Part 2: Growing Up
How would you describe your childhood in general?
—It wasn't anything special. My mom tried her best to make it as good as she could, but everything was limited. I remember I was still happy when I was little, though.
What is your earliest memory?
—When I was 6 my mom took me to the Field Museum for my birthday because I was absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs, and they had just put in the Sue exhibit. I didn't want to see anything else, I just wanted to sit with Sue, claiming that she was going to come to life and we'd be best friends.
How much schooling have you had?
—I completed almost all of high school, but ended up dropping out during my senior yeah. Whoops
Did you enjoy school?
—I did. I enjoyed my classes, and learning any subject I would take. I wasn't the greatest at all of it, but I still liked it.
Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?
—Mostly from my mom. She was my only real influence through my formative years, so everything she taught me I picked up. Though in the past few years it's been from my ex, my coworkers, and anyone willing to let me watch and learn.
While growing up, did you have any role models? If so, describe them.
—Definitely my mom, for one. I still look up to her a lot. She did so much for me, and sacrificed everything to raise a child. Though, I also had a teacher that I absolutely adored, who was a really supportive force in my life during high school.
While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family?
—Up until I was 14 I only had my mom. She didn't keep in touch with her parents, and my bio-dad was completely absent. My step-dad and I had a decent relationship, but I I hated my step-brother, and still do actually.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
—When I was really little I wanted to be a singer, and then I wanted to be a zookeeper for dinosaurs, which I didn't find out wasn't a real thing until I was like 12.
As a child, what were your favorite activities?
—I read a lot when I was little, but when it came to friends I actually really liked playing stupid little games, like house or tag. I was so bad at sports, I absolutely hated playing them. My friends loved sports, but usually I just sat and watched them when they would play. I was their own personal cheerleader.
As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display?
—I don't know... the same ones I still have? I've always been pretty friendly and happy. I guess I used to be less upfront about my feelings for people. I was more active too, I played a lot outside. When I was a teenager I was pretty messed up, though. I was kind of a bitch, which I think has stuck with me a little bit into adulthood.
As a child, were you popular? Who were your friends, and what were they like?
—I had a lot of friends when I was really little; I was friends with almost everyone. By the end of middle school and into high school I was on good terms with people, but I never really considered them friends? I went out to a lot of parties with people, but ultimately I kept myself pretty isolated.
When and with whom was your first kiss?
—My first kiss was when I was 13 and it was with this guy Ben on a dare. He was a "nerd" that a lot of people didn't like, but I actually had a crush on him at the time.
Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity?
—I am not a virgin, no. My first time— or at least the one I actually count— was when I was 18 and was with my boyfriend at the time.