When I get home, my mom's busy in the kitchen trying out a new Thai dish she's planning on making for a prima ballerina's birthday party. My mom's a renowned chef to the elites across our province. She has even cooked for some of our national celebrities, yes, she's that good. Let's be very clear on my cooking capability: as long as I can find the bread, peanut butter and jam, I can diminish any hunger pains.

Right, let me bring your attention to the things I do enjoy. My room is my haven. My treasured bookshelf is filled with books about love, adventure, tragedy, lost kingdoms, and action. I can spend hours being transported to a world that allows my imagination to be enriched and my vocabulary strengthened.

My beloved guitar, I baptized as "Black Beauty" is listed next. A glossy, black TAKAMINE EF341SC. It's made to perform. I received it as a gift from my parents 3 years ago. I am the guitarist in our band called NAS-L (pronounced NASAL). Stace is our lead vocalist. Nate our drummer and Li (our other long time friend) plays the keyboard and sings backup. We have been playing together as a band since the start of my high school career but started experimenting with our instruments and testing our vocal capabilities since Grade 6. We had a total of three gigs over the expanse of our two-year existence. Never underestimate small beginnings. We just need to find that ONE song that will make us the rock stars we know we are.

I am sure I'll catch people off guard when we perform on stage (not a reality just yet) due to my very average looking features, like the surprise element of our rock band. I have waist-length, dark brown hair always tied up in a bun or high ponytail. Chocolate brown eyes with a round little nose and plumlike lips.

Brandon is the name of my adorable little brother, who thinks his sister is the coolest ever until I order him to do his house chores or threaten to tell our parents about his insubordination. Then I become the really annoying big sister who is ruining the life of her genius younger brother. I love being the eldest, it's so much fun.

He is in his room for hours on end working on AI tools or learning a new programming language. The times when I'm granted permission to enter his room and dare to look at his computer screens (he has a total of four screens, thanks to my dad who works as an engineer in robotics) my head starts this insistent throbbing that is only relieved when I make my exit.

Life in the Brown home can make me feel as if I'm the only sane member, this morning's mini catastrophe was a typical example. But amidst our daily madness, acceptance and unconditional love are attributes that make us thrive.