To be sixteen is to be on the verge of an exciting adventure or a tumble away from childhood, depending on how you perceive it. I feel I? on the verge of something, perhaps the discovery of possibilities. Currently, I am a junior at Gabrielino High School. As for the future, I have yet to define my aspirations. All I know is that I want to do great things. Being indecisive, however, I can barely decide which item to order in a restaurant; much less make life-changing decisions. I am a very passionate person. At school, I love playing volleyball and swimming. In my spare time, I hungrily devour novels, almond jello and satellite movies. At the same time, I can be the worst hypocrite. Sometimes, I do things that I know I shouldn? do. Most of the time, I end up contradicting myself. I tend to have a lot on my mind, and I dream vividly when I sleep. When I was young, I had a heart-pounding dream that my father-in-disguise was chasing me; when he finally caught up with me, he turned into a giant grasshopper and hosted a masquerade ball. Recently, I dreamt that I was a gang member and was shot by a rival gang in the Albertson's parking lot. Even though I travel a lot, I don't know many people outside of Gabrielino High School. I guess I never really gave myself the opportunity to meet new people. But even though I may seem shy or reluctant, I love being around people and experiencing new things.

My name is Alejandra Gillette-Teran and I am a junior at Downtown Magnets High School. I am in the fashion magnet. So, of course, I enjoy designing and shopping. I am currently making sketches for my senior fashion show next year. My favorite colors are black and green. I also really like to listen to music and go to concerts. Some of my favorite bands are Incubus, the Strokes, Radiohead and Coldplay. Some of my favorite television shows are Gilmore Girls and Friends. The reason I am participating in Project Bridge is that I really enjoy traveling and learning about different cultures, especially their art, architecture, style of dress and food. I have been to Japan and also have traveled throughout Europe. I would like to be an art historian or clothing buyer after graduating from college.

Hello, my name is Eddy Lam. I attend Gabrielino High School, which is located in the city of San Gabriel, County of Los Angeles. I am a guy who loves to play games whenever I have time, such as Starcraft Brood War. I also play basketball with friends during the weekend. In summer, I take classes for advanced credit at local universities. Currently, I am doing R.O.P. (Regional Occupation Program) on Saturdays. I am also taking some honors classes and hope to take SAT prep classes as well. How do I find time for all of these activities and still leave time for TV and games? Well, I somehow manage to strike a balance. If you get to know me, you?l find that I am really friendly. I rarely make fun of people or play practical jokes on them. One thing that I do not like to do is scream at other people, especially right to their face. I think it is not right for whatever reason. It's very impolite, and it doesn? help to get them to do what we want them to do. I know a lot of people who hate slow learners, but I'm not like that! I accept people for whom they are, and I am more focused on whether or not they are kindhearted. In the classroom, while studying serious subjects such as math, English or science, I am usually very quiet since I just immerse myself in learning. But in fun classes, such as electives, I am very talkative. So you shouldn? be surprised if you find me laughing very hard in one period while being very quiet in others.

Who am I? Oh, just a junior at Gabrielino High trying to make his way to a decent college. Ah ha! On the contrary, mi amigo, I am a walking incongruity. I have memorized nearly every line from Austin Powers, yet I still get a thrill from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I bang my head to the heavy sounds of Foo Fighters, yet I still snap my fingers to Justin Timberlake. I have read every Harry Potter novel three times, yet I still cherish John Steinbeck. You see, the most important underlying theme in all of what I do is that I love to laugh. A moment that brings people together in laughter is a moment I want to share. Laughter binds all humans at the hips. A laugh is understood across the globe. A Korean laugh is not misunderstood by an American. And an American laugh is most certainly understood by a Korean. No matter what the background all humans can laugh. We, as humans, should celebrate this great common trait, for a laugh is a truly powerful weapon?t can brighten up anyone's day. Such laughter is something that I search for everyday of my life.

Hello everyone! My name is Sophia Sou. I am a sophomore at Gabrielino High School in the city of San Gabriel. I live with both of my parents and I have one younger brother. At the moment, I am still searching and trying to decide on the career I would like to pursue. I am the type of person who wants to try to take advantage of whatever life has to offer me. I know that the world is huge and full of possibilities and I think that? what is keeping me from rushing into what will be a lifelong decision. However, I do have faith that when the day finally comes I will know what is best for me as a productive and enjoyable profession. If one thing is certain, however, it is that my family will always be my first priority since they have made me who I am today. At school I am an average student who is pretty much just like everyone else. I? not overly popular but not too nerdy either. I am on the Speech and Debate Team. And, no, I do not consider myself a good public speaker, which is why I am on the team. I need practice to become a great speaker. During my free time I like to take pictures. Outside of school, I am a member of a photo club. Landscape pictures are my passion. I just love the peaceful, natural vision and feeling that I get from nature. One of the things I enjoy doing is meeting people and trying to be helpful to them. I believe that the more people I get to know, the better person I will become and the more I will be able to contribute to society. Through my observations of others, I believe I will be able to form a better understanding of the world in which I live.

I have black hair, ten fingers, ping-pong ball eyes, and a big nose to match; it is me, Michael Trinh, and I am very excited to one of the participants selected for Project Bridge. I am Vietnamese and I am part of a family of four, which includes my mother, father and sister. I was born and raised in California. I am usually garrulous and boisterous when I am around fun people and my best friend. I listen to others and I am an in-depth thinker. I like mathematics and chemistry because I tend to do well in these two fields. Among my interesting or quirky facets is an ability to double joint some of my fingers and all of my toes; and I also am able to wiggle my ears. I play the violin either solo or along with others in an orchestra. I also hold a brown belt in the Korean martial art of Hapkido. I have a taste for terror, cultivated by watching and reading horror movies and books, and I enjoy reading fantasy books as well. Visiting theme parks such as Disneyland, Great America and Universal Studios in Hollywood is very exciting to me. Some of my favorite foods include spaghetti, burritos, pizza, mashed potatoes, steak and beef noodle soup. Leaving aside the subject of food, I would note that my favorite colors are red and green. I like red for its resemblance to fire and green for its natural freshness. Intertwining the two colors suggests Christmas, which is my favorite holiday. Ultimately, I plan to be a pharmacist and I am taking chemistry classes with this goal in mind. I have a knack for chemistry deep within me that I hope will bloom and flourish to enable me to discover cures for diseases.

Me!! Although many people may see me as a person who is too involved with school and homework to actually go out and do something with my life, in fact, I love to have fun. (No, I do not consider doing math problems or reciting the properties of chemical reactions in photosynthesis exactly funny.) Something I really enjoy is music. From rock music to classical music to video game music, anything that's soothing, touching, intense, or heartfelt, I'll listen to it. Ever since I was young, I remember I was infatuated with the opening theme song to the Reading Rainbow. I watched the show everyday, and everyday I would sing along. My mom told me that I even had the theme song memorized, and sang it even when the show wasn't on. (Too bad I can't remember all the lyrics now.) The Reading Rainbow theme song, though, wasn't the only music I enjoyed. The first time I saw an orchestra perform was on TV when I was very young. I had heard orchestras playing on the radio as background music for television shows countless times, but I had never seen an orchestra actually playing until then. Well, I just could not tear myself away from the TV. The emotion and power expressed by the movements of the string players were amazing to me. They were full of intensity and yet flowing with grace. That was when I truly discovered classical music. Now I play the viola for my school orchestra, and I hope to learn to play the cello as well. I also play in the percussion section of the school band. Over the many years that I have been exposed to different styles of music, I have come to believe that the music in my life is what makes me unique and special. I am attached to music the way a piece of gum gets stuck to the bottom of a shoe. Music isn't the only thing that makes me who I am as a person, but it is the most influential. So don't be afraid to talk music with me; I'm all ears.

I am sixteen years old (Oh yeah!!!), and my gender is female (if you don't know by now). I'm in the 10th grade. One word to describe me: strange??? Hobbies I enjoy: art, DDR, hanging out, doing something I've never done before, anything fun and enjoyable? Things that makes me happy: people, talking, food!!!!, friends, almost everything but homework?!!!! Things that tick me off: backstabbing, lying to one's face, two-hour lectures about something that could be said in five minutes, people who demand respect without earning it. Things that make me freak out: when a lot of people stare at me, when people make looggies. Stuff you should know: never try to wake me up forcefully (you might regret it), don't mess with the height!!!, don't criticize me for no reason or when you can't do any better, don't talk behind my back. I don't know what else to write so if you have any questions just ask and I'll be happy to answer you. Unless it is very uncomfortable and unnerving then ummmmmm it might take a while for me to give you an answer. Hee Hee.