Who You Are Matters

Hello, my name is Anders Marshall and I am from Huntington Beach (HB), CA. HB is a beautiful beach city with a strong surfing culture, which is reflected in the artwork throughout the city. Most residents of HB are heavily involved in the community, whether that is through beach cleanups or going to Sunday league soccer matches. After high school, I moved away from Huntington Beach and studied abroad, living in London for a year. I learned a lot about European culture and although I am uncertain where my future will take me, I found an interest in traveling the world. I plan to travel the world by working remotely and using my free time to explore all the beauties the world has to offer. 

Growing up, I developed a lot of traits from my mom and my dad that are still present today. My dad gave me his sense of humor and quick wit, while my mom gave me her learning and teaching skills.Their skills combined have helped me tremendously throughout life, but I have also learned my own independent traits, such as interests in foreign languages and cultures, and skills with electronics.

As I have become an adult, I believe I follow the expectations of others, but am learning my own interests and creating my own expectations. It has been a confusing process because no one can teach you how to set expectations for yourself, but it is a journey that I am learning with the help of friends and family. One person who has especially helped me is my girlfriend, who is a highly ambitious and talented musician. She is extremely organized and has helped inspire me to follow a path of self-improvement. She is very passionate about violin, and has very clear and high expectations for herself, which has encouraged me to seek what I am passionate about and follow that as a potential career pathway. 

One wild animal that I feel especially connected with is a sloth. They are slow moving, entertaining, and always have a dopey smile on their face. Although they are seen as lazy animals, I believe that they are simply enjoying life and take it in at a different pace than other animals. 

When I was young, my grandfather, father, sister, and I went on a trip to Big Sur, CA. On that trip, we went to Roy’s Redwoods Preserve, and although my sister and grandfather were not up for the hike, my father and I were. While hiking, my father and I had a great time and saw redwoods that reminded us of the Ewok forests in Star Wars. After years, I still clearly remember the great redwoods towering above us as we hiked through the scenic trailways.

Sun Sign: Gemini

Moon Sign: Capricorn

Rising Sign: Aquarius