Name: Monica Hunt

Age: 18 Years old.

Date of birth: 3/10/1992.

Location: Lacon, Illinois.


About Me:
Ever since I was born I was raised with the mindset of if you try your hardest, dreams come true. Firm believer ever since. My name is Monica Hunt and I'm from a little small town called Lacon, Illinois! I just turned eighteen years old and am about to graduate from high school. Throughout my years in high school, I was obsessed with being on stage and making people happy with being in a production. I was in many productions of our school, Midland High School. Last year, I received the lead role as the Madrigal Jester in our Madrigal and just this March, I played the Cowardly Lion in our school's "The Wiz" production. Singing is an amazing passion of mine. I have been singing ever since I can remember. My mother has video tapes of me singing my heart out to Disney soundtracks and even a "Monica Hunt Presents: The Lion King. A One Woman Show"! I have always been comfortable with an audience and love to put on shows and productions that will be cherished!

Instead of taking senior year at the high school, I decided to become a full time college student and get credit hours, while still being in high school. Doing this, was a hard step, but proves that I can handle new situations and responsibilities! While being at the college, I discovered my major, performing arts. I have taken theatre while being in college and art classes. Also while being in college, I received the honor to volunteer time to Make-A-Wish. Such an amazing oppurtunity.

I love to make others happy as well. Last summer, I decided to try to make a whole new audience happy. I worked at a Nursing Home in Lacon. I started off just as a secretary, but it turned into so much more. I bonded with so many of the wonderful residents and felt as if that I was part of their family. A whole new social skill developed when I worked there. I loved working with the activities, listening to their stories, cracking jokes to them, and just spending time with them. Working there was such an honor.

I have "Wished Upon a Star" for years for this opportunity and I am so excited for to be in your presence! Performing arts is what my heart desires, and I would love to be "Part of Your World"!


Interests:
Singing, dancing, art, creating pastels, painting, drawing, screenwriting, sewing, reading, comic book conventions, cosplaying, crafts, writing stories and songs, helping out the community, helping others, volunteer work, making people laugh, encouraging smiles, going out of the way to help others, school, fashion, DISNEY (of course), movies, television, and etc.!
Chorus for 6 years, Piano lessons for 3 years, playing guitar for nearly 2 years. Many productions such as "Bye, Bye, Birdie", Madrigal dinners, and "The Wiz"! Been writing screenplays for nearly 4 years. 2 Speech classes. (So I'm comfortable in front of others while speaking publicly.). Trying to help others in need!

I love Disney so much, I even went to my Junior year prom dressed as Cinderella!


Volunteer work:
Volunteered 2/3 nights a week to an animal shelter in Lacon, IL for about 4 years, served for Legion get totgethers, helped out a Church with Christmas banquet, volunteered at a local Children's Hospital, and has dedicated time to Make-A-Wish!

Writer's Statement!

Writing this paper was difficult because I sometimes find the TED.com videos to be a little dull and hard to watch. Also the English essays are something I didn't really want to read either. So, Chris Abani's TED.com video really stuck out to me. His life is so different than anyone's I've ever heard about. So, naturally, I wanted to pick something that would interest me. Writing it was a tad bit hard because I was somewhat confused on the outline of the paper and what I was supposed to discuss. So, after getting my act together I think I created a paper I am proud of!

English.

What would you do if what you believed in could cause you harm? Could cause you your own demise? Could even lock you away? That is what Chris Abani experiences in the TED.com video titled "Chris Abani muses on humanity." He tells his life of horrible experiences with such a compassionate uplifting spirit. His video speaks of his home where the word for rape is the same word for marriage. Where females were treated with disrespect. Not only does he talk about being locked up for his views, but his experiences with a country ran by a dictatorship in a video that inspires and mesmerizes others on what he has been through.

Growing up Chris did not have an easy life. The Government was crooked and the one person who he could depend on was his mother. An English woman that was tough and loving. Only crying once in front of Chris she provided him with such a positive role model of a woman. Being there for him and teaching him proper manners. So many times mothers are looked down upon as being weak and fragile, when his mother is a great example of a liberated woman.

As Chris and his poor family are seen by a stranger and given a small act of kindness it sheds a whole new light on his perspective on life. By that one stranger giving them items and caring about a family she doesn't even know brings tears to his mother's eyes. So little it may seem to perform a small act of kindness, but to the receiver it may change their life and outlook on everything in life.

Would you be able to murder an innocent animal that was in front of you? What if you were forced to? As a child, Chris experienced having to end the life of an animal. Yes, you may think an animal is just an animal, but to Chris it was a life. A life that he had to end. He was stopping it's time on Earth. Cutting it's air supply short. He grew up in a society where being a man meant being able to hurt and prove your strength with brutality.

Not only has Chris been imprisoned once by the Nigerian Government, not twice, but three times for expressing his opinions by writing a book. Everyone has an opinion. Any subject matter brought upon any mind sparks a debate, an opinion. Opinions are often different than others, same as others, or even not understandable. To be put into prison for a belief that may not be the same as others, is horrendous. Being from America, it's hard to grasp the concept of a human being not being able to express themselves through their thoughts. Almost being executed for a book is unbelievable and tragic to anyone who is different in society.

Although being raised in such harsh conditions, Chris Abani shows the world that great people can come from those harsh lifestyles. With his emotional journey he shows the world of his struggles and his successes and brings emotions to people that have never even been through situations like his. He teaches that humanity is a quality that everyone should have in their life.