Assignment 8- Will Gregory

 Fears: Small spaces, heights, stickers

Annoyances: Assumptions instead of inferences (in the context of people)  

Accomplishments: I've hopefully improved some of the lives of the people I've encountered, Stuck with a sport for 11 years 

Confusions: How did Sherlock fake his death in the last episode of season 2, Why is my thing with stickers a thing

Sorrows:I tend to help people too easily and often get taken advantage of, weight, general self loathing

Dreams: To change the world for the better somehow, to be a father

Idiosyncrasies: The sticker thing ( I have an inexplicable fear of stickers), I have a really deep voice, I have never lost an eating competition (you can tell by looking at me, which leads back to the self loathing).

Risks: Scuba diving, Flown plane, Football (possibly the biggest risk of them all)

Beloved Possessions: My football pillow- my sister bought it for me in fourth grade and I've rarely slept a night without it(I know, I'm a 16 year old boy)

Problems: Insomnia, Organization, Depression, and a wandering mind

One of the problems I've apparently dealt with my entire life is being oblivious to when I'm being taken advantage of. I was raised by an Engineer and a social worker, one taught me that there's always a way to fix things and the other taught me to help the less fortunate as much as humanly possible. I took to these characteristics at a young age but to an extreme. I would do anything to help others and it took an unhealthy turn. It changed from me doing anything to help others to doing anything to please others. As a small child, I would give away my lunches to kids just so they'd like me. In middle school I'd do homework for the "cool kids" in an attempt to become one of their crowd. One time, in 8th grade, I spent $168 of my own money on a friend of mine to buy him a futon for his birthday. I received a few thankyou's but none of the appreciation it deserved. I was never even invited over to spend the night on it while my door was always open for him to stay. 

This trend carried on into high school and the most intensely when my "dating life" began. In my first few relationships I spent upwards of $700 (yes, I've done the math) on these girls and saw no such return. The most tragic loss however, were the many T shirts I still see worn today.

So yes, from an outside perspective one may think me simply idiotic for my ignorance over all of these years. I would very much agree with that opinion. A few friends I deeply appreciate, have made me aware of this aspect of my personality and I can't thank them enough. Have they changed my perspective on helping others? No. I still firmly believe that when a person is in the position to help another human then it is the obvious thing to do. I do however believe that we must be aware when helping others, of thew people who need it, and of the people who don't.