Last Update: September 21, 1999
I like to spend time on the computer, and writing music (which I will explain later). I am very uncomfortable talking in front of a class or speaking in class. Never in my years of school have I studied for a test or a quiz, but I have always gotten great grades. My 8th grade science teacher said that I learn by listening and writing. The way I do in school depends on the teacher, if the teacher is nice, explains things well, has a sense of humor, and makes the things sound interesting I do very well in that class. If the teacher is mean and just makes us take notes and do tons of meaningless work I would do badly. This year all teachers are perfect, especially in Space Science, the subject is interesting and so is the teacher. I have the worst handwriting so I never write my important things by hand. I always do it on my computers at home; I find it easier and faster. When I get older I want to be an Electric Engineer because I love electronics.
At home I have two computers. I got them at different times but for the same occasion which was my birthday. There is a third computer that is different from the rest, I am in the process of building it. I remember the first time I got the idea to get a computer it was in 1994 around November and we went into a store and I saw a computer on display. I told my father that I wanted a computer. Around that time I never dreamed of having a computer. I thought it was something I would never have. My father said, "Maybe for Christmas I will get you one." But, when Christmas came by there was no computer. As time went on I kept waiting for my computer but I never got it until that one night in March when my father came home from work and I saw that he had purchased a computer. I was so happy and excited, it was a Packard Bell computer. It took a while until my father decided set it up in my room a month later, but once it was set up we turned it on, and that was the first time we had ever used a computer of our own. As time went on, I learned new things every day with my computer. The way I learned things is by trying them out, since I have a very good memory, I never forget anything that deals with computers. My father then purchased a software package for my computer. It contained different types of software like an interactive course that would teach you how to use the computer by talking to you and you following instructions as the program spoke. When I was using that program, I learned the basics of Windows 3.11 and the Microsoft Works 3.0 tools. I learned the rest of the things by myself by exploring.
In September of 1996 I got an upgrade to Windows 95. I stayed up all night installing it because my computer was working slowly since it did not have enough memory because it was becoming outdated. I only had 4MB and it needed at least 8MB to install and run Windows 95 smoothly. I also had the problem of low disk space and a slow processor. When Windows 95 was finished installing, it was late at night so I had to wait till the next day to finally use it.
I have had some experience with Windows 95 before I had it on my computer. I saw a special program on TV that explained Windows 95 and taught a few basic things about it. Another time was when I went to Florida and someone had a computer and wanted me to teach them how to use it and that person had Windows 95.
In about November of 1996 I had gotten tired of the computer working so slow that my father bought a memory upgrade of 16MB (after many weeks of asking). When we installed the memory I was surprised when the computer was working fast, but hard disk was very low on space. I only had a 500MB disk so I compressed it using a program that came with Windows 95. I got some extra space to last me a while. Another thing was that now the processor's slowness was starting to make me impatient. In January of 1997 I went to an electronics store to buy something, there I noticed that my computer was definitely outdated more than I thought. There I knew that I wanted to upgrade to computer.
When I noticed that upgrading my computer would cost a lot of money, I wanted a new computer instead. I looked in hundreds of computer magazines to see what was the most up to date. On March 19, 1997 I got my second computer which was to be my birthday present for my birthday in April. I was even happier than when I got my first computer. This computer had the most up-to-date things of its time, it had a 200Mhz Pentium processor with MMX Technology, a 3.2 GB Hard drive, 32MB of memory, 3D graphics Accelerator, and all the good stuff.
This new computer was like a dream come true but I knew that it would some day be outdated. I promised my parents that I would not buy a new computer until 2000. About a year and a half later I started to notice that my computer was not the best thing around, new and faster things have come out. When Windows 98 was released, I made my first upgrade to my new computer. I purchased Windows 98 and installed it on to my computer. I really thought Windows 98 was the greatest thing that has ever come out. Then a month later I changed the CD-ROM drive from 16X to 36X because I wanted a faster one. I was so proud of myself for doing that. After that upgrade I wasn’t very hesitant to do other things, such as the hard drive. My hard drive was quickly running out of space because of Windows 98, so I bought a new 8.4 GB hard drive. Together with the old hard drive I have 12.7 GB, I said to myself "this will last me a long time." Then I noticed I needed more memory, my sister has this program called Petz 3 (which is awesome). Petz 3 is about pets, cats and dogs you actually have a computer pet and it is quite realistic too, but it uses a lot of RAM so I was forced to buy more RAM, 64 MB to be exact. Then I wanted a new video card because the one I had was very outdated. I noticed that there was something out there called a "Voodoo 2" from 3dfx Interactive, I read more about it I knew that’s what I wanted. When I finally got the video card (after a ½ a year of saving up for it) I was speechless when I tried it out, it was one of the greatest things I bought for my computer. Then came things like a new mouse with a scroll wheel, the modem upgrade from 33.6kps to 56kps, and Windows 98 Second Edition. I plan on getting the computer a new processor from Evergreen Technologies, which will change the speed from 200 MHz to 400 MHz. As for my older computer, I have upgraded it a lot, starting with its processor. The computer was originally 66 MHz with the Evergreen Tech. Upgrade, it is now 133 MHz. The computer also has a new hard drive 8.4GB, and a new CD-ROM drive, which is 16X. What I like best is that it has "System Commander Deluxe" a program that lets me have multiple OS’s. I currently have 3, Windows 3.11, Windows 95, and Windows 98. I plan on getting the computer a new modem, and more memory. After those upgrades are complete with both of my computers, that’s all because they will be at there limit and also, I’ll have a new computer (that I would have built). In about February of 1999 I bought the first Item that will soon be my 3rd computer. I bought an ATX style case that cost me $79, today that is the best you can get. I am saving money to buy the rest of the parts. I plan on having everything by December of 1999. That computer is going to be ‘State of The Art’. It will have a 500MHz Pentium III processor, 36 GB Ultra SCSI 3 hard drive, 128 MB of RAM, 3dfx Voodoo 3 3500 video card, 6X/50X DVD/CD-ROM Drive, 8X/4X/16X SCSI CD-RW Drive, SoundBlaster Live Sound Card, Internal Zip Drive 250, Windows 98 Keyboard, 56kps modem, and probably an LCD monitor. All these things are the best you can buy today and their prices are very amusing, but I will be getting another job in order to save enough money. I know I will have the computer built by December or January.
On my computers I have gotten a lot of accessories as time went by, such as a scanner, which was my first accessory, and a Zip Drive, video editing equipment, CD-RW drive so I can make my own CD’s (which is really cool), bigger computer speakers, a TV card, and a Voodoo 2 3D FX card. Of course, there are many other things I would enjoy having like a DVD-ROM Drive, bigger monitor, 2nd scanner, 2nd printer, and of course the biggest thing is to network my computers. With the things I have now, I can do a lot because I know everything about of them. On the scanner I enlarge photos for my mother, with the video equipment I do my video projects, with my CD maker a copy music CDs for my mom and put my files and music on CDs, and with the Voodoo 2 card I can play games better.
I keep my computer error free because I will and can fix almost every problem that occurs. When I can't fix it, I end up calling tech support but I think I have only done that 3 times with both of my computers. I keep trying everything until I fix it and I usually do so by tricking the computer or changing certain settings. I sometimes create the problems by changing things that I am not sure of but since I have a very good memory I can go back and put those settings back to the way they were when I notice that my computer is acting poorly. Many people rely on me to help them with computers, I even help them buy one. I teach them how to use it and what to do if something goes wrong. This is something I enjoy doing, I have showed some of my teachers how to use the computer. Since people learn a lot and find me helpful they recommend me to other people.
Besides working with computers all the time, I have also done something surprising to my family, I write music! The songs don't sound like the ones you usually hear but it's a beginning to something. It all started in January of 1996 when I gave my music teacher, Mr. Collins, a disk with music files for an IBM computer. He found out that I knew about computers, so he gave me some programs to install on my computer. Most of them were bad and some were good, but there was one program that I liked and it was called Noteworthy Composer. Using this program, I wrote my first song that I play with my little Electronic Keyboard. I always called this song Winter Moonlight but it was my first so it sounded very repetitious. Around this time, my band director, Mr. Reardon, who I had for 7th and 8th grade, was splitting up the bands. I hated him because he yelled so much and he had a short temper. Mr. Reardon was giving auditions to see who should go to which band and I did not make it to the higher band. That whole day I was depressed. Mr. Collins tried to make me feel better by inviting me to play with his jazz band and I did. Every Wednesday night I would go to the rehearsal. It was just that year when the Jazz band sounded really good. Mr. Collins had us do many performances. During school one day, I gave Mr. Collins the score to my song Winter Moonlight. He was so excited and happy, he showed it to everybody and he also worked with me to make it sound better so we could enter it in a contest. The deadline was in September, right before school stared again. We were already in June, and I was going to the high school that upcoming school year. But, we did a lot of work, and we got it in September 1, 1996. Remember that Jazz band? Well, in October of 1996, when I was in my first year of high school, we went to Lincoln Center to play a concert. It was the best time I had ever had and in that same month I received a phone call from Mr. Collins telling me that my song had been selected to be played at the NYSMA Winter Conference in December at the Concord Resort Hotel. In other words, I won! So did 4 other students, but I was the youngest. This all would have never happened if Mr. Reardon had not split up the bands, but I do not like to give him credit, because I hate him still. I give Mr. Collins credit for everything.
When December came I was prepared for the presentation of my song. When we arrived at the Concord, I had my own hotel room and Mr. Collins had his own room too. We were right next to each other. The thing that surprised my mother was that each room for one night costs $180 and we stayed for 2 nights I don't know how much the whole thing cost with lunch, dinner, breakfast, and all the activities, nor do I know who paid for it. I enjoyed my stay at the Concord Resort Hotel and after I made my speech explaining my song that final night, we had to go back home. I was sad and I always wished to come back again. Little did I know I would…
When I came back home I was "Hotel Sick" for a few days. I missed staying at the Concord, because it was the best place I had ever been to. I never had a thought in my mind that I would be there again. I thought this was a one-time thing only. As the year went by, I forgot about the hotel and continued with my normal life. Then sometime in March, Mr. Collins told me to write another song. At first I thought he was crazy, but I did it anyway. It was the hardest thing ever. Trying to find a nice melody was not easy, but once I did, it all fell into place. It took me about 2 weeks to get a simple sounding song but it had a good sound to it and it sounded nothing like ‘Winter Moonlight’. I called this song ‘Bambania’, I always wanted to name something by that name and I finally did. When I showed the song to Mr. Collins, he was pleasantly surprised. He started working with me at that moment.
It was around May, and we had completed my song. It was my best creation and I was proud of it. We submitted it and we waited all summer, but I did not waste anytime starting a 3rd song. I made something up and I thought that soon it would be good. I called the song ‘Echoes’.
It was now September and I went back to school. I was in 10th grade, but this time I got an idea about Bambania, I wanted to write it out so that a band could play it. I did this in a week! Mr. Roselli, my present band director, helped me by telling me all the technicalities. I showed the finished version to everybody. It was my dream come true. I always wanted to write a song so a group of people could play it.
It is now November and again I received the letter from NYSMA telling me that I have been selected again. This time I was happier than ever. I could not believe it. In December I went to the Concord Resort Hotel again. This time we stayed for 3 nights, and again I had my own room. When it was over I new for sure I would never come back to the Concord. Mr. Collins said it was going to be closed down. Two months later I saw the proof.
In February of 1998 I have spent so much time with Mr. Collins. I went to visit him after school almost every day to work on my 3rd song, Echoes. This song is sounding like one you would hear on the radio. Maybe I will be go to Rochester in the winter, which is they are holding the conference now.
The school year is ending and I have finished echoes. I have also written another song. I call it ‘Bells of Glory,’ This song is awesome. I was playing around on night and I came out with a song. So we entered it in the contest with ‘Echoes’.
In November I received a notice stating that I have been selected for the third time. The song that won was ‘Bells of Glory’; Echoes didn’t make it in. This time there was just one problem, the school budget was voted down. I could not go, this devastated me, but after some weeks of working things out by the help of Mr. Roselli and Mr. Collins I got to go to Rochester to make my presentation.
When I came back I wrote four more songs just for fun. They came out sounding very well. They were called: 1) Alone 2) Time passing by… 3) Suddenly I turn around 4) Musica. When I heard about the PTA reflection contest, I entered two songs Echoes and Suddenly I turn around. In January of 1999 I found out that I have been selected for higher judgment. I could not believe it, people actually like my songs. About 4-5 month after that, I wrote the song called "Unibia" (u – nib – e – a). This song is the best of them all, the theme is about "A Distant Planet" called "Unibia" only discovered by me. I sent that song into the NYSSMA competition I have won for the past 3 years, along with two other songs: "Musica" and "Alone". I know that Unibia will definitely win, but I would be crushed if Musica doesn’t. I spent a year and a half on Musica and only 2 days on Unibia. My only goal at this time it to rewrite Musica for a performance, Bambania was not good enough for that. I hope that Musica will be the Finale of the bands’ Spring Concert.
Now it’s September 1999 and I have written a total of 9 songs, I put them all on a CD and on my web page at home.att.net/~cartavio. I am working on a 10th song just for this years "PTA Reflection Contest". Mr. Collins has retired in June 1999 after 40 years of teaching, and I am happy for him. We have become good friends in the 7 years we have known each other. Of course he is still here in Glen Cove but it’s not the same. I will soon be getting the notice about the competition that I entered, to see which songs made it. So that means I will be going to NYSSMA in Rochester for the last time, this December. Besides writing music and working on a computer, I have 3 five-year-old goldfish, which started out as 4 different baby fish, but that is another long story.