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Stephen Powell
Pennsylvania, United States 
Member Since:
May 3, 2009
Last Login:
Feb 10, 2012
Profile Views:
3614
Points:
4469
Status:
Accepted into Furman University!!! :D (6 days ago)
Birthday: May 12, 1994
Occupation: 12th grade Homeschooler
About Me:
Hello! For all who are interested here's a little about me. I was born in Florida, but now I live on a farm with chickens, ponies, and cats in Pennsylvania. I have two brothers (snprook and His-Disciple) with me being the middle child. I really like making new friends and getting to know people :) Oh, I can be goofy sometimes too... you've been warned lol! :D
I was about 6 when I played my first game of chess. It was my chess fanatic older brother, snprook, who taught me how to play chess. Please don't send me hate mail for saying this but I hated chess! Whenever he wanted to play I would do whatever I could to avoid it so I could do something else (mainly read a book). Unfortunately he usually managed to prevail and get me to play him. However I guess I do owe him some gratitude... I probably would have never become decent at chess if he hadn't forced me to play and lose to him. You would have thought that I might have learned Scholar's Mate sooner than I did... :/ Kind of makes me wonder what was so fun beating me over and over and over and over...? ;)
The cause of my eventual love of chess (a slow process btw) was when my older brother recruited me to join the local highschool club in the 7th grade. As a 12 year old (who would rather be reading a book) with no interest in chess whatsoever this was not exactly my idea of fun, but my parents thought it was a great idea. My purpose was so the team could have an extra in case someone couldn't make a match... yeah, never happened. For the first year I was mainly their team mascot who showed up in a too-big team shirt that was probably meant for a highschooler twice my size. I always ended up playing whoever the other team had left over - extra players, coaches, trained monkeys (just kidding about the last one... that would made my day, though!). Needless to say, I never managed to win a single game my first year on the team.
However, in the 8th grade I apparently had improved (through osmosis?) and obtained the Board 2 position. After my fluke position at 2nd board, I gradually began rising in the ranks of the team. Sometime in those following years on the team, I managed to slowly develop a love for chess... took long enough! ;) Fastforwarding to the present, I am a Senior on the New Oxford High School chess team. I am surprisingly New Oxford's Board 1. Not bad for a mascot :) The team has grown and changed a lot since I first joined. In 2011, the first year I was Board 1, our team won our League Title for the first time since 1984. Also, we won our section in the Scholastic State Tournament for the very first time. So, though I may not be the mascot anymore I enjoy wearing the (now sometimes too small) team shirt as a walking advertisement ;)
I will play almost anyone who challenges me (unless it is a 1 day per move). In general, I prefer 3 day per move challenges, but 5 is ok too. Adaptability is a virtue. I want to improve and the only way that will happen is if I play more people.
I am a firm Christian and have been baptized. I like to help out with children's ministry whenever I am given the chance. This past summer, I was a volunteer camp counselor at a children's camp... lot's of fun! :) Great place to let out all that energy of mine ;) Currently I am a Sunday School teacher for 3rd-4th grade boys at my church. Also, I am a youth volunteer at the local Middle School YFC club. I really enjoy volunteering at the local 'Youth For Christ' (YFC) branch whenever they have opportunities for involved youth to help out. With this organization, I have helped out with a wide variety of events... ranging from national youth conferences to golf outings. Additionally, I have been on three mission trips with them, both in and out of country. Through YFC I met someone who has become extremely special to me and in my life :D Now she has joined chess.com!!! Yeah, she's so amazing :D I really don't know what I'd do without her.
My interests include chess, reading, acting, writing, drawing, soccer, football, and spending time with friends. I have been to 49 of the 50 states (Alaska is still missing). Plus, I have traveled to Canada (numerous provinces... love poutine and fish & chips :D) and Jamaica. I've been homeschooled since completing the sixth grade and I love it! Oh, and just because I'm homeschooled doesn't mean I don't have a life. In fact, I have a very comfortable cave thank you ;) Also, before you call social services, yes, they do let me talk to other people lol... you'd be surprised by some of the things people have asked me about homeschooling!
Besides teaching myself at home (I read the book, I take the test, repeat until done... no help from anyone), I have also taken an Effective Speaking and Microbiology course at my local community college. Yeah, 100% in both of those... really enjoyable professors and subjects :) My favorite subject is science. This is what led me to choose my username, which is a combination of my initials and DNA. Exploring the wonders of Creation is awesome!
When I grow up I want to help people who are suffering. That is why I want to be a doctor. Right now I'm thinking of becoming a missionary doctor and working in impoverished areas. One of my heroes is Benjamin Carson, M.D. If you don't know who he is here's a brief overview... Carson was born into a poor family in Chicago, but through sheer determination he overcame his many obstacles, went to Yale, and eventually became the lead world-renown neurosurgeon at John Hopkins Hospital. Not bad, huh? For more information look him up (or read Gifted Hands... yes... a book!). So, becoming a doctor is what I'm working towards as I apply to colleges.
If anyone managed to keep interest and read all of the above, I thank you for the interest and I hope I didn't bore you! You must have a lot of time on your hands lol! I have the tendency to want to include everything, which leads to rambling... sorry! Send a friend request and/or challenge my way if you get the chance. I would love to talk to, and play, you! Enjoy life... every moment of every second. Have a GREAT day! :)
