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Well, my mid-semester break just finished, even though we only have three weeks left in the semester, so I guess it was more of an end-of-semester break. However, I did not go anywhere or do anything. It was nice with all my roommates gone. I loved the quietness of the apartment, no slamming of the kitchen door or loud conversations in the hall. The perks of being an ambivert, if that exists, who strays more of an introvert. I was not bothered enough to find someone to go on a trip with me or plan a trip just for myself. I did a couple of day trips to national parks near Sydney and went on hikes by myself. It's a far cry from the long drives at unlawful speeds I would have done if I had a car, or maybe a solo road trip somewhere alone if I had a car. I just wanted to be alone and away from Sydney. I would have rented a car if they drove on the right side here. 

On another note, I still need a goddamn internship. My parents will be livid and will maybe disown me if I don't get one this summer. But as Theo Von said, "I don't know if I'm living or doing a to-do list, and I don't know whose to-do list it is sometimes. If it is my own things that I want to be doing, or things that I feel like people want me to be doing, and whose expectations I'm living up to." I know I need an internship so I can get a job after senior year. However, is it what I want?

I've always known I wanted to be an entrepreneur; doing what was the key question. Why an entrepreneur because of my dad. Attracted not by the allure of position, but because I’ve always loved understanding businesses as a whole, and being a part of something, and the art of building something you’ve made yourself no matter the challenges there are.

 This past summer, I was thinking about making clothes, and specifically, this past month, I have thought a lot about it. I have always liked fashion, not fashion like Balenciaga, Gucci, Versace, or those other brands, but a minimalistic and clean look. I would combine that with my love for skiing and would make a high-end skiing and snowboarding wear brand named Anthera. I like the name. It was inspired by the Roman god Angerona; why? Since the god is shrouded in mystery, one who helps individuals endure hardship with quiet resolve. The same reason for my blog name, too. You may ask why Roman, which would be because of my Latin roots. Anthera will be akin to Bogner, although it first will focus solely on high-end winter sportswear. I am going to start with ski jackets, designing them to be warm, sleek, and convenient for skiers. A minor problem is that I don't know how to make clothes. However, I have always been good with my hands, and, in due time, I think I could learn. I have already made a couple of designs for ski jackets and snow pants. Well, we'll see if it ever happens. Hopefully. I would partake in this interest in my free time, after work when I have a job, and during school. Just like this blog, that is more like my journal. Both my parents would support this endeavor if I got it off the ground, even investing in it. 

I guess my interest in clothes and fashion stems partly from my creativity through sketches, art, and pottery. Though, I’ve never been quite good at it, but good enough for my standards I’d say. However, I don’t know why clothes, it’s just something I’ve always inherently liked, from trying to buy clothes for my dad to helping my mom pick out an outfit. The way the colors and designs flow through the outfit for the specific weather, occasion, comfort, and age. 

Building clothes is hard, hard finding the right materials,  like finding the right fabric and materials, the different stitching and ways to attach fabrics like laminating or sowing, to the feathers 100% down, comparing goose vs. duck feathers, and finding one that has a good fill power, which I still need to understand. It's a learning curve that is exciting and will be slow with all the other things I still have to do. I am keen but also afraid since my design is quite intricate to build for someone who has never made clothes. I may start with baselayers, which should be easier to make as they are less complex and would be a better starting place to learn to make clothes. 

While motivated by my ambition and goals, I'm also supported by my best friend, my number 1 ❤️—friends for 11 years and best friends for 10, nearly half of my life. As the years breezed by and as primary school became middle school, which became high school and now college, the distance got ever further apart with each stage. Though still standing strong, there through the highs and lows, through hardships and joy, and through changing scenery and new places. From seeing each other every day to every other year, from texting everyday to every other day to calling each other. While I have had others from middle school, too even, it's not that none compare, as harsh as it sounds. From being friends for 11 years and knowing everything about each other to always being there for each other and supporting each other with every idea we have, it's just something you can't explain using words. The status of a friendship is something never said between friends; it stands on a mutual understanding through intuition. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't mean the world when you really talk about how much you appreciate each other, which happened the other day. To know that you have meant as much to him as he has to you, something that nothing can take away. Love you dog ❤️. 

When I was 9, never in a million years would I have thought we would be best friends; we, specifically, I remember, we were not close. I'll call my friend Stiffers since I believe it was the first nickname I had for him: when I first saw him on my indoor soccer team at barely 7 years of age, he was lanky and ran like a stick. But I guess he got the last laugh, being an absolute unit at 6 foot 3, 210lb. While in primary school, we were in the same friend group, but he was the one we all teased, all in good fun, of course. I had a best friend in that group, but he left our school after 5th grade, and from then on, Stiffers and I became best friends, nearly inseparable. While I can't and don't have enough space to talk about every memory we have. I will say that from shy 11-year-olds, partaking in slap battles on the back of the bus, to sleepovers, to focusing on athletics and academics, now me not so much academically, to the lifting grind, to talking to girls, and now our careers. He's changed me in so many ways and inspires me to do my best, has helped me through so many tough times, and has meant so much to me. Something I hope I have and will continue to do the same for him.

Speaking of friends, I've made plenty here, which makes it only the sadder to leave them in 1 month. But I’m also fully ready to go back home seeing my cats, family, and familiarity. Friends that I'll most likely never see again, even with how close we have gotten. Summarized by the poem by Brian A., "People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime." While I have had my share of friends that have come in for a season, being older and more mature makes it all the sadder to have nothing to leave with but memories from such an eye-opening experience. While I can only hope and wish Stiffers and the handful of other close friends I have made in my life last a lifetime, only time will tell as we get older and life really hits you.