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Rodney Appling Suzanne Ingram Engl 1102-025 September 1, 2012 Cover Letter I just wanted to say that it was hard for me to just pick up my pencil and write. It was kind of a challenge, in the sense that I had nothing to really talk about at the moment. I know, I know, how could I have nothing to say? I have no idea; it just wasnt coming to me. On that note, I can say that writing is something that I'm not really good at, maybe because I am usually too vague in details. With this essay on "What's it like to be me", there were a few sentences that after I wrote it, I didnt know I even felt that way. Like when I was talking about my family and how I am or just my daily routine throughout the week. I noticed that after I wrote it, I really do not like my mundane work-school schedule on weekdays. All in all I think it is an ok essay. Looking back I see many spaces that have room for detail. This is a solid, to-the-point paper about me. Rodney

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A glimpse in the life "Huh?", "What's it like to be me?" That is a broad question that could take a while to answer, because truthfully, I'm still trying to find out myself. Someone might say they know what it is like to be me, but how is that possible if even I'm not sure? My name is Rodney Appling and this would be a "what's it like to be meso far?" thing. For starters I was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1991, thats when the world began for me. I was born into a wonderful family with a mom, a dad, and an older brother. It was really cool, there is my mom Cynthia, my dad Rodney, and my brother Cj, a small family completed by my arrival. This was all short lived however, as my parents divorced 5 years after I was born. I believe it was for the best; you know two people in an unhealthy relationship are doomed from the beginning. I was five years old at the time and didnt really understand being so young, but for some odd reason I really just didnt care. People always say that divorce can be hardest on the children, but not this case. I guess because my dad was never really around even when they were married I just never really bonded with the guy. Even know at 21 years old, I still remember the family vacations and all of the holidays that we all spent together when I was younger. I remember decorating the Christmas tree every year around December and taking sporadic trips to the beach in the middle of summer, but these are all in the past now. Currently, it is just me and my mom living in the same three story brick house at the end of the street, for the past decade. My older brother moved out a few years ago and I hope he doesnt come back as he was super annoying to live with, stealing all my clothes and eating my cereal. Ive lost contact with my dad over the years and he has kind of disappeared from my thoughts. I remember him being really nice but as I get older I forget what he looks like.

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I would say that I am fortunate in the sense that I have had a quiet, happy life. Nothing too traumatic or sad, but I am only twenty something so knock on wood. I have always been very quiet and no one really knows why. My mom always says that I was born quiet and I didnt cry as an infant, which freaked her out. This is still evident today, so much so that I think I am physically incapable of yelling or screaming, and my voice doesnt really project or escalate past a certain point. When someone tells me to shout out loud, it is not going to happen. Going back to my personality, I hear a lot of things people would describe me as. Generally I get a little shy around a lot of people, they associate this with being cold and stuck-up, but once you get to know me everyone says I am hilarious, I'm a clown and a mess but all in all, I think people can say that I am usually calm cool and collected. I am not one to go around looking for trouble and I try to avoid confrontation. My friends always say that if I were to actually get into a fight they would know it wasnt me who started it. A day in my shoes would seem hectic, and it honestly is. I am always ripping and running in the daytime, and there seems to be not enough time in one day. Usually I wake up around seven am and go to my morning classes at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I am studying business and it seems like a good fit. The campus is really nice and the faculty and students are easy to get along with. The teachers seem to really care and like their jobs and the campus is really easy to navigate. My classes are usually from eight am to eleven or twelvish, and afterwards I am seen speeding out the parking lot in a hurry. This is followed by me rushing to do my homework, then off to my part time job at starbucks. It is a nice job, the pay is good and we make pretty good tips, but the customers can really agitate you if you let them. I usually just shake it off and go on to the next person, but on the other hand, I meet some of the most interesting people whose kind words can make the best of days. I would say that out of five

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customers, typically two of them are total jerks who bark out their orders and demand everything. It's so silly but hey I want some money, so I smile and laugh and try to have a good time hehe. The hours though are what kills me, a shift is usually form one pm to nine pm, yeah all day! I have to rush home to eat, take a shower, and finish my homework to make it in bed by at least midnight. The life of a college student, it gets rough at times, but I manage. "As I get older Days become so mundane Wake up, school, work, and sleep Wash, rinse, repeat" When I am not at school, or work, I like to spend time with my friends and family. They are all really cool people who can turn around the worst of days. My bestfriend Henry is the greatest kid ever, we grew up together always going to the same schools, I consider him to be like a brother. My other bestfriend Jamilah is my guardian. She is like a big sister who always has my back and we too also grew up together. I still find it weird that some people think that guys and girls cant be bestfriends without something going on, we get the weirdest reactions when we tell people we are just friends. As well as hanging out with my friends, in my free time I also like to play basketball, watch television, play videogames, try to cook, drink and party. I love my xbox 360 and I can typically be seen playing fighting games and first person shooters. I also am fascinated by culinary arts and I always try new foods and recipes in the kitchen much to my mom's dismay, who thinks I cook weird things. I like to say I am a normal guy, and I think I'm blessed to have such an awesome family and a great network of friends. See, a day in the life of Rodney is pretty simple and easygoing.

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Although I am calm, and it seems I cannot get mad, I still do get really frustrated and small things still do get under my skin. When people yell at me over something I have no control over, it really gets to me, as I said I am not one for confrontation and I try to do my best to make people happy, I'm dubbed the nice guy. This usually happens at work, but happens in other everyday situations as well. Seeing someone get bullied gets to me because it isnt right and usually has really bad consequences. Another thing that frustrates me is this arguing concept, because in the end it goes nowhere and tends to be pointless. I had trouble with this when I attempted to take English 2 twice. It seemed that all we did was continuous generating of hot topics and argue with each other, then write a paper about it and thats not my style. I have only recently understood that debating in the academic sense is not the same as arguing, which has changed my outlook of the course. It has been a nice life so far and for that I am thankful. I believe that the key to happiness and health is to be happy and to be healthy, physically and mentally. With that I mean to treat others the way you want to be treated and surround yourself with positive energy. We are all just a small part of the big picture, so what makes someone better than the other. So there you have it, my attempt to answer the question, "what is it like to be you". My life, my schedule, likes, dislikes these all make up me as a person, a good person I believe.