I have many obsessions: dogs, food, ensuring that my phone is free of any unread messages and notifications, etc. However, there are very few obsessions that I hold close to my heart. One of the most important being my obsession for rings. Everyone knows that I do not go a day without wearing certain rings on my fingers. My rings define multiple facets of my personality, each with their own personal significance. My rings are like photographs; each one contains one specific memory or a collection of memories that critically define who I am.
Hot Dog Ring
This ring is probably one of my favorite rings of all time. I used to be a competitive jump roper and my team was called Hot Dog USA (funny right?!). This was a gift to graduating seniors who were getting ready to go off to college. The ring resembles sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, enthusiasm, courage, and most importantly, friendship. By traveling to different states and countries with your team, your teammates certainly become some of your closest friends. My team is like a second family to me. They always have my back and whenever I go home to Seattle, they are always more than happy to have me back in the gym. While I may not be jumping in college, this ring reminds me of every competition, performance, and person I met through the sport.
Portugal Ring
Also related to jump rope, this ring was something I bought at my very last competition in July 2016. The competition was held in Braga, Portugal, and I remember walking into the jewelry shop on the hunt for a ring to remember this trip. My teammate’s mom actually bought the same ring and encouraged me to get the same one! The ring has leaf-like patterns reminding me of a family tree, but for my team. Not only do I wear this ring every day, but I also have a tendency play with it whenever I miss competing. This ring symbolizes the familial bond my team and I will always have, even when we are over 2,000 miles apart.
Emerald Ring
As a May baby, my birthstone is an emerald. I remember asking my mom for some piece of jewelry with an emerald since I was thirteen years old. I have never received one until I came home for spring break March this year. My mom, obviously missing her only child, decided to surprise me with a simple emerald ring. She told me that this ring would remind me that she will always be with me no matter where I am because her birthstone is an emerald as well. My mom and I have an extremely close relationship, she is my best friend. She is the person who inspires me to always do my best and push through any challenges or hurdles that come my way. My mom has taught me to be a strong and independent woman, and this ring is a symbol that she will always be my number one supporter no matter how far away I am from her.
Sweet 16 Ring
This ring is very straight-forward. My mom got me this one for my sixteenth birthday. It is a thick silver band surrounded by two rose gold skinny bands and one gold skinny band. This ring is important to me because the three rings represent my parents and I and how together we make one, big happy family (cheesy, I know).
Raindrop Ring
Since I am from Seattle, and I go to college in rural town Ohio, I have grown to get very homesick now and again. A classic stereotype of my hometown is that it rains…a lot. So when my mom and I found this ring shaped like a blue, purple, and green raindrop, we couldn’t help but to buy it for me. I love having a ring that reminds me of home because it brings back all of the enjoyable memories of spending time with my family and friends back in Sea-Town.
Overall, my rings all bring certain, specific memories that remind me of experiences with the people and places I love. Not a day goes by without me wearing at least two of these rings, and if you see me without any of my rings on, just know that I was in a rush trying to get to class and that my hands feel extremely naked.