Deep Dive on

Veronique
Vashon
"So... What are you?" -Various people throughout my life

I am a woman. I only speak English. I'm Black. I'm White. I'm Native American. I've
never lived anywhere else but Vegas. But most importantly I am Veronique, and I'm
amazing.

Pictures from 11/08/2019. I just

turned twenty-five
"Can you two just share? Please." - My Mother every Christmas
Growing up I celebrated the basic holidays with family, although we had no religion. Easter,
Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Christmas was my favorite though. Since every year we went to my
aunts, and me and my brother Toure would argue for who would get the banana pudding. This
became tradition, along with us both getting our own take home doggie bag of pudding.

Me and Toure at
his graduation! He
However when I hit 20, I moved out and went to med
started to develop my own sense of culture school right after
and identity. and I didn’t see
him for years!
 "Doesn’t that scare you?" - People when they see my Card of Death

As I became more and more independent, I noticed a tradition I seemed to have built
on accident. Just as someone attends their religious house once a week, I go to get
my fortune told once a month. And just as someone of their religion carries sigils of
belief I do also. Always carrying the card of Death with me.
Death is not what it looks like. When the Death Arcana is drawn it symbolizes this:

A large amythest given

as a birthdaygift, a white
healing candle, various
stones, and my Death
cubby. It holds various
incense.

New begging's, Rebirth, Growth, Out with the old in with the new and so on. It's also the
card to represent Scorpios which is my birth sign
"The Blood of the Covenant is Thicker Than the Water of the Womb Vivi" - Jay to me

I found a new yearly traditional event also. The Evolution Championship Tournament. Every year
(except 2020) held in Las Vegas at the end of summer.
Haild as the largest Fighting Game tournament in the world I started as a spectator and last year
competed for the first time.
And last year I also formed a newfound family to have new traditions
with also

Tina, Me, Shantell, and

Athena. Our jackets
match since we vounter
That’s my controller! Its like to help the event.
playing on a keyboard
"Boot it up, we got a MONEY match!" - Drew, when I get overly cocky

At least once a month we get together at someone's house and have an experience I
can't even being to describe.
Music all around the world as our tastes clash and we find new things
Food from everyones different culture and whatever new takeout we want to try
None of us look exactly alike. But we share a bond like were a family. And I The gals! + Chi and Drew
love these people and how they influence my life

Food courtsey of Chefs

Shantell and Chi
 "I don’t date roaches" - Boys to me in High School

It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows though growing up. Being mixed with both black
and white I did not fit it.
Too dark for whites, to white for blacks I was often alone in school.

It was a mix bag of praise: And Insults:

"You talk white" "You're not actually "You're too dark" "You're an abomination" "I don’t date
black" "I'm blacker than you!" "You're black girls." "Black women are ratchet" "Black women
such an Oreo!" "You are SO Articulate!" are stupid." "Your skin is just the right tone that it's sexy"
"You're not like the rest"

And so I thought:

"I'm not black or white! I'm me! I'll just do what makes ME happy!!! This will be amazing!"

Or so I thought it would be
 "That’s a kids show! Are you mentally disabled?" - Other girls to me in High School

When I was 16, I found a show. It had men on motorcycles, catchy music, and this man with values I
could aspire for and relate to. Of course when I talked about this I was shot down.
Always being told I was too old for it, I was childish, Weird, Stupid, Questioned for my mental
intelligence
I learned to be ashamed for what I enjoyed. And that I needed to try and be like everyone else. So I
rejected what I liked.
That moment taught me to keep my mouth shut about all hobbies and interests. That I should
just not talk
It haunted me until I became an adult. And through the same friends I met through the
Evolution Tournament. I found people who loved the same thing.

Then I realized one thing that might not have been the best:
"Do you actually need that?" My mom when my Amazon package hits the door

Now that I'm an adult who makes her own money. I can buy whatever I
want!

And of course I was overzealous with it but whats done is done!

I want to teach my future children and students. That love what you
love because more than likely someone else also loves it also!
 "You do puzzles? No wonder you're calm! " - A close friend "Woop"

Since I had the boost of support of people loving me for me, I decided to take up a hobby I LOVED as
child Jigsaw Puzzles!
I grew up doing puzzles, my father would apply a glue to keep them together and display them all
around the house, so they have a special sense of nostalgia for me
And with that I decided to start it again and much to my delight:

Current progress
First day of as of 06/18/2020
getting this
puzzle its
1000 pieces

They are difficult and are a relaxing time sink

"Your Grandma use to do that, she made me and my siblings clothes" - My Mother

Although I am new to it and clumsy, I started to crochet this last winter

When my mother found my hooks and yarnballs, she sat with me and told me stories of her mom
all while I worked on my projects
I felt a tinge of sadness, and a sense of closeness since I had lost my grandma when I was
young. And she was one of the first people to talk to me about self-love. She always told
me how much she loved me and how important I was to her.

My first Project: Small table matt Last Project before it was too hot! A mens scarf
So now I'm going to be sure that I pass this down to. Hopefully, they are better at it than I am
though And I plan to teach them some life values
"As a Vashon you have these values" My Father to me as a child

Although I had moved out far to young my families code of life will always follow me
So what do Vashons do?
Honesty.
Integrity.
Compassion.
My grandma just
Discipline.
mentioned actually
Fight for Equality. made this. It's been
around my house for
as long as I
remember.

Mom and Dad on their

wedding night. And a
family trip to Sandiego
 "You may blame Aphrodite" - Sappho

I've always lived through family principles, but spiritual belief had brought me new ones to pass down in
the future.
When I was younger, I loved Aphrodite, I did many projects on her
As an adult I looked to her paintings and mythos with inspiration. Claiming her as my Patron
Goddess and still do
The main lessons I have learned from all her stories are this though:

There is beauty in all things.

Family comes first.
Emotions are beautiful
Love with all your heart
Do not take anyone's cruelty
Stand up for those who cant
You're beautiful the way you are

However one quote has stuck with me since I was 16 and I will always try to go by
"If someone is reaching out their hand and you don’t help them you might regret it"
-Kamen Rider OOO's

I want to become a woman who inspires others and helps those in need.
I want to be a teacher who teaches compassion and creativity
I want to always be Veronique Jnnette Vashon.