Category: About Myself

Who am I? I have never really thought about this question before. This is what I know about who I am. I am a sixteen-year-old boy, a son, a brother, a friend, a college student, a high school student etc. My ethnicity is what shaped me today as a, African American throughout my childhood, I have had many experiences attributed to various forms of my personality. For me my ethnicity, regardless of its categorization, has constituted a profound loss of self-identity that has driven me to search for answers as to why I am considered weird, able to do in order to search and grab those answers. This search has involved many interactions and many more questions.

First, when discussing an autoethnography paper in class I thought to myself, ‘Wow nothing I had never written anything like this before’. Who am I? It was interesting to me because this was a question I had never really thought about before. Looking back, I do not feel like this is not as true anymore. Who I am is what I want to figure out. I want to create my own definition. I am going to look at my past experiences and try to puzzle the pieces. Part of who I am today is because of events that happened in my past. I cherish all my memories from that past, especially those with my family and friends.

Life was simple back when I was younger and I took advantage of the little things around me and now that I look back at it, I realize I took it for granted. My brother, my dad and I would always work outside our garden and after a hard days work we would finish playing catch, it was one of those days where the weather was just perfect to be outside, cool breeze and the sun shining bright. Growing up, I was mom’s favorite son and we would always spend time at my aunt’s house. My aunt was always inside because she did not like to be outside when the weather was warm. When we got tired, we decided to go inside and as we entered the smell of the fumes of jollof rice was seeping into our nose. She was always making little snacks and delicious food to eat, jollof was her specialty. Now that she is not in my life anymore, writing a story with them both involved brings back the times I miss most.

My aunt had a big impact in my life. She was the only aunt I had in my life. Growing up she would spoil my brother and I like crazy. Christmas and birthdays were always over the top. My favorite thing about her was her cooking, especially jollof. I do not know how she made it or what she used but it was the best jollof I had ever tasted in my life it tasted like a pot of gold. Every time I would come over, I would ask her: “Aunt Rosie can you please make me jollof?”. She always laughed and said, “Maybe”. To this day every time I eat jollof I think of my aunt and compare the taste to hers. Every time the cold silver spoon would touch my tongue and the spicy jollof would melt in my mouth, it filled my heart with joy.

Sight is probably the most important sense to me. I use it every day. Growing up, I was surrounded by beautiful landmarks. I sometimes think to myself, yeah, they are beautiful but I would rather be at a beach. I love where I grew up and the familiar landmarks to me. I do not know how I would be able to live my life if I was not able to see. Or maybe I should put myself into that perspective, I would not be able to recognize a familiar face like my mom or a friend. I would not be able to see when there down or when they are up, these things that play a key role in my life.

Smell was probably the toughest for me to write. One thing I love about our sense of smell is how we are able to relate it back to a certain memory, I know how much I love the scent of homemade stuffing, thanksgiving dinners, certain perfumes and more. My mom loves to cook whenever she has a free moment or is in between work. It is not a rare occurrence when my house smells of stew, soup, pasta or any other kinds of goods. The comfort of these scents reminds me of my mom’s love of baking. The smell of stew always makes me think of home. along with cooking, my mom always has candles burning. The scents are usually lavender and coconut. The tropical fruit smell reminds her of the beach, which is a place she often dreams about. I enjoy cooking like my mother does and will be cooking at free moments just to remind me of her. Or I will have tropical smelling candles burning to so I reminisce about the good times?

Touch is one of my favorite senses. I say this because when I am sad all I want is a hug from a friend or family member. Me and my family to talk with one another we use our hands and touch the person to make sure they are paying attention. Even today when I am having a conversation, I tend to touch the person’s arm. I use my hands and sense of touch to ensure that the person I am talking to is listening to me. I did not realize how big of an impact touch had in my life. I would not say it is the most important one but it is the one I love the most. I find comfort in the feel of things.

Hearing has such a big impact on my life and culture, music was always the one thing that can define someone and allow you to understand a person’s background a little more. Whenever going to a relative’s house, the one tune that would get everybody dancing on their feet was Sunny Bobo. I would always ask my Aunt Rosie, “Could you play Sunny Bobo?”. She smiled and responded, “Sure can little one”, and before you know the whole room was dancing it was loud like a volcano had just erupted. Second important thing about hearing was our language. Being raised in a Nigerian household we spoke a lot of Igbo I never really took an interest in learning it was just one of those things that just developed over time and being in America we most of the time we had a mix between English and Igbo I remember my mom once said to me: “Gaa, get me the ite”, which means go and get me the pot. After hearing that line, it got me thinking about what it meant. I was more observant on my own listening habits and wanted to see if I was just listening to what the person had to say or if I truly was listening and taking in what they were saying. It seems like a stupid idea maybe but I think a lot of people don’t really listen to what people have to say. They just hear the words and give them no real meaning.

In conclusion, I am a family-oriented person, a cherisher of memories and passionate about my surroundings. What makes this unique is that not everyone would use the same words that I chose from my writings for themselves and no one can say the same things I say. Everyone has a different definition for who they are but this is who I am. I am a mix of a lot of little different qualities put together. These words form my definition of who I am. I am me. I am from the beautiful moments of my family, coming from my mind, my dusty altered journal it is these memories I will never forget.

Imagine waking up every morning with a clear sense of purpose, driven by the excitement of pursuing your dreams. Setting goals can transform your life in ways you never thought possible. Goals are not mere abstract desires but the foundation upon which personal and professional development is built. Without clear goals, individuals may wander aimlessly, lacking direction and motivation. Goals act as guiding stars, shaping our actions, decisions, and priorities. They give us a sense of purpose and ignite our passion to achieve remarkable feats.

Setting and achieving goals is essential for personal growth and instrumental in attaining career success and experiencing overall fulfillment. Throughout this essay, we will explore the profound significance of goals and how they can remarkably shape our lives.

The Significance of Setting Goals

Goals can be defined as specific, measurable targets individuals set for themselves, reflecting their aspirations and desires. They serve as a compass, providing direction and purpose in life. Goals encompass various aspects, including personal, academic, professional, and even health-related objectives.

How Goals Provide Direction and Motivation

Goals act as guiding beacons, helping individuals navigate through the complexities of life. By setting clear goals, individuals establish a sense of direction, knowing where they want to go and what they want to achieve. This clarity of purpose fuels motivation, as goals create a sense of urgency and drive to take action.

Setting and achieving goals can profoundly impact personal development in numerous ways.

• Improved self-confidence and self-esteem:

As individuals set and accomplish goals, they build a sense of achievement and develop self-confidence. Each milestone reached reinforces their belief in their abilities, boosting self-esteem and paving the way for further personal growth.

• Enhanced focus and determination:

Goals provide individuals with a target to focus on, eliminating distractions and increasing concentration. Setting goals requires thoughtful planning and strategizing, fostering a sense of determination to overcome obstacles and stay on track.

• Increased resilience and perseverance:

Goal pursuit is not always smooth sailing; setbacks and challenges are inevitable. However, by setting goals, individuals cultivate resilience and perseverance. They learn to adapt, problem-solve, and persist in the face of adversity, which strengthens their character and prepares them for future endeavors.

Goals in Academic Pursuits

Setting goals in academic pursuits is essential for maximizing learning potential and achieving academic success. Goals provide students with a clear vision of what they want to accomplish, guiding their efforts and directing their focus towards specific outcomes.

Examples of Academic Goals

1. Short-term goals: Short-term professional goals often involve improving specific skills or competencies relevant to one’s current job. These goals may include attending professional development workshops, acquiring certifications, or enhancing communication or leadership abilities.
2. Long-term goals: Long-term professional goals encompass broader aspirations that may span several years. Examples include attaining a leadership position, starting a business, or transitioning into a different career. Long-term goals require strategic planning, continuous learning, and consistent effort to achieve.

How Academic Goals Contribute to Personal Growth and Future Career Prospects

Setting academic goals not only enhances students’ educational journey but also plays a pivotal role in their personal development and future career prospects. It’s a win-win situation that fosters growth and opens doors to exciting opportunities ahead.

• Acquiring knowledge and critical thinking skills:

By setting academic goals, students continuously learn, expanding their knowledge base and developing critical thinking skills. This intellectual growth prepares them for the challenges they may face in their careers and equips them with the ability to make informed decisions.

• Building a strong foundation for future success:

Academic goals lay the groundwork for future achievements. By setting and accomplishing academic goals, students develop discipline, time management skills, and a strong work ethic. These qualities are highly valued professionally and serve as a solid foundation for future success.

By actively setting and pursuing these goals, students can make the most of their educational experience and pave the way for a brilliant future full of growth and opportunities.

Goals in Professional Life

Setting goals in professional life is a fundamental aspect of career development and growth. Professional goals serve as a roadmap, guiding individuals towards their desired career outcomes and helping them navigate the complexities of the modern workplace.

One of the key roles of professional goals is to provide a clear direction and focus. Individuals with well-defined goals can align their efforts and resources towards achieving them. This focus allows them to make strategic decisions, prioritize tasks effectively, and stay on track despite challenges and distractions. Moreover, setting goals in professional life fosters a sense of purpose and meaning, driving individuals to pursue opportunities that align with their aspirations and values actively.

Professional goals can be both short-term and long-term. Short-term goals may include enhancing professional skills, gaining additional certifications, or expanding one’s network by attending industry events or conferences. These goals help individuals improve their current job performance and open up new opportunities for growth. Long-term goals, on the other hand, may involve aiming for leadership positions, starting a business, or becoming an industry expert. These goals require strategic planning, continuous development, and perseverance over time.

Achieving professional goals contributes to career advancement and fosters personal fulfillment. As individuals progress towards their goals, they experience a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Setting ambitious yet achievable goals challenges individuals to push their boundaries, learn new things, and grow personally and professionally. Overcoming obstacles and achieving milestones along the way builds resilience and self-confidence, empowering individuals to pursue even greater goals in their careers.

Furthermore, professional goals provide a sense of structure and progression. They are markers of progress and success, allowing individuals to track their growth over time. By regularly assessing their progress and adjusting their goals, individuals can adapt to changing circumstances, seize new opportunities, and continue to evolve in their professional journey.

Strategies for Setting and Achieving Goals

Setting goals is just the first step; the real challenge lies in effectively pursuing and achieving them. Fortunately, several strategies can help individuals set realistic and achievable goals and stay on track to accomplish them.

One effective strategy is to set SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Specific goals provide clarity by clearly defining what needs to be achieved. Measurable goals track progress, ensuring individuals stay motivated and focused. Attainable goals are realistic and within reach, considering one’s abilities and available resources. Relevant goals are aligned with personal values, aspirations, and the larger context of one’s life or career. Time-bound goals have a specific deadline, which creates a sense of urgency and prevents procrastination.

Breaking down goals into actionable steps is another valuable strategy. Individuals can create a clear roadmap and reduce overwhelm by dividing a larger goal into smaller, manageable tasks. Each task becomes a milestone on the path to achieving the overall goal, providing a sense of accomplishment and momentum along the way.

Creating a timeline and tracking progress is crucial for goal achievement. Setting deadlines for each task or milestone helps individuals stay accountable and focused. Regularly reviewing progress and making adjustments as necessary allows for course correction and ensures continued progress towards the goal. This can be done through tools like progress trackers, checklists, or project management apps.

Utilizing available resources and seeking support is another important strategy. Resources can include books, courses, mentors, or colleagues with expertise in the relevant area. Seeking guidance and support from others can provide valuable insights, motivation, and accountability. Collaborating with like-minded individuals or joining communities related to the goal can also provide a supportive network and additional resources.

Overcoming Challenges and Staying Motivated

Overcoming challenges is an inevitable part of pursuing goals. To stay motivated and navigate obstacles effectively, individuals can cultivate a positive mindset, seek inspiration from role models and success stories, and embrace failures as learning opportunities. A positive mindset allows individuals to approach challenges as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks. Drawing inspiration from others who have achieved similar goals can provide encouragement and valuable insights. Additionally, viewing failures as stepping stones to success fosters resilience and helps individuals learn and adapt.

Conclusion

In conclusion, setting and achieving goals are pivotal in personal growth, career success, and overall fulfillment. Goals provide direction, motivation, and a sense of purpose in academic and professional pursuits. They contribute to self-confidence, focus, and resilience, empowering individuals to overcome challenges and reach new heights. By utilizing strategies such as setting SMART goals, breaking them down into actionable steps, and seeking support, individuals can increase their chances of success. Moreover, by cultivating a positive mindset, drawing inspiration from others, and embracing failures as opportunities, individuals can stay motivated and persevere on their path to achieving their goals. Ultimately, goal setting is a powerful tool that propels individuals towards their aspirations and unlocks their full potential.

Most people don’t know I was raised by a single parent, – a single father. Growing up without a mother I didn’t realize the impact on me until I got older and was able to looked at how I had to teach myself everything I know about how to be a woman. My dad tried his best to help, but let’s be real there’s only so much a man can relate to adolescent periods. Having a mother there to initiate me would have been much more comfortable for all.

Looking back at old pictures of myself with damaged short hair, and struggle braids I sometimes wonder what my hair would’ve looked like with a mom in my life. I have a vivid memory of when I was younger, in second grade playing outside during recess. As mean as little kids can be, I was told that my hair “look like a diaper should be on it”, I then remember crying running to the bathroom, and the teachers trying their best to console me. They even tried to help with my hair, as I didn’t even want to come out the bathroom. My crying 2nd grade-self stared into the mirror, I failed to realize that it wasn’t them I needed, it was my mom. I look back on this experience now also wondering what it might have been like to experience a mother in my life. I was missing my mom from my life at the most important years a daughter needs her mom. Although, this may have been one of the biggest challenges in my life, it also influenced me on becoming the person I am today.

Since an early age, I always watched my father working hard, I knew I wanted to be successful, and I knew that it would be something I would have to work hard for in order to reach. My dad has always drilled the importance of work ethics to me. And by the age of sixteen, I started my first part-time job. This enabled me to learn at an early age, to work hard for what I want. As I grew up, I watched my father balance attending grad school, switching in and out of unstable jobs, and of course raising my brother and I. Seeing this made me realize that I could do almost anything through hard work and dedication.

Being raised by a single father has been such an essential key to my identity, because my father has always shown me that dedication, hard work, and sacrifice is what it takes to be a strong person. These qualities are what I strive for with all the things I may face along my journey in life. My father has overall shaped my work ethic and helped guide my perspective on how to work hard for what I want. And the strong and endless support, given by my father, gives me the courage to go for my goals and to try my hardest at bettering myself whether it is at school, in the work place, or during sports.

The strong relationship I’ve built with my dad has helped me develop who I am. I always try to see the positive sides of things, growing up in a single parent home to me, is not necessarily a hardship, or what people may consider as a hardship, but as an overall helpful and motivating learning experience. Ultimately, I find growing up with a single parent to have made me a better person. Someone, who has learned the values of hard work, dedication, and overall, how to be strong during your biggest hardships. I can never fully express the gratitude and appreciation for all the things my dad has sacrificed for me.

Human is the best creation of the world’s creator. I think that I am fortunate to get a human life. I’m very thankful to my mom and dad for giving me birth to this beautiful and fascinating world. Myself, you, my mom, my dad, my brothers, my surrounding, trees and animals, we all are sons and daughters of the mother nature. She looks at us with equality, care and love. Therefore, it is our responsibility to protect the mother nature, and to make sure that she is not weeping while asking for help.

From the days I can merely understand, my mom told me various fairytales about heroine. I can still remember the story of Vihara Maha Devi and the way my mum praised Vihara Maha Devi for her commitment to my country. Whenever me and my mom we are looking at the night sky, she points at the brightest star and she said that this star is you. When we are in the garden and if there is a beautiful blooming flower, my mom said: “This flower is you”. If there is a butterfly flying in the sky, she said that this butterfly is you, but what does that mean? Am I a flower, a butterfly or a star? Today I understand the deep inside of what she expressed. Once my mom said, that I am the symbol of my mom’s and dad’s love. She said that they dreamt of me even before I came into her womb. My mom always wants me to become a beautiful, righteous and a delicate girl, while my dad wants me to help, respect others and to become a well-educated daughter, and I think that I have become their dream girl.

My dad is a businessman. My mom is a house wife. My dad is dark and has a big tummy, but I think his heart is white and adorable. My mum, she is fair and stunning. She advices me and she is just like my shadow. They help people a lot. My dad gives job opportunities for few employees. They never hesitate to help anyone. To be frank, I didn’t like it. I questioned them, why do you have to help others every time. Once my dad said that because it makes him happy. It was total cliff hang, giving somethings of yours bring happiness to you? Is that even possible? It was kind of gibberish to me back then. I have two younger brothers. We fight each other, we bully, we mock each other and there are times when the fight ends after someone starts bleeding. Even though their 6 years younger than me they seem to be like knights. We laugh together. We surprise each other, but even though we fight till bleeding no stranger can ever think of hurting us.

From the day I was born, I had no idea about poor, sad, sorrow, fear. I never wish to have something because I had everything. My world was so completed. I had my own servants to help me with my work. My mom she loves me a lot, my dad he loves me a lot. What else do I need? well I guess nothing. I start schooling from kindergarten in a well-known international school. I am not boasting, but actually I think that I am someone who is capable. Even though I am not a master mind I had good grades. I played for the school orchestra and school band. I was an active member of girl guiding troop. I was the goal keeper of the school netball team. Each year I took part in the triathlon as the cyclist representing my house. Not only that I was a perfect for 4 years from grade 7-10. There were also many occasions that I helped my school with English announcing.

Now I consider myself as a waterfall. When we look at a waterfall we praise her beauty, but her journey isn’t that happy. She met thousands of obstacles and black hard rocks. However, she never stops, till she reaches her destination. Sometimes she is rough. Sometimes she is calm and that is more like me, rather I am more like her.

Yes! Once I was stubborn, I was selfish. lately, everything’s changed. When I am 13 years old. My dad’s business collapsed. He went bankrupt. Me, my mom and my brothers had no idea about this. Sometimes I think to myself, whether my dad has to go bankrupt because of our expensive needs. Well, nothing can be undone. When days passed by, we were aware about the fact that our business wasn’t doing well. During these days I had to prefer the bus for the first time in my life. I didn’t like it at all. Buses were crowded with many passengers and at times I feel that I would suffocate. It was a hard and a challenging time. During this period, I realized the amidst of the people. The pain which is hidden in their sweat and effort. Eventually, even I had to experience this hardship. All though we met many admits, the bond between our family grew even stronger. We had to use everything in prudence. Now, this is my reality and I knew that the time has come to change my lifestyle and the way I think. We had to start from the beginning. I learn about the society and the people around me. Some of them were very nice while some wasn’t. I understood how much effort, hardworking we have to put in order to live a better life and I saw how people plead for mercy. There are many people dying because of hunger. Some of them shivers at cold nights without shelter. There are also uneducated people in this society, and I see their pain. Comparing to them, mine is nothing. Even though I can’t buy fancy stuff which are almost useless and I can’t waste my limited resources, I have a place to live and food to eat. Now I am happy with what I have, because I know how valuable they are. I adjust myself and always wanted to be a helping hand to everyone. It says that everything happens for a reason and so it is, I discovered the reality of living. Thus, everything has happened to my own good will, unless I would have become a spoiled stubborn child with no humanity. Today I know the real meaning of happiness. Having more money will only bring you a temporary pleasure. Money is something that you can earn, but your family cannot be earned or bought.

With all these rush and troubles, I had to face my o/ls. I got good results. Actually, my dad, even though it was a hard time for us he never escapes the responsibility of teaching us. I really think that every child in this world must have a father like mine. After o/ls I transferred into a government school for my a/ls. I studied bio science. My ambition is to be a businesswoman and to provide job opportunities while earning my living expenses, but my mom and dad had a dream to see me, wearing a white coat and serving my nation. It’s not like that I didn’t have the same idea and hence I chose bio science in order to become a doctor to serve my country and to heal the nation. Occasionally, I have listened to people saying that this country has no more existence and to go overseas. In my circumstance if everyone starts to think like this who will remain in this country? This country is rich with bio diversity and it has very fertile soil, how can I ever think of leaving this precious inheritance of mine? I will not leave this gem, because all I see whenever looking at my pearl of Indian ocean is existence. I am so determined to do anything to protect my country. Further, I also wanted to become an active socialist, an advocate and to organize campaigns which educate people about the sexuality education so that we can diminish induce abortions, suicides and devastating lives which could have beautiful and reasonable. I also need to contribute to the originations which enhance the plantation of trees. Once I heard the quote ‘Human must serve the human kind’, but I think man being an intelligent creation of the nature must serve the whole animal kind. Well, I am not trying to become Mother Theresa. The truth is that I can’t be like her, because I am a simple and an ordinary girl. There are times when I am irritated, angry and furious but I always try to minimize these false opinions and to live a decent and a calm life. I don’t want to be a beautiful flower which whither when the sunset. I don’t want to be a star which can’t illuminate the whole world nor a butterfly which breaks its wings even in a small rain. I want to be a giant, strong and beneficial tree which will never lose its armor. As an Asian girl I have a beautiful culture which I really admire. I want to proceed everything inside the frame of my culture because I don’t want to go beyond the principles and values of my culture. Someday when my hair all gone, my skin weakens with wrinkles and held my one last breath, I want to bury my soulless body so that my dead body will further fertile this rich soil.

This is my story and the person I need to become in the future.

Everybody has a purpose in one’s life and want to find that purpose. My purpose is based off core values, strengths, passion. All my life, I yearned to live a meaningful life where I wouldn’t have to look back down the road and regret anything I did to get the life I want. I have regularly wanted to be man that is self-supported financially and I’ve always wanted to become a mentor for my children’ years, years of my children. In order for me to achieve my goals, I have to take my academic goals diligently. The more I enhanced my education throughout grade school, then it came to me. I would realize as each year went by that my present actions will play a massive part in the near future. Now that I’m in college, it suddenly came to me not only my present actions will dictate where I go in the future, but where will I be in the professional work-force field as well.

In the workforce field, I certainly value customers satisfaction. It’s something I always aspire to achieve from my time being a sales associate at Nike, until the year I’m the CEO in my own firm that I have founded or risen in the ranks in. Beyond the good experience, all around for the customer and myself, I hopefully don’t end up becoming just another abysmal company. In the customer perspectives, mostly the ones who take their customers for granted. That’s not the kind of person who I want to be, or my firm to be. Before I can start being nervous about how treating my establishment Is taking care of their customers, I’m having to first and foremost worry about my academics in college instead. In additional, I view college as the final stepping stone before progressing in my career. This why most people reference “college is no joke”, and its academics standard should be taken very seriously among all student who is in college. How we do in high school will rationally determine which college or university we may attend, whether we like it or not. And the college, I am at now, going to dictate what career I’m going to pursue upon graduation. My achievements are going to set me apart from other candidates. I take this time of my life very seriously, then I run the likelihood of me never reaching my goal. It’s a lot of weight on my shoulder to bare, but that’s the truth, and that’s how we should view our academic standards.

Furthermore, I know for certain I can achieve all of my goals regardless what these colleges try to throw at me. I am doing what’s everyone doing take one semester at a time, I’m able to balance out time for school, work, hanging with friends, which I do mostly every day of the week. I believe my grit or other words determination to be successful going to push me in the direction to that guide to my life goals. I’m a better leader now than I was a few years back, thanks to me being mentor in my early development stage of life. I firmly believe leadership is important characteristics to have in life. Leadership, lacking leadership, you just a sitting duck who is aimlessly follow people who have no common knowledge and truly wants the best for you. Leadership is main distinctive characteristics of CEO’s, generals, entrepreneurs, and etc.

Learning is far most one of my best strengths. I can pick up tasks very quickly. My ambitions and interests greatly increase on the topic, the faster I can learn the ins and outs of the task. One thing I love to learn, is about the stock market. This something I find extremely intriguing and have interest for a very long period of time, ever since I the movie ‘The Wolf on Wall Street’ and watch this marvelous interview about Curtis aka ‘Wall Street’.

What made me to get actively involved in the stock marketing was the high-risk reward system of striking gold with an investment. Realistically, I just love money and watching it enhance my profit with a wise investment. It’s a hobby, and with more in-depth knowledge of news and articles on what’s going on with company, this hobby can make you some goody money for generations to come. I firmly believe that this hobby can be a career I might actually pursue and apply it to my future establishments. Or even better, if I actually decide to pursue a career in stocking market; but that’s up for debate.

Taking everything in consideration what I mentioned and applying it in the field that I decided to take when I graduate college, I believe I’m for sure destined for greatness in the real world. I’m taking life everyday one step at a time, and putting my focusing on passing school as this very moment. If all goes well, which I know it will and all my qualities will allow me to perform to best of my capabilities in the business arena, and permit me to become the financially self-supporting man who I’m striving to become.

My story talks about life in my home country, consisting of what I do when I visit and what it’s like there. I talk about my favorite hobbies, food and what I do on vacation. Lastly, I was able to talk about my studies at Lindenwood and why I chose to go there.

As I grew up, I realized that I am a force to be reckoned with. Everything that surrounds me from family, friends, and activities has shaped me to be who I am today. Open-hearted, observant, nice, not selfish and understanding.

The country I am from is the Bahamas. It is a small country consisting of seven hundred islands and cays. Our islands are well known because of our crystal-clear waters, warm to hot weather, warmhearted people and decadent food. This past summer while I was home for summer break, I was able to visit the beaches and hang out with my friends. We went for dinner to celebrate a birthday, came to together at my house for a going back to school party and lastly, we went to watch ‘Spider-man: Far from Home’ at the cinema. There is quite a bit of things to do in the Bahamas such as: snorkeling with the sharks, diving, swimming with the pigs in Exuma and visiting our water park at Atlantis: Resort and Casino.

I come from a relatively small yet large family. I live in a nuclear family household that consists of me and my mother. I have many favorite things that I like to eat and do. Eating pasta such as fettucine or spaghetti is my weakness. Another favorite food choice of mine is barbeque ribs. I like the way the meat falls off the bone; it’s moist and tender with delectable barbeque sauce. The way they are made with sauce and different spices makes my taste buds water due to the flavors being so rich. My favorite things to do are rapping and playing softball. These two things help me to be in a better head space and allow me to get whatever I’m feeling out. I also enjoy traveling. Every year, my mother and I go to Florida for summer vacation. We stay at a hotel that’s nearest to the theme parks. This August, we went to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios and it was a blast. We go every year around that time so we can have fun before I go back to school and she goes back to work.

Studying at Lindenwood so far has been a bit stressful and tedious, but at the end of the semester, it was worth it. I chose to study at Lindenwood because I want to further my studies in Biological Sciences to hopefully one day become a veterinarian. I may not have pets, but the feeling of knowing that I can save an animal’s life is sensational. Choosing this psychology class, I believe will help me to understand the brain more, how it works, and how different people use their brains. For instance, someone may see the use of a laptop as a way to do business related things while another person sees laptops as a gaming tool. In the previous Wednesday class, we learnt about mnemonics. According to Literary terms “A mnemonic is a literary tool that helps you remember an idea or phrase with a pattern of letters, numbers, or relatable associations. Mnemonic devices include special rhymes and poems, acronyms, images, songs, outlines, and other tools” (‘Mnemonic: Definition and Examples’, 2017).

Living in a single parent home most of my life has taught me that I should keep enjoying life no matter the circumstances. Having different hobbies and favorite choices allows me to be myself. Moving from one country to the next to pursue my dreams is an opportunity for me to see the world better and I will not take it for granted. All in all, growing with all these different aspects a part of life has shaped me to be the woman I am today and who I will be in the future.

References

1. Mnemonic (2017, September 16). Retrieved from Literary Terms: https://literaryterms.net/cite-us/

Values reflect our thoughts, words, and actions, they help us develop, broaden and create the future we want to experience. Some of the values that are of importance to me: healthy lifestyle, education, friends and family, religion and happiness.

My long-term goals are that I want to complete my bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, though the major goal in education is to gain knowledge about the hospitality industry, be able to communicate with a strong customer focus and confidence. I want to gain work experience as an intern before getting a job. I am interested in working in a friendly and teachable environment and also how to use different strategies to meet the customer’s needs. My dream job would be to work for a 5-star hotel like ‘Four Seasons’. A five-star hotel provide good income at good positions. Traveling with my best friends has always been a dream; I would like to visit the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and Disneyland Paris. I have always been extremely interested with exploring different cultures. My last goal is to settle in life to be able to afford a villa located outside the city.

Once you know your goals, it’s important to create a path to reach your target, my short-term goals are to work hard, get good grades and to concentrate on my foundation course at Middlesex University. Learning how to budget has always been a struggle for me so I would like to work on that, by spending less on shopping and saving more for future studies and trips. Staying healthy is important and I would like to eat healthier instead of fast foods also getting more physical activity at least twice a week. Another goal is to learn how to say phrases in French it was motivated by a French movie called ‘The Intouchables’, a comedy drama film about friends who help each other overcome physical handicaps and otherwise. Waking up early is one of my goals, I am not a morning person and waking up late in some cases severely affects the physical and mental health, that being said we should wake up early enough to see the sunrise.

People need to have the intention to do something and the rest of the actions will follow.

These goals are important to me because they’ll guide me towards achieving my dream, they will help me determine my priorities and direct me to focus on what is important and it is going to develop and improve my self-confidence.

When you imagine storytelling, it is most likely that you will reminisce in your story from your childhood, as do I. This essay will explore my role as an early year’s practitioner and reflect on my practice, values and beliefs. It is my story.

I am a 19-year-old British Kosovan female student living in London. I have grown up with my parents and one sibling, a younger sister. She has been my motivation as to why I wish to pursue a career in early years. This is because since she was young, I would tutor her in different subjects such as English and Maths as well as taking part in creative activities such as drawing as this is a great interest of mine. This taught me how important it is to be a good role model for younger children as they grow up modelling our actions. This is demonstrated in Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment (Bandura, 1961). My interest in art helped my sister acknowledge her skills and talents in this area too. She insinuated the idea of me being an Early year’s teacher and saw how much passion I have for teaching and caring for children. My parents were also another major influence in my career path as when I too, was young, they would read to me different children’s books with such enthusiasm that my face remained shocked and full of emotion throughout the stories. Story telling is something that everyone does, not just through reading books but through telling their experiences. By doing this, we are reflecting on our practice. Every day, my parents would come home from work and explain their day through a story. They would also take me outside to experience the world with them through different activities such as pretending our back garden was a forest. These outdoor experiences during childhood creates an ethos of determination and adventure. Forest school is a great way of encouraging this outdoor learning and ‘building better relationships with the natural world’ (Cree, 2015, p.20). The forest school approach supports children’s development holistically and what they learn outdoors can be internalized and enhanced in the classroom (Weistein, 2015).

I currently work in a newly renovated private nursery in London. The nursery contains four different learning rooms situated for all age group settings which include; babies, pre-toddlers, toddlers and pre-school, all ranging from 3 to 5-year-old children. Each learning room has a different age range and the nursery caters for all. The nursery has also modeled areas for children to play outdoors and indoors. Each room is designed to meet the age and stage requirements of the children as well as their interests through space accommodations and learning programs which include activities supporting the children’s holistic development. The Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework (EYFS) defines their practice (Department for Education, 2017). My workplace has also introduced ‘Nursery Cam’ which is a way of parents getting a hands-on experience of what their child is doing and learning at nursery. They can access the nurseries cameras which allows them to see their child interacting with others and completing the activities provided by the nursery (Nursery Webcam and Web Design, 2018). I particularly like this idea as the parents can feel more secure with their child’s stay at nursery.

I am a newly qualified, Level 3 nursery nurse. During my academic study, I have learnt to observe, plan and assess children’s holistic performance according to the EYFS curriculum. I have also further understood the roles and responsibilities of an early year’s practitioner such as implementing the policies and procedures of a setting, children to adult ratios and encouraging an enabling environment (‘Best Practice in Childcare and the EYFS’, Nursery World, 2018).

I also place importance on behavioral management in setting boundaries according to the appropriate morals and behavioral expectations. Having these principles can impact a child’s performance greatly and positively. My favorite subject in early years is expressive arts and design. As practitioners, we support and encourage children to explore the world through their senses and to use their imagination to show unique creativeness. The EYFS underlines the significance of creativity in a children’s development as it is part of the prime and specific areas of children’s learning (Department for Education, 2017).

I have also gained qualifications in various GCSE’s subjects and A-levels. These social science subjects contribute to my work as an Early year’s practitioner. Politics has taught me the importance of policies, procedures and legislation and how they impact our lives. Philosophy and ethics have also influenced my work as we are constantly using ethics in our lives; in problem solving, decision making and most importantly, when we reflect on our practice (Hargreaves & Page, 2013). It has also made culturally and socially aware of the philosophical ethics around early childhood education. I have also learnt that the EYFS curriculum is very holistic as opposed to other curriculums (Elkind, 2018). Furthermore, my study in sociology explained the socio-cultural influences that children experience which led me to believe that childhood can be constructed, and cognition develops from society, culture and social interactions (James et al., 1998; James and Prout, 1997; Qvortrup, 1994; Brady, Lowe & Lauritzen, 2018).

The values that motivate me to work and learn are the fundamental British values. My home life is set up according to these values as they also coincide with my cultural and religious beliefs. I am Muslim and hold very traditional beliefs such as respecting young children and older adults. This links to the British value of tolerance and respect. I am also a very cultural person in that I enjoy listening to traditional music and showing cultural appropriation through clothing. This complements the British value of diversity and equality as I show tolerance and enthusiasm for diversity and mixing of different cultures (Burns, 2014). I also believe in children having the right to free public education which demonstrates the British value of freedom of choice and inclusion in my day-to-day life. I am also a very committed and open-minded individual. As a practitioner, I believe individuals differences should be treated with respect and honor as encouraging equal opportunities and treatment of others despite their differences is paramount. These values and beliefs are central to who I am.

Having identified my role, values and beliefs in relation to my practice, I have further acknowledged the importance of reflection on work and on the future. I wish to continue my studies through completing the foundation degree in early years care and education and in time, graduate with a full degree of the BHA honors top-up Level 6. I then aspire to gain a qualified teaching status which will enable me to teach in the future, preferably in a public primary nursery school setting.

I acknowledged the existence of race at a very young age. I can vividly recall several instances in elementary school when other students would call me ‘Jackie Chan’. There would even be times when they would squint their eyes and perform movements as if it was kung fu. I was different from my classmates and they made sure I knew that.

I never completely understood how much my ethnicity would impact my life until I got to my late teens. In high school, comments about my appearance transformed into a stereotype. A stereotype that expects me to perform well due to my race. Comments like “You are Asian, tutor me” or “You must be good at math, you’re Asian” were mentioned regularly. Because of who I am, the room for error and mistakes has lessened, which ultimately placed me to be part of the model minority. Myself including every other Asian American are expected to score high, attend an Ivy League, and secure a prestigious career. Except that these expectations were and are still false. Not every Asian American student is an overachiever and can maintain a perfect grade point average. I would be hesitant when asked, “You are Asian, how did you fail that test?”, “Asians are supposed to be smart, are you not Asian?”, or “Since you are Asian, do you like math?”. I felt alone and distanced from my peers who were of other races. I started to question why they didn’t have such high standards. This all forced me to feel as if I needed to constantly succeed and score high, and if I did not, I was a disappointment and a humiliation to everyone else and myself.

My parents are both United States citizens who migrated from Vietnam to the States in the late 1900s. Similar to other immigrants, they came to America in hopes of seeking better opportunities for themselves, but primarily for their families. My dad worked at the Marriott Hotel as a bellman and my mom worked at a washateria, all while taking on the full-time job of caring for me and my sister. I was born into a life that my parents had learned from scratch, but I was still having a hard time accepting my heritage. I can distinctly recall a moment when I felt completely singled out. I was at a friend’s birthday party and we were all sitting at a round table. One of my friends at the table began telling us a joke that involved an Asian doing math. Before he could finish, he hesitated and looked right at me. Within seconds, the whole table turned their head in my direction, and it was right then that I realized I was the only non-white person. Prior to this, I never really acknowledged or took notice of who was in the room and if I was the only non-white, but it was at this moment that I truly felt like an outsider.

As I grew older, I became more prideful of my culture and heritage. I began to accept people’s questions about me and my ethnicity. I came to terms that they are people who don’t know any better due to their lack of exposure to the Asian American culture. I would kindly befriend them and explain that the product of my grades did not come from a certain type of induced parenting or that I was born with highly intellectual genetics. Instead, my grades were all dependent on studying, just like everyone else.

For most of my life as an Asian American, I have struggled with the feeling of judgment and self-doubt. My concerns with what everyone else thought left me with little to no confidence. What I didn’t realize was that this feeling was all an internal battle with myself, an internal battle that if my heritage meant so much to me, then their opinion does not and should not define me.

Against the advice of my family and friends, I ultimately chose to write about the hurdles of growing up as an Asian American, because doing so would give the most pure and authentic version of myself. Without all of the social confusion and struggles, I never would have developed a sense of understanding and appreciation toward people of different backgrounds. I understand that to feel accepted I must be proud of my culture and myself. I must confront the racial remarks or the misinterpretation of an Asian American.

Currently, I spend around 12 hours a week at my dance studio, which seems excessive, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The time I spend here is filled with moments I cherish and will stay with me forever. Moments I get to do something I love with some of the most important people in my life. These are the people I know I’m going to miss tremendously next year, so every class with them counts. Looking back on my last few years at my studio, I have some regrets about taking the time for granted, but that simply means I can use that to make the most of the end of my time here.

From ages four to ten, I danced at a studio in the next town over, and I loved it, but I never took it very seriously. When I moved at age eleven, I was too far from the studio to keep attending, so I had to quit. All through middle school, I tried other activities, but nothing felt the same. Finally, when I was thirteen, I made the decision to go back to dance. I talked to my best friend about it, and the next year started dancing at her studio. I quickly learned that their dancers were at a much higher level than my previous studio, so I knew I had a lot of work to do if I hoped to get into their competition classes. I worked hard, making sure to practice at home until I knew the combinations like the back of my hand and taking extra private classes to work on my weaknesses.

The more I danced, the more I grew to love it. I loved learning new turns and leaps, even though I looked ridiculous doing them for a few weeks until I got it. As rehearsals went on, I loved seeing my improvement in the combinations the teachers gave us and my mastery of difficult steps. In the first competition class I was placed in, I was so excited to be there that I didn’t even care that I was two years older than everyone else. My love for dance grew even more when I started going to competitions because it was such an amazing experience, no matter if we got a high score or not.

Dancing and going to classes is only half the experience of being part of a dance studio. The other half is the friendships you make with people who have the same passions as you. When I first started at my current studio, I felt pretty out of place. Everyone had known each other for years, and I was just the new girl. In my first year, I didn’t have anyone to talk to aside from two of my friends, who unfortunately weren’t in any of my classes. However, over time, I began to grow close with the people who were in my classes and found I could really relate to them. Dancing alongside them taught me about the importance of teamwork and how a willingness to work together could take any great dance and make it even better. I owe some of my most meaningful friendships and some of my most hilarious memories to my studio.

Overall, it’s hard to describe why I love dance as much as I do. Many people may think it’s bizarre that I spend just about half my life there, yet I’m still overjoyed whenever I walk into class. All I know is that I love what I do and wouldn’t be the person I am today without it. There may be times when I feel down and doubt myself, but it’s never enough to make me stop trying or stop dancing, because even on my worst or most frustrating days, dancing is my passion, and the joy it gives me is worth the minor setbacks.