Carefully maneuvering my way to the front of the crowd, I sat down in front of the Hudson, right on the FDR drive, and stared out into the open. The city lights, which seemed to have given the water’s indigo shade hints of white and yellow, blended well with the two bridges to my left and right. The boats, which lined itself in a straight line across the river, only contributed to the scenery. But that was not the best part of the night. The best part rather, was the fireworks. They shot straight from the boats, up into atmosphere in a loud, yet harmonious manner. Amused, I covered my ears, watched and beamed at the various colorful patterns in the air. I was six.
Hi. I’m Benjamin Tan. Most people call me Ben. Some have called me Benji or Benny. Even before I was born, my dad considered naming me Ben Min Tan, and if one said this name repeatedly, it’d sound like ‘Badminton’. I was born a Chinese American, and raised under the roof of two immigrants, who honors the Chinese culture. When I was four, they sent me to Chinese School. I dictated pieces of writing. I memorized poems. I recited famous Chinese philosophers. I read proverbs. I learned my culture.
About four years ago, I was a freshman in high school. I was naïve, shy and lost. Clubs? I didn’t know any. Networking? Highly doubt it. I stuck with the people I knew. Luckily however, chorus saved me. Being placed in the school choir was one of the best things Brooklyn Tech has done for me. At least at that moment, it was. In a room with about a hundred kids lumped together to sing, it’d be impossible for me to sit around and not talk to them. I made friends.
Just today, at the Baruch fair, I met a lot of new faces, shook numerous hands, collected countless fliers, and got myself on a good start. Four years ago, I was lucky. Today, I have to be proactive. I always knew how to pick up a book, but it’s time to pick up my hand and let people hear what I have to say. It’s time to shoot myself up to the sky and blossom into that colorful pattern I saw not too long ago.