Hi my full name is Chon-il Brandon Valentin, but you guys can call me Brandon. I am a bred New Yorker and unfortunately am a second hand smoker. I’ve lived here all my life, but my father is from Puerto Rico and my mother is from Japan, making me half Japanese and half Puerto Rican. Unfortunately, I do not know either language and can only understand and speak American English. Though many of these facts may hold great interest to you, I’m going to try my best to describe myself in reasonable, yet descriptive manner. All of this began the day I chose NOT to go to College.
I’ve had an interesting and good life so far that has had its fill of ups and downs, tears of joy and tears of sorrow, but through and through they have made me a better human being as a whole. After finishing high school I felt I was not ready or mature enough to handle all of the responsibilities that would be required of me in college. Wasn’t rich, so I would be working and studying, and of course having FUN, but I just felt like college wasn’t the right thing for me yet. College such huge opportunities for young people today to go in without some kind of understanding or preparation seems a bit wasteful , so I instead of going to school or just working, I volunteered on a gap year program known as Generation Peace Academy. It took me all across the USA and the globe and led me to people that have filled the many holes in my own heart.
So the very first image is me and one of my best friend’s Austin Hummel. He was one of the funniest and ridiculous people I know and has some of the weirdest habits in the world, but he is someone that has always made me laugh and put a smile on my face when it was difficult. The picture is an attempt of a ballroom move; Austin and I were trying to show off to a friend. Of course, she found it quite stupid.
The second image shows one of nearest and dearest friends of mine, Chung You. A wise and gentle person, who also has made me laugh many a time, but also realize how important it is to be yourself and not hold back who you are. I feel like no one really knows who they are, but expressing yourself is something so important and as Marianne Williamson said, “it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us…”
The third image is my first attempt at a proposal. I was walking onto a stage, intending on placing this small bracelet on this Filipino student’s hand, but instead tripped and fell onto my knees. I still have that bracelet.
The Fourth image is someone whom I consider like a sister. I’ve always loved this girl and she has changed a lot of things in my life due to the many challenges she has faced in her own.
The fifth image was taken on one of my last nights in the Philippines. Austin and I were committed to staying awake all night and spending time with so many of the Filipino kids and we did, but ended up knocking out around 4 or 5 in the morning.
The sixth image is of a boy named Shinji. I was serving overseas in the Dominican Republic for service work and this boy I had met on the second was so afraid of me in the beginning, but by the end, I couldn’t get away from him. He made practice taken more of a child’s perspective towards things.
The seventh image is of these two twins in the Dominican Republic who made me question and learn so much about what it means to be grateful. I am grateful for them both.
The 8 and yes, 9th image are pictures of my family. They have been through a lot of shit with me and every moment that we have spent together is a moment to cherish.