Chapter 1: Unexpected Revelations

Inspiration struck when the remarkable Niharikaa Kaur Sodhi, a prominent writer on Medium and a skilled mentor in online presence, encouraged me to share a post about lesser-known aspects of my life. As I mentioned in my response to her, this isn't so much about what people are unaware of regarding me, but rather a collection of experiences I've shared that often went unnoticed. Here it goes…

After studying Spanish for three years throughout middle and high school, I transitioned to learning Russian in 11th grade. While I could read enough Spanish to enjoy works by my favorite author, Gabriel García Márquez, and could manage simple sentences, the only phrase I could easily recall was ¿Dónde está el baño? My brief exposure to Russian left me only with the ability to pronounce Cyrillic letters, which was surprisingly useful during a trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, that my mother and I took in 2018.

In 11th grade, I discovered that by opting for 12th-grade English instead of Chorus, I could fulfill the requirements for my high school diploma. The Baltimore County Board of Education had a policy stating that diplomas were awarded to those who completed 12 years of schooling. With assistance from an expert at Johns Hopkins University, my father successfully contested this rule, allowing me to graduate after attending just 11 years of public education (I skipped kindergarten).

That expert, Dr. Julius Stanley, initiated a long-term study in 1972 to identify mathematically gifted youth, administering the SAT college entrance exam to high-performing students in 7th and 8th grades. I was part of the inaugural group, scoring 710 on the math section at the age of 13. The study is still ongoing, and I completed a questionnaire about a decade ago, with another one expected in five years.

Dr. Stanley had us take various aptitude and personality tests, revealing that I was also verbally talented, with an IQ exceeding 165. At my mother’s urging, I joined MENSA, a decision that didn’t offer much for a 15-year-old. However, my verbal skills earned me a spot in a college-level writing course at Hopkins while I was still in high school, where I learned the value of constructive criticism.

On a different note, I've had my nose broken four times. The first incident occurred when I collided with the steering wheel during a head-on crash with a drunk driver at 16. The other three incidents are stories for another time, perhaps in 20 years.

In July 1999, I spent a month in Lebanon, awaiting a visa to accept a position in Saudi Arabia. Ironically, I later found out I needed to be in the U.S. to obtain that visa. During my stay, I revised the curriculum for the school I would be directing and enjoyed watching planes land at Beirut Airport from the guesthouse balcony in Choueifat, a city nestled on a mountain southeast of Beirut.

On that note, the English woman who was set to oversee the early grades at my school recommended a fantastic restaurant located among Roman ruins in Sidon, south of Beirut. We hired a driver, but had to duck down when passing Hezbollah checkpoints. Although we were unaware of the dangers involved, we later learned that no meal is worth risking one’s life unless one is truly starving. The food was exceptional, and the ambiance remarkable, leading us to take a different route back to Choueifat.

I was baptized in the Disciples of Christ Church when I was around 11 or 12, following my father’s religious tradition, which he inherited from his maternal grandmother, who was baptized in the Shenango River in Sharon, PA. This baptism involved immersion in a large tub behind the altar, a sight that left little to the imagination when wearing the thin white gown.

We ceased attending that church a year later, and I followed my older brother to the Towson Presbyterian Church, where I participated in the youth choir, handbell choir, and Bible studies. This journey led to my second baptism, performed by born-again Christians through sprinkling. However, at 16, when I came out as gay, I found that my identity conflicted with the beliefs of that religious group.

Lastly, I have penned 19 poems throughout my life, six of which have been published. One of these emerged from the aforementioned writing class and was featured in the Ithaca Women’s Review in 1978, later republished in Terra Preta Review in December 2019. Another piece won a blue ribbon in the New York State Fair Poetry Competition (adult division) in 2018 and appeared in Eleventh Transmission in July 2019.

As you may observe, readers can glean much more about me from the manner in which I’ve shared these anecdotes and facts. Most of these are rarely discussed, as they may come off as self-congratulatory. They likely appear that way here too. I’ve yet to discover the guidebook on promoting oneself as a writer without displaying pride in one’s achievements. I’m content with who I am, something I couldn’t claim for most of my life. This enthusiasm spills into my writing, and if it resonates with others, that’s wonderful. If it turns some away, well, I enjoyed the process.

In the video "10 Things You Didn't Know About Me," the creator shares a personal and engaging list of surprising facts and experiences that shaped their identity. This candid exploration reveals insights into their life journey, showcasing a unique blend of vulnerability and humor.

The video titled "10 Things You Don't Know About Me!" offers a delightful glimpse into the lesser-known aspects of the creator’s life. Through an entertaining narrative, the audience is invited to learn more about the individual behind the screen, emphasizing the importance of personal storytelling.