Good friends, Washington, D.C. and photography

Photo: Sharon Bouchard

James Cronin

PARIS – Having good friends and helping others is what is truly important to James Cronin. 

Q:  Where were you born and where you brought up?

A:  I was born in Los Angeles, California in 1994, but I have lived here in Maine since 1997.

Q:  Do you have any siblings?

A:  I have one sister and two brothers.

Q:  What do your parents do?

A:  My father works for the United States Postal Service as an Area Tech.

Q:  What was it like growing up?

A:  It was interesting for the most part, the only hard thing really growing up was moving to South Paris when I was in kindergarten, shortly after I met my closest friends. 

In Maine most of my friends were hardly close to where I lived so I tried getting out as much as I could to see them.  After my childhood best friend moved away I was less sociable and it was getting harder to see some of them until around the summer of the end of eighth grade.

I found things to be a bit difficult for school, but I started picking up in high school and understood things a lot more than I did before.

Q:  Was there anything you wanted to be when you grew up?

A:  My mind seemed to change so much, one minute I wanted to be a police officer then next a businessman, to a world-renowned chef etc. 

With all these ideas I did find one thing I wanted to do no matter what and that was to help others when or wherever it was needed.  So I knew no matter what I did when I was older it would be helping someone.

Q:  Where did you go to school?

A:  Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

Q:  Did you get into mischief or play pranks?

A:  Hardly, I tried staying out of trouble as much as possible.

Q:  What have you had for jobs?

A:  I worked for Marston’s Tree Removal in Naples.  That was my first official job.

Q:  Anyone every said you look like someone famous?

A:  A few times actually, just depends on how I looked that day.  Half the time I didn’t know the person or I didn’t even see how they got the resemblance.

Q:  Have you done much traveling?

A:  No, but I would like to at some point in my life.  Given the opportunity I wouldn’t hesitate. 

Q:  Which place was the most fascinating and why?

A:  Of all the places I went while still in school would have been Washington, D.C.  Because of the history and just the vast sights the place has to offer was great.  I only went for three days, which is no where near close enough time, but it was a once in a life time trip.

Q:  Has anyone influenced you to the point of changing your direction in life?

A:  Quite a few people actually.  My counselor and tech teachers from high school and even my own parents.

Q:  Do you collect anything or have a hobby?

A:  I do!  I love taking photos and really into gaming.

Q:  What is the last book you read?

A:  Nickel and Dimed

Q:  What subject do you wish you knew more about?

A:  History. I can never get enough of it!

Q:  What is the one thing you would not give up?

A:  One thing I would not give up?  Well, I would think that would have to be my memories.  The one thing no one can ever take away from you and you can truly carry with you anywhere you go.

Q:  What is the one thing you would happily do over again.

A:  Nothing.  I wouldn’t be who I am today without the experiences I’ve had.

Q:  What would you like people to know about you?

A:  Well, I don’t know except for if you see me around don’t be afraid to talk to me.  Nothing I can really think that people should know about me.  If they know me they already know.

Q:  What scares you the most?

A:  Losing my friends and faimly.

Q:  Any heroes?

A:  My father and mother for all they have done and continue to do for me.

Q:  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A:  Hard to tell without a set idea of what I want to be doing in life.

Q:  Last day on earth, what would you do and with whom?

A:  Take my closest friends and go out and see what we can of the world and stick together and have fun.  Might as well if it’s the last day, right?

Q:  If anyone could walk in right now, whom would you most like to see?

A:  My best friend whom I haven’t seen for years.