Joanna Elizabeth Membreno
MUSIC
I was inspired to produce music by my father. My father is from San Miguel, El Salvador. A country that has a beautiful view but has many tragedies. My father came to this country for a better opportunity to live a better life, or to live the "American Dream." My father began DJ-ing since his teens. He never really told me why but I assumed it was because he loved music. He was also part of a band because he had and still does have an incredible voice. To this day he is still a DJ, singer and part of a band named "Amigo Septimo Sol," which means Friends 7th Sun in english. When I was a little girl I would always attend the parties that my dad would DJ at. When we arrived to set up for the night I would always help my father. Since I was so intrigued by all the knowledge you must retain in order to be a "great" DJ, my father would teach me how to set up the equipment and he also taught me how eveything works. After many years of learning I started to LOVE music. I learned how to make sure songs mix well together and I found the actual meaning of words in music that no one really understands. Its amazing what a human being can do with music. Now, I still help my father when it comes to DJ-ing but I'm starting to produce my own music. I still have much to learn but with music, it helps me express my thoughts and feelings.
ART
I began to learn how to draw the year I started middle school. My art instructor tought all the key concepts on how to make art seem more real and become more meaninful. That year I became close friends with a girl named Delia who was licensed to do piercings at her parents tattoo shop, named "Zamora's Tattoo Shop." I would always go to the tattoo shop during the weekend to learn from the tattoo artists on new techniques on how to draw specific objects. As the years past by I have improved my drawing skills tremendously. It is one way to express my emotions.
Soccer
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At a young age, my father enrolled me into a soccer team. Of course, at that time I could't make decisons on my own. After many years of practices, scrimmages and games, I became an amazing soccer player. I mostly played as a defender (protects the goalie and prevents the opponent from scoring a goal) or mid-fielder (plays as a forward and defender). I played soccer for Travis Middle school my 8th grade year and was voted "Most Aggressive," at the soccer banquet. During the year 2011, was the year when I messed up my right knee at a scrimmage. It was a tragedy. My father was upset because soccer is a family tradition. Every time I would try to play again I would just mess up my knee even more. I never fully "recovered." I still have a passion for soccer but instead of playing it I just watch it from the sidelines or on television.
Archery
My sophomore year, the JROTC program created the Archery team. Part of the curriculum, the JROTC program teaches Archery for 2 days. Every person takes a turn to shoot an arrow. When it was my turn, I hit a 10 (which is the center). I believed that I was just lucky but the second time I shot a 9. After that I decided to join the Archery team. So I did. I had to take a test to make sure I know the safety and prodecures when it comes to Archery. My skills improved at every practice. I became captain of the Archery team my junior and throughout my senior year. We would attend competitions that would take hours to arrive. The most important competitions are qualifying for state and qualiying for national's. Our team would always make it to state competitons but we couldn't reach the total score for national's. Either way I will and will always be proud of each and every one of them. I thank them for making my years in high school more exciting and memorable.
