SIERRA'S WEB

THE ONLINE HOME OF SIERRA NEVADA DOMBAYCI

SEPTEMBER 2009. I recently got to spend a week at Amherst College in Amherst, MA at the Great Books Summer Program and see my NJ family members. When I got back I had a relaxing break at the beach in Lauderdale By The Sea for ten whole days!Right now I am prepping for my second SAT and applying to colleges. I am currently enrolled at Valencia Community College. ......Stop back soon for more news and updates......Thanks for visiting my home on the web!

OTHER NEWS: SEPTEMBER 2009.

This year in school I am taking Spanish II, Chemistry, Naval Science, Russian Literature, College Algebra, Philosophy, Shakespeare, Pre Calculus, International Politics, and Great Books. I just finished reading Dead Souls by Gogol and I am currently reading Fathers & Sons by Turgenev.
My college list is now final. I have decided to apply to 6 colleges. They are located in VA, MD, NC, and FL.

Welcome to my home on the web. I am a 16 year old home educated high school Senior in central Florida. I take some of my courses at home, and the rest at community college. My long term goals are to possibly get a BA in political science, public policy analysis, or a related subject with a minor in philosophy. I would ultimately like to get a PhD in Political Science or Law and work in the government sector in Washington, DC. I am also interested in Intelligence.

I am an avid reader and read many books for school, if you would like to donate a book for my education
PLEASE VISIT MY AMAZON.COM WISH LIST
by clicking on the button below

My Amazon.com Wish List

This is my fourth year participating in the Osceola County Teen Court program, where I served for over a year on a teen court jury for real cases at juvenile court. This is my third year as a Teen Attorney in this program.

I am involved with Junior Achievement in central Florida. I attended training in Orlando in February, 2007, and I have taught economics to both 2nd grade and kindergarten students in my town. The program lasts for five weeks each year. As I move through High School I will continue teaching economics in the local schools. This is a great program to be involved in.

I was formerly a Young Marine from 2006 to 2007 with the Orlando Devil Dogs. I was the Honor Recruit for my training class there. I then advanced to Young Marine Lance Corporal within 6 months. I attended Junior Leadership School in March 2007, and I attended the First Florida Regiment camp/competition with the Orlando Devil Dogs in April 07 where we won FIRST place in the Field Meet and second place overall. I joined the Lcpl. Brian R. Buesing Young Marines of Brooksville, FL in February, 2009 and we also won first place at the annual field meet in drill and over-all! I did not have time to continue the program this year. Semper Fi, OOH RAH!


Me at my Honor Recruit Graduation Ceremony

I am a member of Team trident NSW in the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps. I have been a Sea Cadet since September, 2007 and I am now a Petty Officer Third Class. I have been an Assistant Lead Petty Officer and an "acting" Lead Petty Officer. I attended Boot Camp at Corry Station in Pensacola, FL; Submarine Seminars in Kings Bay, GA; Operations Specialist School at Great Lakes, IL; and Petty Officer Leadership Academy at Norfolk Naval Base, VA. I also qualified for my marksmanship ribbon. I learn leadership skills, Naval Science, and military history, and special warfare training. I have participated in parades, practiced close order drill and color guard ceremonies, passed PFT, had fun doing seal boat (Zodiac)training, shipboard training, community service, and much more.

I was a member of the St. Cloud High School's Junior Army ROTC for the 2008-2009 school year where I attained the rank of Sergeant.

I am also working on earning the Congressional Silver Award. The Congressional Award is one of just two awards given out by Congress. The other is the Medal Of Honor. To earn the Gold Congressional Award, you must perform 400 hours of community service and do work in four subject areas. They are; personal improvement, athletics, community service, and a challenge/exploration that you must plan and execute. It takes years to earn this award and I have already earned the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Certificates, and the Bronze Medal.

I am also into physical fitness. I have earned the President's Challenge Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, and I am currently working on the Platinum Award. My program includes swimming, running, weight training, PFT, yoga/pilates, and a bit of inline skating.

I was a figure skater for almost 7 years. I competed recreationally for the first 3 years and was competitive in USFS for the last three and a half. I enjoyed skating very much but after winning Gold at my last two competitions, I decided to concentrate on Sea Cadets, Teen Court, school, and other opportunities.

I was a Girl Scout for 10 years and I have been with troops in the Ocean County Council (NJ), The Girl Scout Council of Our Nation's Capital (DC, MD, VA), the Sun Coast Council (FL), and the Citrus Council (FL). I had a great time in scouting, but Sea Cadets and my other activities take up most of my time now.

I did short track speedskating from February 2007 until Dec 2007. It was a lot of fun and great for physical fitness.

My former speedskating team. I'm in the front on the right.

I also like music and my favorite guitar player is Jerry Cantrell. I sometimes play the guitar for fun.

Now a little history:

I was born at the Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ and lived my first few years in Hawthorne, NJ but moved to South Jersey (Toms River and Seaside Heights) when I was young (we also lived in Syracuse, NY for a short time). When I was five years old we had a house fire in Bayville, NJ and moved to Manassas, Virginia. I began homeshooling and figure skating while living there. In 2002 my family moved to Clearwater, then Port Richey, Florida, and finally Osceola County, where I live now.

I live with my Mom and Dad, just outside of Orlando. My older brother lives close by and I have an older sister who also lives in FL. I have a 1 year old niece named Olivia, who was born on August 25, 2008. Most of my extended family live in NJ including an Aunt who is a Police Officer. My maternal grandfather lives in Illinois.

As for me, my heritage is English, Irish, Italian, Iroquois (Native American), and Turkish. That is my heritage. I am first and foremost an American.

One of my favorite academic subjects is Economics. I like everything about it. I find that I relate it to almost everything. The last econ book I read was Freakanomics (Levitt). I also read Milton Friedman last year.

I really like pets as well. I now own a turtle. Over the years I have had three rabbits, four rats, a few parakeets, one dog, three guinea pigs, two hamsters, and four hermit crabs.

What do I do for fun?
Well, I love Sea Cadets, reading, watching movies, watching Youtube, taking photos with my digital camera, editing photos on the PC, swimming and going to the beach, photography, camping, riding roller coasters, working online, reading philosophy, emailing my friends, reading fashion magazines, eating out, going shopping at the mall, and going to interesting museums. I especially like going to Sea World in Orlando, where I am a season passholder.


Me on the USS Alabama, Mobile, AL.

I am lucky to have friends from all different walks of life. I have friends at my old library (Richie and Nick), Sea Cadet friends (The Jacksons, Lima), friends in the military, local friends (John, Dominique, Tito and Geoff), and friends in places where I used to live(Michelle-VA) I recently got to see Michelle whom I had not seen since second grade. We went camping with her family overnight in VA.

Last but not least, I enjoy fashion. I like looking at magazines and seeing what the new designers come up with.

What else you should know about me:
I have won 31 gold medals in ISI figure skating (including 2003 Worlds), and five medals in USFS (two Gold). I wrote an article on recovery from opiate dependence and the stigma surrounding patients on methadone which was published in a international newsletter. I also presented a paper I wrote on children whose parents are in recovery, at the American Association for the Treatmet of Opioid Dependence 2005 national conference in Atlanta, GA. I wrote and edited the Summer Camp Gazette in 2006 at my skating rink, and I earned the Congressional Bronze Medal.


Me presenting at the AATOD conference. 2005.

I AM TRYING TO RAISE MONEY FOR COLLEGE BOOKS. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP OUT WITH A $25.00 DONATION (or any amount!) THROUGH PAY PAL YOU CAN USE THE LINK BELOW. IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! ALSO SEE THE AMAZON.COM BUTTON ABOVE! THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

Well, I hope you like my page. You can also check out my other pages in the links below. Don't forget to sign my guest book and come back soon for updates.


View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook

My Long List of Favorites

LINKS

My Figure Skating Page
My Speedskating Page (new!)
United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps
Photo Album (coming soon)
My Young Marines Page
My Space
St. Cloud High School
JROTC
The Economist Online
Sea World, Orlando
Best Florida Resort
Jerry Cantrell

Email: skater4ever@earthlink.net