This is a picture of me. I can never get my hair to look neat; it always seems to wave in the wind. I am proud of the shirt I am wearing in the picture. I made that. I worked after school to earn the money to buy the material, I used an old shirt as a pattern, then I sewed it on my mother's sewing machine. The collar doesn't lie flat, so the shirt isn't perfect? but no one notices the mistake except me.
I work an hour or two after school every day because I like to have my own money. But my real passion is baseball. I play every chance I get. Even after dark, sometimes I practice my pitching motion. One of my dreams is to pitch for a major league baseball team. At lunch time, I usually don't eat; I just quickly drink a soda so I can play baseball for a half hour or so.
I am very shy, so I don't like parties or large groups of people. I like doing things alone or with my best friend. I spend a lot of time walking; I especially like walking through the woods and looking at the animals. I move slowly, so the animals don't run away from me.
I wish I could sing like some of the famous blues singers, with those deep, powerful voices full of expression.
My father bought me a guitar, so I spend a lot of time practicing.
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That picture was taken over fifty years ago. Most of my hair has disappeared since then, and the rest has turned white (but it still waves in the wind). I have more duties and responsibilities. I can no longer run as fast as I did when I was nine years old.
But in many ways, I am exactly the same. I am still proud of things I do? and I still get upset with little
imperfections (like that shirt collar that didn't lie flat). I work hard to earn enough money to live comfortably, but I would much rather play games, especially baseball. I still dream of learning to throw a knuckleball, so I can be the first New York Yankee pitcher over sixty.
Several of my habits are the same: I often drink a cola instead of eating lunch because I have other things I want to do. I remain extremely shy; I still avoid parties. I take lots of long walks. And music is still an important part of my life. Why am I writing this? For two reasons.
First, I'd like for you to see that your teachers and parents are not just serious, responsible adults. Part of our childhood is inside each of us. We like to play as much as you do.
Second, I want to advise you that patterns you set early frequently stay with you the rest of your life? and good habits are the best route to success.