The Life, Times, and Travels of Nicholas Dunkley…

So Far

Written by Nicholas Dunkley

For my parents, Bridget and Randy, who listened and supported me. Without their support, I might be a completely different person but they would still be proud. For my sister who put up with me; for Mrs. Cartner who encouraged me to write this; and for God who gave me the ability.

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Table of Contents

• Family, Birth, and Earliest Memories

• My Pets• My Vacations• Favorite Forms of

Recreation• Future Plans and Goals

• Want Ads• Rules to Live By• Snapshot Art• I Am Poem• Advice from Mom• Last Quote• Epilogue

My Family

My dad is named Randy and he is a driver for YRCW. My mom’s name is Bridget and she quit her job when I was born to take care of me. I have one sister named Lindsey. My maternal grandparents are Gerry and Faye. My paternal grandparents are Norman and Bobbie. I only have one aunt, Paula, which is my mom’s sister because my dad is an only child.

I was born at 8:00 P.M. on February 26, 1998, at Duke University Hospital. I weighed nine pounds and eight ounces, and was twenty-one inches long.

Birth

Earliest Memories One of my earliest memories is the birth of my sister. I was

only two years old when she was born, but I remember her as a baby. I was proud to be a big brother and according to my mom, I did a great job of taking care of her.

Another childhood memory I have is the beach. My first trip was to Daytona Beach, Florida with my mom and dad when I was five months old. We went at least once every year and still continue to do so.

Mom and me

Me

Dad and me

I loved being outside. In the summer, I was always in the water whether it was at home or at the beach. I also would go fishing on days when the weather was not so hot.

MeLindsey and me

MeLindsey and me

In the winter, I couldn’t wait for it to snow. I enjoyed going outside to build a snowman, or woman, sledding, and an occasional snowball fight. We did each and every activity as a family.

MeDad and me

Lindsey and me

My Pets

• My first pet was a Border Collie named Dino. My granddad gave him to me for my third birthday. Dino loved to play with a basketball and spin it on his nose. His favorite toy was a bucket, which he would toss in the air and catch on his head. Sometimes it would cover his eyes and he would blindly run around in circles until he tossed it off again. Dino became ill in December 2010, and died of cancer.

We got our Bichon Frise, Daisy, on January 8, 2010. My mom’s intentions were to pick her up while we were at school and surprise us when we got home. It snowed overnight and school ended up closing for the whole day, so the surprise was spoiled. Daisy loves her toys, my mom’s shoes, and to roll the toilet paper off the roll! We take her everywhere, including on vacation. When it is hot outside, her favorite thing to do is go for a swim in the pool!

In July 2007, my family and I went to Disney World in Orlando, Florida for two weeks. We stayed on the Disney resort and visited six different parks. We saw many things like the Herbie car and rode attractions like Soarin, a simulated ride that gives you the experience of hang gliding across the United States.

We visited Magic Kingdom where we saw numerous parades and shows, and met some of the Disney characters. We even arranged for my sister to dine with Cinderella.

In July 2008 we visited Key West, Florida, which is known as the “Home of the Sunset”. We had to cross over a seven mile bridge to get to our hotel. During our stay we saw all sorts of creatures right outside our back door. We also stood at the southernmost point in the Continental U.S.A. which was only ninety miles from Cuba.

In 2009, we stayed at the Marriot World Center which is a huge resort with countless pools and the best Japanese steak house. We spent most of our days swimming and relaxing by one of the pools.

We spent the rest of the time at Sea World. The shows there were fantastic and revolved entirely around the animals. The dolphins in “Blue Horizons" put on the best performance.

Shamu was amazing in the last show of the evening, “Shamu Rocks”…

but was unbelievable in “Believe”!

My Favorite Forms of Recreation

One of my favorite things to do is go bowling. I was on a bowling team for several years, until it fell apart. One of our best team members moved away and another lost interest. I am no longer on a team but I still go bowling regularly. My mom, Lindsey, and I go bowling sometimes on Fridays after school.

I enjoy swimming and boarding in the summer months. My favorite place to be is in the water.

My Life Goals

My first goal is to graduate from high school. I would like to be at the top of my class. My next goal would be to go to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and study forensic science. When I graduate from UNC, my third and most important goal is to get a job as a forensic scientist, possibly in a crime lab. It will give me a good feeling to know that I am fighting crime and getting criminals off the street.

I Anticipate… In five years, I will be a senior in high school. I will be turning

eighteen very soon. Hopefully, I will be at the top of my class and graduate with honors.

In twenty years, I will be thirty-two and employed as a supervising criminalist and forensic scientist in Santa Monica, California. I will still be single because I will be focused on my career. In a few years down the road, I will consider settling down.

In fifty years, I will be sixty-two and retired. I will have a wife, children, and possibly grandchildren. I will have worked and saved enough to travel and live comfortably.

WANTED

Beach home in Santa Monica, California with 5 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, family room, sunroom, and pool. Large kitchen and dining area is a must!

Black Audi R8 coupe with black leather interior, 5.2 liter engine, 6 speed R-tronic transmission and quattro, and 19 inch wheels.

Seeking supervising criminalist job in crime lab at Los Angeles Police Department. Prefer day shift and private office. Salary is negotiable.

Thirty something white male is seeking companionship and future spouse. Must be 20 or 30 something female that is an excellent cook with an established career and no children, but must want children in the future. Brunettes are preferred.

Rules to Live By

1. No matter where life takes you, never forget where you came from.

2. Remember the most important things in life aren’t things.

3. Life is too short. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of the things you can’t change.

4. Don’t worry about the people from the past, there is a reason they didn’t make it to your future.

I feel the rules I have chosen are good for everyone to live by because life is too short to be unhappy. You have to take the good with the bad. It is better to forgive quickly and let go of grudges because it will only bring you down. No matter who you are, there will always be someone who has more than you and things do not make a person. Material things are not important and more value should be placed on family and friendship. True wealth is the ability to experience life. We should never forget where we came from because your family will always be there to support you no matter what. I think living by these rules has made me a happier and less judgmental person.

I Am

I am

Oceans, Sunsets, and Mountains I like swimming and body boarding.

Respect, Honesty, and Loyalty are important to me. I find satisfaction in a job well done. I dislike it when things do not go as planned. But spontaneity makes life interesting. I love the beach and my family. I am trustworthy. I have a strong faith in God. This is me. I am!

Words of Advice from MomDear Nicholas,

There are many things you need to accept as you go through life. You are only human and if you can remember these simple rules, you will succeed.

• You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it is yours.

• You will learn lessons throughout your lifetime. You will be enrolled in a full time school, Life.

• There are no mistakes, only lessons. Your growth is a process of trial and error, or simply an experimentation.

• You will keep repeating a lesson until it is learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you learn it.

5. Learning lessons never ends. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.

6. Other people are simply mirrors of you. What you love or hate about another person, reflects something that you love or hate about yourself.

7. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the resources you need and what you do with them is your choice.

8. Life is exactly what you think it is. You create a life that matches your beliefs and expectations.

9. The answers lie inside you. The answers to life’s questions lie within you, and all you need to do is look, listen, and trust.

10. You will forget these rules.

11. You can remember these rules anytime you want.

I hope this bit of advice helps. As much as I hate to admit it, you are growing up and will have to start making your own decisions. I hope you always make the right choices for yourself, but remember that I will always be here if you need me.

Good Luck!

Love,

Mom

“Life is like a roller coaster, you get jerked one way and another, and you never know what’s around the corner, but you just got to enjoy the ride!”

Epilogue

It is now the year 2016 and as I proudly walk across the stage to receive my high school diploma, I think about where my life has taken me so far. I have traveled numerous places and have made many friends. I have done things I wouldn’t do again and made mistakes, but I have no regrets. I learned my lesson. With the continued support of my family, I have had the opportunity to do things my way and follow my own path, hopefully leaving a trail of success for others to follow. One of the most important things I have learned from my parents is that you can’t wait for life to happen, you must make it happen. When I leave here today, it will be time for me to enter the real world to prepare for what I hope to be a promising and fulfilling future.