300 pieces of me
My name is Gabriel Vázquez Calderón. I am a 22 year old student undergoing my fifth year at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus. Of those 22 years, most have been spent on the island, which I’ve learned to love. Nevertheless, I consider passionate patriotic nationalism to be limiting and something to be avoided. Therefore, I respect people from all backgrounds. I believe in giving respect to earn it, and I prefer remaining silent rather than speaking ignorantly. I also believe in rationalism, skepticism and I strongly believe in personal freedoms.
I’m part of a generation with which I don’t identify closely or even relate to for the most part. I hate to say I’m proud of that. I enjoy not fitting in. These days, it’s a bit of a challenge to carve your own path down the road of self discovery; to walk the road less traveled, be your own person, all that jazz. I keep a close-knit group of friends whom I love and am wary when meeting new people; especially good looking, intelligent people. I enjoy reading, meditating, exploring the vast and occasionally disturbing realm of the internet, and exercising. I bought a bike recently and it’s been a great way to escape from a complicated home environment. It also turns out to be a great way to quit smoking cigarettes, which I did this summer… for about the fourth time now. But I'm feeling good, working on being happy, and postponing the inevitable question of what I will do with my life after graduation. With any luck I’ll be somewhere far. I’d love to live in different countries and expand my cultural horizons. I consider every day a privilege and try to take life in stride. It’s all about the journey, not the destination.
I’m part of a generation with which I don’t identify closely or even relate to for the most part. I hate to say I’m proud of that. I enjoy not fitting in. These days, it’s a bit of a challenge to carve your own path down the road of self discovery; to walk the road less traveled, be your own person, all that jazz. I keep a close-knit group of friends whom I love and am wary when meeting new people; especially good looking, intelligent people. I enjoy reading, meditating, exploring the vast and occasionally disturbing realm of the internet, and exercising. I bought a bike recently and it’s been a great way to escape from a complicated home environment. It also turns out to be a great way to quit smoking cigarettes, which I did this summer… for about the fourth time now. But I'm feeling good, working on being happy, and postponing the inevitable question of what I will do with my life after graduation. With any luck I’ll be somewhere far. I’d love to live in different countries and expand my cultural horizons. I consider every day a privilege and try to take life in stride. It’s all about the journey, not the destination.