Project, multiple roles in school plays, maintaining all A's, passing all my AP tests so far, sticking with the violin since 4th grade, becoming a Bat Mitzvah
Confusions- life after high school ends, who I am/who I want to be
Sorrows- missing many great experiences because of anxiety, becoming distanced from my elementary school best friends, 3rd and 8th grades (again, anxiety), bad decisions that seemed right at the time
Dreams- to become an elementary school teacher, to travel the world, to make a difference, to become a mom, to be happy
Idiosyncrasies- realistic thinker (some might say pessimist), actor, avid reader, introvert, NFTYite (youth group), an indecisive person, proud Jew
Risks- juggling 5 AP classes, choosing to go to Winburn for middle school and leave most of my friends, auditioning for plays, following my heart and quitting ballet
Beloved Possessions- Then: Books, violin, camera, family, friends; Now: iPhone, violin, cat (Katniss), bike, family, friends
Problems- anxiety, identity, motivation to do school work/practice violin

This is really rough for me to write about, but here goes.
       I think it probably all started when my little brother was born (sorry Jonah). Suddenly, my 8-year-old self realized that my parents wouldn't always be there to protect me. When third grade started, I was hit by a tidal wave of anxiety-about everything. Getting seriously injured or ill at school and losing my family and friends became very real fears; I screamed and cried on the way to school every day, because I was convinced that something terrible would happen to me or my family while I was at school. Let's just say, that was not a good year for me, but I got through it, mostly thanks to my teacher, Mrs. Schneider. 4th grade was still rough, but better, and in 5th and 6th grade, I kept my anxiety pretty much under control, even traveling to Chicago with my 6th grade class (the first time I had ever been so far away from my whole family). Unfortunately, by the end of 7th grade, the anxiety and fear were back-big time. I had my Bat Mitzvah, which turned out to be one of the most nerve-wracking, yet proud, days of my life. In 8th grade, I again dreaded going to school, plagued by the fear of what could happen to me or my family while I was there. And again, I made it through, as everyone assured me I would. Since then, I have learned to control my anxiety, and not let it run my life, but that doesn't mean it doesn't still make an appearance almost every day. Now, as I've gotten older, in addition to worrying about something awful happening to me or my family, I worry about what I'm going to do with my life, and whether or not I'll be successful. The difference is that now I realize that this is just something I'm going to have to live with, and although it's annoying, I'll make it through, just as I have so far.