2006 Memoirs

(click on photo to read memoir)

Thanks to Rebecca Lee and David Thompson for taking many of the photos .

Emma Ammirati		Emma has lived in the Bay Area her whole life, and is hoping to go to college further away. Emma loves to cook, write and is an aspiring photographer. Her memoir tells the story of a hero who falls but gets back up. If you read her memoir you will get a peek into Emma’s life and see how she dealt with this traumatic event.
Molly Bell		Molly’s biggest fear is any type of bug and she loves sour candy. Her two mothers are addicted to traveling and that has rubbed off on her. She has been to four continents and REALLY wants to travel to all seven. Her most memorable trip was to Tanzania, Africa…
Emma Bloom		Emma Rose Bloom lives in Alameda with the porcupine and baby sister because she was emancipated at age 15. She has been a part of the ice capades her entire life and it is her inspiration to write. Emma is planning to take a year off of school and
Lucas Buckman		Lucas Buckman has lived in Berkeley, California all his life. His favorite writer is Kurt Vonnegut. Lucas is excited to vote for Dennis Kucinich in the 2008 election, Lucas’ first opportunity to vote. He loves hummus, avocado, and mangos. Lucas hopes to focus on the study of history post-high school, and go on to be a history teacher. Lucas wrote his memoir about the loss of his father and how it affected him at such a ripe young age.
Anna Capurso		Anna wants to see the world. Her life is based around her obsessions with music and Burning Man. She does not know if she will attend college next fall, but she has magnificent plans for her future.
Isabel Callejo-Brighton		Isabel has lived with her family in Berkeley her entire life. She has loved horses for as long as she can remember and first sat on a horse at the age of two. Both her parents are associated with the law, which is a career Isabel hopes to explore in her future.
David Coplan-Castillo		David has lived in Berkeley since he was 3, when he came from Nicaragua. His father is American and his mother is Costa Rican. You should find his memoir intoxicatingly good. He believes that "you should never piss on an electric fence." He plans to do ROTC in Southern California after high school.
David Crane
Rebecca Creger		Rebecca Creger moved to Berkeley at the tender age of three from Kensington. Her family is multi-ethnic, which makes her a Hapa. She wants to travel a lot and get a liberal arts education. Rebecca believes that life is too short to take yourself too seriously. She suggests that you eat dim sum and latkes when you’re reading her memoir.
Kate Donahue		Kate grew up in Emeryville and has lived half the week in Berkeley since Freshman year. She has a mother, father, step mother, step father, baby half sister, and two fake sisters. She wants to go to a small liberal arts college on the east coast like everyone else.
Robin Fischer		Robin has lived in the Bay Area for most of her life. She is never quite sure of what to say in biographies, though is hard to shut up during a conversation. She gets obsessed with things easily, weather it be her bicycle, doodling or various musical instruments. She laughs kinda funny too.
Natalya Gibbs		Natalya has always loved to write. She would dictate small stories to her parents all the time about butterflies and ponies. She hopes that you don’t think that she had some kind of religious awakening, but that you read on to figure out what she could be possibly talking about. She believes that if everyone embraced their inner child, i.e. butterflies and ponies, the world would be a better place. Or at least a happier one.
Nate Haile		Nate was born in Ethiopia and came into the U.S. at four years old. His siblings are dispersed all around the world and he hardly knows his parents. He had a difficult time writing the memoir emotionally. He believes that “paper and pencil are there to listen.” He hopes to attend a UC as an engineer.
Audrey Haynes		Audrey Haynes lives in Berkeley with her parents and sometimes her brother. She is currently pursuing her high school diploma and hopes to soon go on to higher learning. Although she doesn't own the fecund hamsters anymore, she does enjoy the company of two manic dogs and a fish named Michael, or Moses, or sometimes Michael Moses.
Amber Hogue		Amber’s home is in Oakland, but lives in Berkeley because that’s where she is most of the time. She plans to travel around Europe and to do some community service next summer before going to college.
Wes Holtermann		wes holtermann is half-greek and is almost never the one who messes up a three-man weave. he has lived in berkeley. in california (the U.S.A., the world, the universe). he has lived there for as long as he can remember, which is since he was about five. before then, who knows. his future plans almost all include the N.B.A. his story is about the jungle.
Nick James		Nicholaus James was born on January 22, 1990 in Berkeley. He was raised in both Berkeley and Oakland. His parents are ArVaughn Manning and Orlando James, two very hardworking parents. Nick was always with his grandparents, Katherine and Robert Manning. He likes to work, shop, take trips, and go to the movies.
Zoe Janachek		Zoe was born in San Francisco but spent the majority of her childhood in Seattle. Much to her dismay herparents grew tired of Seattle’s rainy nature and returned to California. Although she misses Washington she now considers the Bay Area her home. She is a proud member and current captain of the Oakland Strokes crew team. When shes not in school or rowing Zoe enjoys dance parties with her teammates in the JLAC parking lot, laying in the sun and road trips with friends. Zoe plans to continue her education and rowing at a four year university.
Emily Judd		Emily has lived in Berkeley all her life in a family of eccentrics. This memoir isn’t really about them though. She doesn’t know what she will do in the future, but hopefully it will involve drawing monsters. This memoir isn’t really about monsters either.
Delia Keller
Simone Kertesz		Simone is seventeen years old and loves Berkeley California! Simone plans to go to college next fall and study theater. Simone hopes you enjoy her memoir about Israel. Israel is her favorite place in the world and she hopes to live there someday.
Anne Kabori		Anne Yumi Kobori was born in SF, moved to Thailand, and settled in Berkeley. Half her waking hours are spent at the ice rink, the other half on the stage. She dreams of Broadway but meanwhile is content to be an economically challenged bohemian. In her memoir, she hopes to inspire women empowerment and comfort with the word “vagina.”
Rebecca Lee		Rebecca was born in New York and after several moves with her parents and her brother she ended up in Berkeley where her sister and her other brother were born. She hopes to sew enough bags to have a different one for every day of the week at some point in the near future.
Max		Max was born in San Francisco, at the age of 3, he moved to southern Germany, where he has lived ever since. Max lived in the Black Forest in a village called Kollnau. His mother is American, his father is German; that makes him half and half. Max's hobbies are: traveling, playing chess, playing guitar, partying and acting. In the future he will probably study drama and philosophy, but later on Max wants to travel a lot, see the world and find out what he is looking for in life.
Tina Li		Tina hopes that you will read her memoir and look upon her traumatizing experiences with pencils and erasers as humorous encounters. Then, you might not think she's so crazy. She also procrastinates a lot. This makes her a bad person.
Genevieve Mather		Genevieve is most often lost in an overdone daydream. She wonders if her memoir has enough colored font. “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” -Nietzsche
Chazney McBride		Chazney, a Berkeley native, was born at Summit Hospital on August 3, 1990. She stays with her mom and 7-year-old brother whom she wants to throw out of the window most of the time. After high school, Chazney wants to attend either Northridge or SF State to study apparel design. She dreams of becoming a household name in the world of fashion.
Neoma Moreno		Neoma is currently living in Berkeley, she still considers San Francisco her hometown. Coming from a family of multiple talents, she is considered as a multitalented artist. She hopes that her memoir won\rquote t cause any of her readers to have any nightmares. Neoma believes that people should live life like there\rquote s no tomorrow. She hopes to study computer graphic arts at UAT in Tempe, Arizona next year.
Paul Navarrete		Paul Navarrete is a descendant of Robert the Bruce, the great Scottish warrior, and maybe of George Washington, the great American warrior. He is a Native Son, having lived in Berkeley his whole life. Paul’s memoir is about a blizzard for the ages. He is trying to learn more about robots.
Alex Nichols		Alex has lived in Berkeley his whole life. He wishes to embark on quality endeavors throughout the wilderness of the Canadian woods, diligently studying earth or environmental sciences. Both his parents grew up in Canada and attended McGill, studying geophysics and education. Alex believes that, “it is only after we have lost everything, that we are free to do anything.”
Calvin O'Leary
Maria Parangueo		Maria has lived in Mexico for nine years. She migrated to the US in 1999. She hopes that you don’t have friends annoying like her. Maria also hopes to be the first generation to go to college.
Talia P-L
Leila Pakawongse		Leila was born and raised in Berkeley. Her parents, natives of Thailand, have had a huge influence on the lives of her older brother and her own. They have also influenced her memoir. She'd like to believe in "Don't sweat the little things," but you can't always get what you want. She hopes to study architecture at UC Berkeley.
Ruth Pardee		Ruth has lived in Berkeley with her parents, older brother, and dog Archie her whole life. She hopes you will be able to learn from her story about her grandmother and asking for what you want in life. Ruth has been raised in the Berkeley Public School system, and hopes to go to Vassar College next year to study biology and music.
Anh Van Pham		Before moving to California, Anh Van had lived in Thailand and Vietnam. Her family consists of her hyperactive mom, laid back dad, and her crazy sisters. Her first job experience wasn't exactly stress free but she learned how to adapt very quickly. As for her future plans, she still undecided. However she hopes to move to Korea one day.
Katrin Pitzken		Katrin was born in Germany. She is staying in Berkeley as an exchange student. Going to such a big school is totally new for her, but she really enjoys her stay. Besides doing Kung-Fu, she is interested in dance and music.
Ethan Poole		Ethan Poole is domiciled in the municipality of Berkeley. He is housed with both a paternal and a maternal unit. Ever since he was born, Ethan has felt the inextinguishable lust for verbose, circumlocutory, and embellished method of verbal communication. He hopes you enjoy this recounting of his childhood, which is not written in the same manner as this biography.
Adrian Roland-Holst		Adrian was born in Maryland and soon moved to Berkeley after a few months. Adrian loves Berkeley very much and is always heartbroken whenever he travels out of town. He also believes that a first draft should never be typed and has stuck by this philosophy his entire life. He wishes to study eco-friendly architecture at the University of Oregon next year.
Zoe Richards		Zoë Richards is 17, and lives in Berkeley. She is anticipating some sort of college experience in the near future, but hopes to defer that for a year or so. In her free time Zoë walks a bunch, because she doesn’t know how to drive. She is pretty comfortable with disorganization.
Sheilicia Runnels		Sheilicia was born and raised in Oakland. Although she is her mother's only child, she is far from spoiled. From the age of six, she has been constantly involved in track and field, to be separated from all of the bad influences around her. Next fall, she plans to attend Clark University in Atlanta to study biology.
Rhodesa Salisi		Although born in San Francisco, Rhodeza has lived in Berkeley all her life. The eldest of two girls, she enjoys hanging with friends, playing badminton, and a lot of other good stuff. She plans to attend some college next year and major in some type of science, but other than that, she has no current goals or ambitions.
Milena Schaller		Milena loves hedgehogs and their hats, strange leaves which turn out to be insects after all, and talking with her friend about that book with the forgettable title and the beautiful luminous pink fish. She also enjoys playing 'cello, writing, Latin, French, and Scottish dancing, as well as reading books out loud with emphatic swoops and thumps of her voice when nobody’s listening.
Andrei Smith		Andrei Smith has grown up around the world, living in places such as Tokyo, Madison, and all over Australia. His father’s is the Author of “A Series of Unfortunate Events”, and his mother works at UC Berkeley. Jill Banfield, Andrei’s mother, is the famed designer of the Gravel Smoother, a machine that shines ordinary gravel for expensive resorts. Andrei is Tall.
Lynn Smith		Lynn is a girl who likes dogs. She lives with a sister and father. How many dogs does it take to get the right one? Can a dog change Lynn's life and character? Find these answers and more in her memoir.
Matt Stewart-Cohn		My name is Matt Stewart-Cohn and I have lived in the same house all my life, near San Pablo and Hopkins. On a typical day for me, it usually never consists of any bodily contact with a BB gun, and I plan to go to Oregon.
Shinequa Sutherland		Shinequa Sutherland is nice, caring, and generous person. She is the youngest of all her friends, and is also the shortest. She was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved to California when she was 8 years old. She lives with both her parents and her little brother. Because she was born late in the year her favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because not only does she get a birthday cake, but the whole holiday meal.
Celeste Swain		Celeste Swain was born in Berkeley into a family of actors. Despite her genes, she does not enjoy to act. Instead, she loves to laugh with friends, play sports, and just be silly. She hopes to study and play soccer at a liberal arts college next year.
Sienna Swan		Sienna was born in Berkeley, and, except for a brief stint in England, has lived there her whole life. She was partially raised by wolves, and it may show in her writing. She enjoys outer space, reading, and nature, and tries to incorporate all three into her lifestyle. She hopes to attend Oregon school of Arts and Crafts next year.
Ellie Tandeta		Eleanor has lived in Oakland her entire life, and has lived in Berkeley for the last five years. Her mother is a professor of art history, and her father is a Lawyer. She also lives with her older sister, Rosie, who is her best friend and role model. Eleanor’s memoir includes chaos, friendship, and whiny children. She believes that we only get one life, so we shouldn’t waste it doing things we hate, like homework. She plans to study nutrition at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Alaicia Taylor		Alacia, a Virginia native, was born in California. She has travelled to cities all over the East Coast. Alaicia enjoys writing, art, and music. She has made many changed to her life because of travelling so much and hopes that she can "journey through her emotions." She now studies mathematics and plans one day to be a mathemetician.
David Thompson		David is a Berkeley native, born and raised. He happily lives with his Mom. His story deals with losing a family member and using that experience to grow. David enjoys photography and will never be found without his camera. David knows he will be successful in his life no matter what and is hoping to attend a UC next fall.
Jessica Tong		Jessica Tong has lived in Berkeley since she was born with her parents and younger brother. Her hobbies include reading, playing soccer, and traveling. She hopes that you find her memoir about Japan interesting, and that reading about her experience is as enjoyable as living it was.
Wendy Ung		Wendy has basically lived in Berkeley for all her life. She lives with parents and her two sisters. Her memoir is about Mel, her best friend, and a bad incidence they encountered at Gap. Wendy believes writing is the best way to express oneself. She hopes to concentrate on her writing at Emerson College.
Aria Vahdani		Aria has lived in Richmond/El Cerrito all his life. His family is from two different cities in Iran: Esfahan and Tehran. His memoir shows a glimpse of his weekend lifestyle. Aria is going to school in Santa Barbara next year and will eventually become a cook.
Annie Vannachit
Liza Veale		Liza's story has a couple typos. Forgive her for it. Writing is difficult.
Merav Walklet		Merav Walklet enjoys Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain. She aspires to create world peace and end global warming after graduating from UC Santa Cruz in 2012. She intends to travel the world, but reassures her reader that her travels will not be like those of her father, described in her heavy memoir. She hopes that her versatile aging personas don’t confuse or annoy her reader, and that her audience can get something more than homework credit out of her story.
Tequilla Warner		Tequilla has lived in Berkeley all her life. Coming from a line of cooks, she often feels the heat. She hopes that you find her memoir about badminton smashing and that it doesn't drop your interest. Tequilla believes that people who can't cook can't write and vice-versa. But people who can do both write creatively. She hopes to study psychology at San Francisco State next year.
Ana Weidenfeld		Ana Weidenfeld has lived in Berkeley her whole life. She hopes that you enjoy her memoir about what she found. Ana hopes to become a cartographer or a mineralogist.
Sara Wilson		Sara Wilson is a Berkeley native who lives with her parents, her brother, and her dog. She is a historical fashion and costume enthusiast who wishes that she had somewhere to wear her costume collection.
Sarah Woodard		Sarah Woodard currently attends Berkeley High. She is interested in subjects such as Dance and Ceramics. She is planning on attending Chico State and spending her junior year abroad learning about many different cultures. She is seriously considering spending that year in Iceland. Maybe she will finally learn Icelandic, a language she has been craving to learn her whole life.
Shoshana Zambryski-Stachel		Shoshana is a traditional photographer and as such is tactile and believes that the process is just as, if not more, important than the result. Her memoir is about the process.