aidan carino

Life, interests, family, travel, and some random stuff.

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Ice, Ice, Baby

The study of climate change and global warming has always been something I’ve been very interested in, and with the introduction of the climate change science units, my interest has skyrocketed. My unit fifteen project is about the melting glaciers, increase of sea level, and decrease in sea ice. Through many hours of research and study, I’ve learned how important these components are to the balance of our environment. I believe our generation has the determination to ignite a change within our environment and change how people today act towards it. Psalm 24: 1-2 states “ The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains. The world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers.” As a Catholic, my beliefs reinforce this statement because I believe humans should be caretakers of the Earth.  From this, I’ve decided that I want a future in the study and protection of the earth

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Golden Arches

I have a confession to make; I’m totally addicted to McDonald’s. The golden arches perched above the oasis of a restaurant is a sight for sore eyes. It all started when I was a young child - mouth-watering and stomach grumbling, I had consumed my first chicken nugget. It was an eye-opening experience and I’ve never looked back after that. Having that one nugget, my life was completely flipped upside down and it has made me to be the person that I am today. Since then, my McDonald’s order has changed for the better; I’ve upgraded to a Big Mac, with large fries, and an ice tea. Whenever I have this the skies clear and life becomes happy, but my stomach hurts and my pores become clogged. The greasy sustenance has become a staple comfort food to me. Deep fried and salted to perfection the shiny, crispy, and golden french fries are my favourite and always keep me coming back again and again. The crisp lettuce and tangy secret sauce of the Big Mac dance on my taste buds creating a harmony of flavours that please the soul. And the cold Ice Tea creates a waterfall of sweet diabetes that washes everything down. These three things keep me happy and content with the ever-moving thing called life. I’m really hungry right now, so I’m now going to conclude this heavenly post. While I may not know what’s in the food or how they make it, I’ll still be a loyal follower of the golden arches.                                                                                

(This whole post was meant to be an exaggeration, but I do still really love McDonalds). 

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Fashion has taken a big part of my life the past few years. I remember stumbling upon a few drag queens on the internet and being mesmerised by the amount of artistry and talent that was put into the clothing. Watching people stitch together different fabrics and patterns that look good together is just so eye-pleasing. The picture posted above is Kim Chi, a drag queen from Chicago, and out all my fashion role model's I would probably pick her to be at the top of the list. She uses many unconventional materials in her clothing such as latex, plastic, or even paper. I look up to Kim Chi not only for her talented creations, but also as a human being. She is a major advocate for Asian people in the LGBTQ+ community; she’s broken many barriers about drag clothing/makeup in society and the fashion industry. She’s able to do something she loves, create art, spread awareness, and get paid for it; that’s something that I strive to do when I get older. I want to end up living a fulfilling life that can inspire people and impact the world for the greater good. It’s a very pageant queen answer, but it’s a virtue that I want to live by. Seeing Kim Chi and many other fashion innovators has really made me think about what I could become and what I could create - maybe I should start off with taking ‘Intro to Fashion’. Mrs. Fortura here I come!     

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Rewind

Today I went to my grandma’s house and it really hit me how much I’ve grown up and changed. Everything was so much easier as a child, and looking back, I’ve realised I’ve taken that all for granted. I remember feeling so happy when a new day started, there were so many new experiences to have and things to do. It was a time when Hilary Duff and Raven Symoné were Disney’s young starlets, the Kardashian’s weren’t a ‘thing’, and fashion was a mess, but that’s a whole other topic. These little things helped make up my childhood to what it was, and I miss it so much. I remember how the littlest things would have me so amazed; like elevators or escalators. As a child I was a very different person than who I am today; I enjoyed making new friends, playing sports, and dancing and singing. Back then people’s opinions didn’t determine what I liked or what I did, I had no worries, and felt like I could do anything. I picked up a hobby, swimming, and thought that if I continued I could become an amazing swimmer, but stopped a few years ago due to body image issues. I do regret letting myself quit to this day, nonetheless, it’s all in the past. I’ll never be able to go back in time and experience life as it used to be, so I guess I just have to stop thinking about my past and live in the now. However, I do miss my past and I don’t know if it’s because of nostalgia, or because it really was a better time in my life. 

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What’s Next?

It is now the season of course selection, and everyone is talking about how they know what they want to do and how they’re going to do it. I’m happy that they have found their path, but it also makes me feel very confused and irritated because I haven’t (I’m not a mean person, I swear). This past weekend I’ve thought deeply about my future. I visited many websites of universities and colleges searching, and I’m still stumped. The future is very intimidating; getting a job, continuing education, and being successful. Soon enough I’m going to be an adult that contributes to society, and that’s scary. I remember when I was younger and always wanting to get older, and now that it’s actually happening it’s all a blur. Almost every night before I sleep, I think about different scenarios on how my life could end up. From being successful in a happy relationship to staying in my parent’s basement for eternity. Everyone says, “Don’t think about the salary when picking a job, do something you’ll enjoy!” I’d like to believe them, but I feel like that’s easier said than done. In conjunction with my last post, my parents are my inspiration, they’re my driving force in doing well in school and trying, and I want a future where I can give back to them and let them rest. I’ll try my hardest to not become a burden to my parents and family. I hope that soon enough I’ll find my way in living the best scenario possible. Wish me luck!

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Today during a seminar, not going to say which one, I daydreamed and thought about how much my parents have impacted me and my life. Since day one they’ve been with me and supported me, so i decided to create a blog post about them. I just want to say thank you for everything you’ve done for me, from buying those $50 pencil crayons to always loving me. When I was a kid I know I must’ve been such pain for my mom, walking around campus carrying another human probably hurt. And to my dad, I’m sorry I didn’t become a sporty kid or the ultimate basketball player, but hey, I have a 95 in gym! To wrap it up, I just want to say thank you for being the best parents a kid could ever have!

(I know this probably won’t hit the 250 words mark, but I wanted to get this off my chest.)

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Photo taken by: Aidan Carino (Manila Hotel)

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Let’s go on a Trip

I’ve currently just received news that my great grandma in the Philippines has gotten very sick and isn’t doing well.

Last year I went the Philippines for the very first time. I spent two and a half weeks taking planes, taxis, and boats travelling all around the islands. It had been 20 years since my mom last visited the Philippines so she was very emotional throughout the whole journey, especially when she saw her grandma again. The most noticeable thing about the Philippines was the divide between the rich and the poor. Many roads had people begging for money or children who looked malnourished playing around – it hurt seeing these people who could’ve had so much potential being cast aside. The scenery outside of the city, however, was beautiful. Tall palm trees sprouted from the golden beaches and green hills filled the horizon every way you looked. I travelled to three parts of the Philippines; Manila: the bustling city, Palawan: the island paradise, and Bucay: the countryside. My favourite part of the country was probably Bucay. This was where my grandma and grandpa from my dad’s side are from. My grandma’s brother was once the mayor of the city, so we were treated like royalty – it felt really weird. The local high school prepared a cultural dance for us and thanked us for our contribution to the city. Everyone one in the town was very welcoming and treated us like family, all of the fun made time go by very fast… until it was the very last day. I spent the last day reflecting to myself at the airport. The feeling of finally being where my parents, grandparents, and family grew up and lived was surreal. The plane was ready; I waved goodbye to my family in the Philippines and said what is probably now going to be my last goodbye to my great grandma.