My life is pretty crazy.

I was born in Colorado, and I moved to San Antonio when I was

around four years old. I have lived on this planet for a little over thirteen years. My life is filled
with many interesting stories, and many uninteresting stories. From when I was just a baby, all of
the way to this exact day, I have done some of the dumbest things, but Ive also had many great
accomplishments.
One great story that always gets told around Christmas and my birthday is about a little
incident that took place when I was just a baby (and no its not about when I was dropped on my
head). My parents and I had just returned from a huge winter camping trip. Now as you all
probably know, when you go camping, there isnt exactly a restroom anywhere near you. So,
throughout the course of the trip, my parents basically told me that the world was my bathroom.
After about a week, I had gotten used to just going outside when I needed to relieve myself. So, a
couple of days after we had returned from the trip, my mom needed me for some forgotten
reason. So, of course, I was nowhere to be found. After a while of searching, my mom finally ran
outside.
Cole! she yelled.
Then, she looked down our front door pathway. There I was, out on the sidewalk, naked
peeing in my mothers garden, waving to all of the cars that were passing. I was given a firm
talking to, and I was told to never go outside again without mommy or daddy.
Another funny story about my baby years was when my dad was teaching me about the
parts of the body. So there we were, sitting down in the middle of the living room, my dad
quizzing me about his face.
Wheres daddys ears? he asked me with a smile. I pointed to his ears.
Wheres daddys mouth? he asked. I pointed to his mouth.

Wheres daddys nose? he asked. I pointed to his nose.

Wheres daddys eyes? he asked. Pow! Apparently, my dad didnt know that I had
learned what a right cross was, and that I could use it on him.
Ow! shouted my dad, looking at my little giggling self. No punching! I was given
another firm talking to by my dad while my mom giggled in the corner.
Skipping forward a few years, to the time that I was in 1st grade, this is a story of one of
the most memorable, and one of the most painful, experiences of my life. I had been invited to
the bowling alley for a birthday party a week before, and I had been waiting all week for it. I
quickly tore away from my mothers hand and desperately started to search for my friends from
school. I knew that kids my age only get invited to about 15 birthday parties a year, so I couldnt
waste any time by not having fun. As soon as my mom chased me down and recaptured me, she
showed me the way to the party. We ran around played some video games, and ate some pizza.
Then we got to the fun part: bowling. We all felt like the kings and queens of the world as we
were knocking down an amazing 4 pins per turn. That's when the competition started.
"Hey guys! shouted out a little boy. "Look at what I can do." We all stared in
amazement as we saw that he was holding up a 7 pound bowling ball with one hand. 7 pounds!
Of course, the other men in the group couldn't let this amazing feat stand without some
competition.
"Well, I can pick up a 9 pound ball," said another kid, showing that he could prove this by
picking one up.
"I can do 10," said another finding himself a ball.
"11!"
"12!"

"13!"
Now it was my turn. I turned and tried to find the heaviest ball there was. And then I saw
it: the legendary 15 pounder. I stared at it in awe, mesmerized by its glossy purple color, and its
smooth roundness.
"Oooh yeah," I thought to myself. Using all of my might, I heaved up the ball and turned
around.
"15!" I shouted. The crowd of kids gasped and turned to see if I was telling the truth.
Jaws hit the floor, and others 'ooooohhed and 'ahhhhhhed. To further boost my performance, I
took one hand and lifted the ball high over my head. Big mistake. My arm buckled under the
weight of the ball. Instinctively, I reached down to catch the ball.
"Wham!" went the ball as it hit the floor.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!!! I howled.
I looked down at my hand. My left middle finger was completely purple. I had to wear a
little finger cast over my finger for a month, which, by the way, stayed purple the whole time I
had to wear that cast.
Even though that experience stayed with me for a long time, I have been through many
other really cool experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life, like the time when I
visited NASA when I was around 7.
As my moms colleague and long time friend, Emily, lead me and my family throughout
NASA, she filled our brains with the maximum amount of facts that we could hold. She
explained to us about how she worked at NASA as the flight director for the International Space
Station, and things that she had been working on recently. She showed us the mission control
room and the track where the astronauts trained and conditioned themselves for space flight. She

showed us the giant pool where astronauts trained how to operate and repair things in a
weightless environment.
This is where the cool part of the tour starts, Emily said, leading us to a small ladder
and into an even smaller room.
She sat me down on a tiny little chair in front of a huge wall of buttons. She carefully
placed my hand on a joystick, and told me to look at a little screen.
You see that? she asked me.
Yeah, I answered, even though I had absolutely no idea of what I was looking at.
What is that? I asked, puzzled, looking into the blue and green environment that was
being projected on the screen.
That, is the Earth. And right now, you are controlling the camera on the International
Space Station, she answered.
My jaw hit the floor. I was shocked. I didnt think anyone I knew had ever done anything
this amazing in their life. I mean, I was moving a camera on the Space Station! I couldnt say
anything, due to the fact that I was frozen with shock.
Pretty amazing, isnt it? Emily asked me.
I nodded my head, completely agreeing with her.
To this day, I dont think Ive ever done anything as cool as that, and I have done some
pretty neat things. Throughout the next couple years of my life, I took part in many other
awesome, sad, happy, painful, and scary experiences. Although, I think the scariest experience I
have ever been through occurred just a few years ago.
As I walked into the courtyard of my new school, I looked around, taking in everything.
Middle school, I thought to myself. Im finally here.

I was leaving behind the old and childish ways of elementary school, and entering the
new and independent ways of middle school.
Im finally going to be able to make my own decisions for myself, Im going to join the
football team, make rockets, and even make my own apps, I thought excitedly to myself.
And maybe Ill finally go through puberty, I thought.
I hurried into the auditorium with all of the other nervous and excited 6th graders. I sat
down in a comfy fold out chair next to two other kids.
Hey, said the kid to my right. Whats your name?
The kid was redheaded and about my height. He seemed pretty nice, and obviously
wasnt afraid to introduce himself to strangers.
Cole, I answered softly. Whats yours?
Im Josh, he answered. Nice to meet you.
You to, I answered.
I turned to my left, looking at the kid next to me. He was at least a foot taller than me and
had brown hair.
Whats your name? I asked him.
Oh, me? he said. Im Brennan.
Im Cole, and this is Josh, I said.
The three of us talked for a while about our schedules and how nervous we were about
coming to middle school for the first time. We all seemed to get along, and we had a lot in
common.
Then, out of the blue, we heard a Briiiiiing!. That was the bell, kicking of our first day
of middle school. I took a deep breath, and started off towards my first class.

Maybe this wont be so bad after all, I thought to myself.

Even though that was a very scary time for me, it was also kind of fun. I had even more
fun throughout the rest of that school year, and throughout that summer. But I think the best time
I had that year was the vacation I took to Orlando to Harry Potter Land.
When I walked into Hogsmeade, I was amazed at everything there was. Almost
everything I had seen and read from the Harry Potter series was there. There was so much to take
in: the enormous Hogwarts castle, the highly decorated and detailed shops, the people singing
with their croaking frogs, the almost-real owls. I didnt know where to start. I quickly ran into
the wand shop with my dad. We stood in front of a huge crowd of people, all of whom were
staring at a man in a long robe.
Welcome to Hogsmeade! said the man in a loud British accent.
And welcome to the best wand shop you will ever visit!
We all gazed upon him, anxious to see what he would do next.
I am in need of a volunteer from the audience, he shouted.
Immediately, every childs hand in the room shot up and started to wave furiously. The
man looked upon each and every one of our faces, but when he got to me, he stopped.
You, young man. Come, come, he beckoned me.
I stepped forward nervously. I looked back at my dad, who already had his phone out,
and was recording a video.
Lets find this young wizard a wand, he said, scanning the wall filled with various
boxes of many shapes and sizes.
He slowly pulled out one, opened it, and handed me a long, curved, wooden wand.
Well, give a wave, he told me.

I waved it in the air, and almost as if on cue, all of the drawers and cabinets randomly
started opening and closing.
Ummmm, I dont think so, the man said, taking the wand away from me.
How about this one, said the man, handing me another.
I waved it around, and the drawers did nothing. Instead, random pieces of paper started
flying around all over the room.
Goodness, we sure are having a hard time finding a wand for you, the man said in a
disappointed voice.
He scanned the walls again, and pulled out another box. Suddenly, a quiet Harry Potter
tune started to play, and the man turned to me with a quizzical look on his face.
I wonder, he questioned.
He walked over to me, handed me the wand, and nodded his head. I waved the wand, and
as soon as I did, the room brightened, and music started to play.
Congratulations, young wizard, said the man, staring at me proudly.
We have found you your wand, or should I say, the wand has found you.
I rushed out the room with my dad, purchased a different wand, (I didnt like that one),
and returned to the busy streets of Hogsmeade. Our next stop was at the candy shop. I bought a
delicious chocolate frog and some Every-Flavor Beans. We left the store, slurped down some
amazing frozen Butterbeer, and headed over to the Hogwarts castle. As we walked through the
halls of the greatest school of witchcraft and wizardry, we were astounded by the moving and
talking pictures, the giant sets of night armor, and every amazing little detail of the castle.
Finally, we got to the boarding area for the famed Hogwarts ride. We were lifted up high in a
pitch black room. Then, a screen turned on, showing Harry and his friends. We flew around with

Harry, racing through crumbling caves and encountering Harrys rivals. I was blown away at
how real it all seemed! I could literally feel the wind rushing past my ears as we raced around,
and I could hear every little thing that Harry could. When we got of the ride for about our third
time, me and my dad were worn out.
Lets head back to the hotel, my dad slowly droaned.
Ok, I agreed.
We slowly made the journey out of Universal Studios, through the long line of wiped out
people, and through the huge parking lot to our car. We got into the car and made our way to our
hotel. About five minutes into the drive, my dad turned to me
I think thats the most fun Ive had in forever, announced my dad.
Oh yeah, I concurred.
From the time I was a baby until today, I have gone through many fun, scary, painful,
funny, and awesome experiences. I have learned many lessons and many new things. Some I
learned the easy way, and some the hard way. Every experience I have gone through has had
positive and negative impacts on my life. But if I had to describe my life in one word, that word
would be fantastic.