Category: About Myself

The biography of an athlete is the description of the athlete’s life which could include background, education, work, relationship, and sometimes death. In other words, the athlete’s biography highlights different aspects of the athlete’s life, childhood, relationship, career, and family.

I have loved soccer since my early years. Because of this reason, I would like to choose an athlete who has made an impact in the world of soccer, particularly female athletes and the athlete that is of interest to me is Brandi Denise Chastain (an American retired soccer player, two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold-medalist, coach, and sports broadcaster). Brandi Chastain was born July 21, 1968, in San Jose, California, and also grew up in San Jose. Lark and Roger Chastain are Brandi’s Chastain parents and Chad Chastain is Brandi’s brother. At the age of eight, she started playing soccer (with her younger brother and other boys). At that time she played for the boy’s soccer team because there was no girls’ soccer team available for her to play on at Davis Junior High School. Chastain attended Archbishop Mitty High School and helped lead the team to three consecutive state championships. After high school, in 1986 she attended the University of California, Berkeley where she played for the Golden Bears and scored 15 goals as a forward and was honored by Soccer America. She missed two college seasons (1987-88) after she underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery on both knees, and later transferred to Santa Clara University in 1989, where she played for the Santa Clara Broncos and won awards. She helped lead the Broncos to two consecutive Final Four NCAA College Cup appearances (for the first time ever) in 1989 and 1990. She graduated from Santa Clara with a degree in television and communications. She achieved a lot and also won many awards during her years of playing soccer, some of the honors and awards are as follows; Soccer America Freshman of the Year Honors, Named First-Team NSCAA All-Far West, Named First-Team NSCAA All-American, Scores first five international goals in the same game, against Mexico, Plays on World Cup-winning U.S. women’s soccer team, Plays on the gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s soccer team at the Olympics, Scores winning goal against China in the 1999 Women’s World Cup final, Named to the 1999 Women’s World Cup All-Star Team, Named one of People magazine’s Most Intriguing People of 1999, Named one of Street & Smith’s Most Powerful People in Sports for 1999. Plays on silver-medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, Plays on first-ever U.S. gold-medal-winning team at the Goodwill Game. Brandi met Jerry Smith, her coach. And later she started dating Jerry Smith, who taught her how important defense was, after then she started playing defense instead of forward. Jerry and Brandi got married. Brandi Chastain has a son named Jaden Chastain Smith and a stepson whose name is Cameron Smith. Brandi Chastain is also an assistant coach for the women’s soccer team at her alma mater, Santa Clara University. Her husband, Jerry Smith, is the head coach.

I learned to love sports (soccer and martial art) from my dad and also learned to love gymnastics from my mother. At nine I started soccer with my siblings, but most times they told me I play like a girl, and that most girls in the world of soccer aren’t too great compared to the men, they said I don’t run fast enough to catch the ball. So I needed to change the idea of me and female athletes not being good at playing soccer by finding inspiration and watching female athletes play soccer and also to tell them that we have female athletes doing great in the world of soccer. I chose Brandi Chastian, first I am a lover of soccer, and also because she has inspired me and let me know that females can do great things too in soccer. Her achievements in the world of soccer are a reflection of hard work and dedication and an inspiration to the young in the world of sport. Chastain and her teammates were working hard to bring the sport greater recognition. With dedication, teamwork, and commitment, they were able to win the World Cup. The world cup victory propelled women’s soccer into the national spotlight. They made female soccer to be recognized by the public. As a result of the victory, investors were also convinced that the women’s soccer league would sell in the United States. I love the courage within Brandi Chastian displayed during the penalty kick. Chastain is never one to avoid being in the spotlight. Despite the pressure of playing a penalty kick Chastain cherish the opportunity unlike some players who dislike the intense pressure of playing a penalty kick, this is an inspiration and motivation for other athletes to take on the courage despite fear and pressure.

Brandi had appeared in the German magazine gear. She had also been on David Letterman’s talk show as a guest putting female athletes in the limelight. As well as being a role model to other women athletes who have overcome stereotypes, she is pretty confident in her own self. She uses the opportunity to display her strength and creativity as a tool to empower women who want to engage in soccer. She shows you that it is not only guys that can do well in the game of soccer, female athletes too can. Chastain being a soccer player with different honors and awards has created a positive change in the world of sports particularly for women. She created a new form of femininity by changing the perception and paradox that exist within female sports. She changed the stereotype for me. Now each generation of girls and women in sports is challenging stereotypes that hold them back and navigating contradictory messages about what they can do, be or feel. I’m really happy to see this sport growing over to the women’s division and I hope it will grow even more. Also Outside playing on the field, as a display of leadership and determination to give back to society Chastain actively supports different initiatives and causes geared towards encouraging and inspiring young female athletes. She co-founded the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI), a nonprofit that engages female athletes in service in the communities that need the most support.

First of all Brandi Chastain’s sports bra created history in the world of women in sports. Sports bras had a direct effect on the evolution of women`s professional sports over the years. In 1999, soccer player Brandi Chastain scored the winning penalty kick in the Women`s World Cup which brought a new dawn and a grand era for women’s sport. This was the most important game in American women`s sports history, first because of her athletic achievement, and also because of the celebration that would follow. In a moment of pure pride and ecstasy, Chastain whipped off her jersey and fell to her knees. Chastain and her victory were forever encapsulated in photographs of this epic moment. The sports bra created a controversy about equality between men and female sport because it is not a common tradition within the game of soccer for a lady to celebrate a goal by whipping off her shirt. This little demonstration displayed by Brandi shows the lack of gender equality within professional sports, it also brought inequality to light so that it could be addressed. As a result of this women`s sports and their place in society were made the highlight of conversation in the early 2000s. Women`s sports had a star, Brandi Chastain. Chastain`s black Nike sports bra, humble and practical yet a new symbol of power and success, was flying off the shelves of stores around the nation. The sports bra industry saw an increase in annual sales following the United States’ victory in the women`s World Cup. The impact of the sports bra is really important at this moment. It generated a greater interest in athletics in women, which was demonstrated by the high purchase of sports bras and also caused controversy to make people question gender equality within sports. Chastain, achievements and awards, and most especially her world cup final goal had a direct effect on women in sport. It opened people’s eyes to women’s football. Unlike before, women’s soccer was not anonymous anymore. Since Chastian started playing the ball there has been a significant increase in the number of girls participating in the sport. Brandi Chastain into stardom and is hailed as a breakthrough not only for women’s soccer but women’s sports in general.

Ever since I was young, my biggest fear has always been heights, I have other fears too, but none of them triggers me like this one. Maybe because I’m afraid of falling but to be honest I really don’t understand why. It’s not even being in the sky however like tall bridges or anything of that sort.

The first time she ever traveled on a flight was when they were coming to the United States of America. Around that time, she was hardly like a four or five-year-old. I didn’t discover my fear then, maybe I guess that’s because she was much younger than me. From that point on, my biggest fear has ever been heightened. Whenever my parents will drive on high bridges or roads, I’ll close my eyes so I won’t see anything around or beneath me. At that very moment, my hands and feet will start sweating because of the amount of fear in me simply because we are on a highway. Especially when I’m the one seating in the front seat, my hands, feet, and body will start shaking and won’t stop till we exit the highway.

Well, I guess all that kind of changed this summer when I went to Florida after ten good years by myself and it was by flight also. So my friend purchase two flight tickets to Florida and it was a surprise for me because I wouldn’t have ever seen that coming. Then I sat my parents down and asked them if I could go. They had to think about it because I’ve never left them and not talking about it for a whole week and being alone in another state. After they made their conclusion they said I could go. Which made me very excited but then again I thought about it because I was going through a flight. So a couple of days went by and I started shopping and getting my equipment together. But the thought of taking a flight there kept on coming across my mind whenever I was doing something involving me traveling. Therefore, I tried not to really put my mind there so much.

Two days before my trip, I prayed and fastest before the trip. A couple of hours went by till it was finally Saturday, the 21st of July. My friend came and picked me up from the house. The parents didn’t want me to leave but at the same time, it was my first experience traveling without my family so they were happy too. Afterward, we headed out on the road and I was all quiet in the car till we got to the airport, that was because I was still shocked that everything was still happening for real. We checked in our tickets, ids, and our luggage. Now we were just waiting for our flight group number to be called so we can enter the plane. Minutes and seconds went by and I finally heard “group 7” I quickly got my friend’s attention and we headed towards the plane.

There I was finally entering a plane and I was extremely excited. We entered and started looking for our seat number also we had to put our hand languages on top of our seats. When I finally sat down the first thing I did was put my seat belt on and started praying. My friend was just laughing and telling me to calm down but I just ignored her. After the pilot said what he had to say then the flight started moving, I was too happy. I felt like a little baby having a lollipop for the first time. While the fight was picking up its speed to get off the ground I was holding my friend’s hand and my eyes were closed the whole time. Then the speed increased and there we were heading to the sky. Surprisingly my hands and feet weren’t sweating as they would normally. Now we were just in the sky for two good hours. After we finally had a stable balance up there I fell asleep till we landed.

In conclusion, that was the best experience ever. Being in the sky on the bumping road was the best. Overall I enjoyed my flight and being away from my parents for a good week. So I guess that was a great accomplishment. Now I just want to travel all across the world to see and try new things. But the fear of heights is still there.

The house, is basically a nonliving concrete building with four walls, doors, and windows, what makes it a lively, pleasing, and extraordinary place for us? Why we don’t get a similar feeling to our home when we are at our friend’s house? What uniqueness does our home have that makes it feel at home for us? Every person has different answers to all the above questions.

Here are some of the reasons that give me feel at-home vibes.

It’s true that restaurant foods are tasty and well garnished but they can never replace the unique taste of homemade food. The method of cooking differs from house to house. The same curry cooked in your friend’s house doesn’t taste or smell similar to the curry cooked in your house and that’s why every homemade food is unique. This unique taste and aroma of the food is the first thing that makes you feel at home. Now coming to me, spicy curry and rice are the staple food cooked almost every day in my house. When the curry is cooked, the spices used in it spread the mouth-watering aroma at every corner of the house and the plain rice leaves out its own unique aroma giving me the feel of my home every day. And yes, nothing can beat the taste. Though I eat it every day, still it tastes divine to me. Without this food, my home couldn’t be felt like mine ever.

I really love to turn off the lights every evening and light the candles, especially those around candles. They have a lovely lemon-ish fragrance in them and they look beautiful. So what I do is, I take water from some glass bowl, light the candle and make it float freely on the water’s surface. It really gives a very pacifying feeling. It is one of those things which makes my home feel comfortable and calm. It is not a compulsory thing to do every day for me but I do get a very homely vibe from it. Belonging to a very religious family, burning aromatic incense sticks is a very common practice in my home. We use incense sticks with marigold fragrance. So whenever in the evening I come back to my home, their lovely fragrance welcomes me and gives me very homely vibes. And now I have become so habitual to their fragrance that whenever they are not burned, I feel like I am somewhere else but not in my home lol. Also, we don’t use any room freshener. These incense sticks are enough to keep our home fresh and fragrant. Since I live in a flat, I don’t have a big balcony to do some gardening. I have a small balcony where I have these two rose plants. These plants are with us for a long time and still, they eventually bear lovely roses. They have become a part of my family and they give me a very homely feeling. This is my personal favorite. I have got one wind chime which I love very much. The sound of it is very calming. Whenever there is complete silence in my house, its sound helps break the silence but in a very melodious and calming way. Without its sound, I feel incomplete in my home.

Well even if you fill your house and decorate it with all those materialistic stuff, you can never feel it has your own home without your family and their love. That precious feeling you get when all the members get together, discuss their daily life, have food together, play small games, chit chat and hug each other. This love is what makes my nonliving concrete house a lively and extraordinary home. So these were some small things that help me to feel at home. I can’t feel the same delight in anyone else because of these unique elements present in my home.

First but foremost, the Jamaican culture is the main culture that influenced who I am today, from the way I speak, how I view certain things, etc. Growing up I identified my ethnic origin as a Canadian-Jamaican, and still do to this day. Being raised in a Jamaican household I grew up being exposed to the Jamaican culture. Jamaica’s official language is English, Patois (which is a type of broken English mixed with African dialect), and Spanish. Growing up the languages that were spoken in the home were English and Patois, My parents spoke these two types of languages in the home which I grew up learning and speaking as well. When it comes to the fashion sense, I didn’t really wear much traditional clothing, maybe because even in Jamaica they didn’t have traditional clothing that was worn. Thinking back, while growing up, I remember every Sunday I wore a church dress with a lace type of socks, and my hair was always braided with clips and beads. The hairstyle was more of a statement piece more than clothing, even in Jamaica hairstyles were worn in many different ways and styles, and clothing attire was more influenced by European fashion. Another aspect of the Jamaican culture that influenced my upbringing is the type of music that I would hear my parents listening to. Although my parents also listen to Americanized music, Jamaican reggae music was also a significant music genre that shaped me. My parents mostly listened to reggae music that was more soft and meaningful as well as upbeat love songs. I guess these small reasons are why I prefer to listen to love songs more than any other music.

Jamaican food also influenced me. In a Jamaican household the women would cook and prepare food, my mother would always cook traditional Jamaican food throughout the week, but especially during the weekends. In the Jamaican culture, they have many traditional dishes. Some of the popular dishes are boiled bananas or roasted breadfruit, sautéed callaloo with salt fish (which is a salted codfish), bread, fried plantains, fried dumplings curry goat, curry chicken, oxtail, corn beef, ackee and saltfish, stewed or roasted beef or chicken, boiled yam or plantains, rice and peas, fried fish, and soups and the list goes on. In the Jamaican culture, there are days of the week that you prepare certain dishes, such on Sundays either fish, ackee n’ saltfish, oxtail, curry goat/chicken, rice and peas, etc. would be made, while during the weekdays chicken and plain rice was often served. In my household, my mother tends to make certain dishes on certain days of the week, during the weekends she tended to make more traditional Jamaican dishes, especially on Sundays.

Furthermore, Jamaica is an artistic culture, they use many types of art forms through literature, graphic art, music, and dance. I believe that part of the Jamaican culture has influenced me in many ways. Such as the use of literature and creative speeches through proverbs, aphorisms, riddles, and humor. Many Jamaicans use creative forms of speech that can have oneself guessing the meaning of what was said, types of creative phases that Jamaicans might say are “Weh Yuh Deh Pon” which means “what you up to” or “Wah Gwaan” which means “what’s up” or even “Dead Wid Laugh” which this saying is a way to implement to someone that they are ‘very funny’. I sometimes find myself repeating these phases or making up my own. Another art form that influenced me is music, as I referred to before, music was played in my home, especially during the weekends. Reggae and gospel music was the main music that I heard growing up. Jamaicans love music which I can guess is why I have a significant love for music myself and a passion for it.

The Jamaican culture also influenced me through how I view people around me and treat them. In Jamaican etiquette is very important, and politeness and courtesy are highly valued as aspects of being “raised good.” They are expressed through greetings, especially from the young to their elders. A child never “backtalks” to parents or elders. Growing up I learned to respect my elders and parents even my family members and speak using respectful words. To this day I still use these etiquette influences that I learned growing up. More so, religion also is a significant influence as well. Although Jamaicans are religious people, there are beliefs, rituals, and religious practices that Jamaicans follow. Growing up I was raised into these religious traditions, rituals, and practices such as either attending church on a Saturday or Sunday (depending on what type of Christian you were) I went to church on Sundays. For ritual practices, a great example is that every year during Easter Sunday, eating meat wasn’t allowed, we were only allowed to eat fish and vegetation, fruits, and bun and cheese, the cheese that was served during this day was Jamaican hard cheese. Also, my mother made sure to prepare the food a day before because Easter Sunday is basically like a Sabbath day, which is a day you can not work or cook, and only certain foods are eaten that day.

Although the Jamaican culture played a significant influence in my upbringing, the Canadian culture also helped to influence me. Canada is a melting pot of many cultures put into one. I grew up being open to many cultures and foods such as poutine which is a popular Canadian dish that originated in Quebec, hot dogs, and even Indian food. I played popular sports that many other Canadians played such as basketball, soccer, and even hockey. Music being a huge influence in my life, I didn’t only listen to reggae music but also the types of music that Canadians listen to, which is mainly American music such as pop, rock, R&B, ballads, etc. I even find myself saying using Canadian etiquette and sayings such as “Thank you” and “Sorry” a lot more than I should. Although the Jamaican culture basically wears the same fashion as the Canadians, Canada has more than two seasons, so my fashion tends to change throughout the year. But the significant influence that the Canadian culture had on me, is my way of thinking and viewpoint. Canadians are very open-minded people, who believe in equality for all, and peace, which I also believe in too.

In conclusion, Canadian and Jamaican cultures influenced me in many wonderful aspects, I got to experience two cultures and learn different viewpoints, try different foods, and even listen to different music. These simple but life-changing influences made me who I am today.

I was born on September 13, 2003, in Jacksonville, Florida. I was born prematurely, by 75 days. I was a very tiny baby, I weighed 3 lbs 1 ounce and was able to lay on my dad’s hand with my legs hanging off. I was in the hospital until October 24, 2003. During my time in the hospital, one of the nurses left an IV in my right wrist for too long, and it burnt my wrist. When the burn was scabbed over, it was all black and was a dot the size of a dime where the needle was. My mother’s Stepfather was very upset and told the hospital that he never wanted that nurse to treat anyone in our family ever again. After the burn healed, it left a scar. Since then it has stretched, it’s an inch long and almost a quarter of an inch thick. Four days after I was born my dad had to leave for Bootcamp, he later returned on December 6, 2003. My dad wasn’t present for most of my first year, mainly because, he had Bootcamp and recently joined the military. I started talking very early, by the time I was 18 months old, my vocabulary had become very large. I didn’t start walking for a while because I was born prematurely.

On June 14, 2005, my sister was born. Sometime after I turned 2, I had this pink plastic baby doll stroller that I was pushing around, I don’t know the details but, I ended up busting my lip and getting stitches. I ended up with a scar on my upper lip. Sometime later my family, (Me, my sister, my dad, and my mom) moved across the country to Silverdale, Washington. When I turned 4 years old, I took an early entrance test. If I passed the first test, I would go on to the next. Passing both tests, scoring in the eighty-third percentile (50 being average) I entered school a year early. On December 22, 2007, my brother was born (my sister and I did not like him). My sister and I were very jealous of this new addition and had some evil schemes (we were mean). My mom said we tortured him, (I think we showed him who’s boss). I remember I used to tell him things (he was a gullible kid). Some of the things I told him he still believes today, like the shadows in your closet turn into monsters at night. He has said he doesn’t think it’s true, even though he still shuts his closet every night. A year or two after my brother was born, my dad got into a motorcycle crash. I don’t remember a lot of it because it’s mostly a blur, but I do remember that when we left the hospital, he was in a wheelchair and had a cast on, he had to have surgery on his right wrist. His wrist hurts all the time all these years later, he recently, started to wear bands around his wrists to help him do things. In 2009, my family moved back to Florida. When we got there we got a white German Shepard and named him Sylis. In 2010, things for my family when downhill rapidly.

On February 11, 2010, my Papaw (my great grandfather) passed away due to cancer, and sixteen days later my Grandpa Allen passed away. Sometime in May, Grandpa Allen’s mother passed away. Later that year in November, My Bumpa (my mother’s stepfather) passed away. Sometime during that year, my mother’s childhood dog, Ginger, passed away. Sometime in 2010 my brother had this little toy truck he could sit in and drive, and I was sitting in it reading, he told me to get out of it. Being that I was too big for it, it took me a minute to get up, when I did he shoved me and I landed on the metal latch on the bunny carrier we had for my bunny Shelby. I lost a chunk of my leg the size of a quarter. I didn’t want to go to the hospital so my mom bandaged me up. I still have a scar from that incident.

In 2011 we moved up to Georgia, very few people knew we were living there, mainly my Nina (My mom’s mother). I was a third-grader at the time, and I had this very special stuffed animal. It was a Black Labrador, and it was quite large for a stuffed animal. I had gotten it from a neighbor when we had lived in Washington. I had named it Pepper. I loved Pepper very much, and in my class, you could pull a piece of paper from a jar for good behavior. One day, the jar was placed in front of me. I pulled out a piece of paper, and the paper said; bring a stuffed animal to school. I was so excited, the next day I brought Pepper with me to school. When it was lunchtime, I was told to leave Pepper in the classroom. I went to lunch and came back to a not-so-great surprise, Pepper was missing. I immediately started crying, wondering where my beloved stuffed animal could be, I mean it was huge, how could it possibly go missing? I went up to the office and asked to call my mom, they gladly handed the crying Third-grader the phone, I explained to my mom what had happened, and my words were “Whoever took Pepper is a horrible, cruel, evil person.” My mom rushed to the school with my Nina and we retraced my steps. We even asked the janitor if he saw it, which he hadn’t. Pepper was too big to put into a backpack so he had to be somewhere. We searched every day after school, for a few days. A week or two later there was an event at the school, this was our last hope. We searched and searched and even asked if any parents had seen it. When all hope seemed lost my Nina found the girl who stole my Bath & Body Works hand sanitizer (we were also looking for that too) She gave it back and apologized (because her mother made her). We never found Pepper, but we found my hand sanitizer. (We still think that the girl who stole the hand sanitizer stole Pepper).

In 2012 we moved back to Washington. When we got there we got another dog, a Black German Shepard, we named him Tytus. We also started attending Grace Point Church. I started the fourth grade and loved it, for the first two weeks. After two weeks, on a Friday, some students were told to grab all of their things from the class. We walked to another class. We were introduced to the class and the teacher. We were told that it was our new class. The new class was fun the first few days, until the teacher got more information on me and seemed to dislike me, a lot. (We think she disliked me because I was really smart and knew a lot, used big words, and because I was an early entrance student). One of my friends in that class, Tyler, who I am still friends with today, agreed that the teacher only picked on me. She was the worst teacher I have ever had, she would constantly yell at me, and take my things. I would come home crying a lot, and I thought my teacher hated me.

Christmas of 2012 I got an amazing gift, my Nina found something after searching stores and websites since I lost the original, and she gave me a new Pepper. When I pulled it out of the box I cried, it was just all those bottled-up emotions poured out. After Christmas break, I returned to school. That school year was terrible, and I’m glad it is over. I enjoyed a wonderful summer. At the end of the summer, my mom had everyone sit at the table. She asked us how we would feel if Nina moved to Washington and lived with us, we all got super excited knowing that she was going to live with us. She moved up there along with our Uncle Heath, and his pug Oliver. It was awesome. For the Fifth grade, I was homeschooled.

Christmas of 2013, my uncle and Nina gave us a trip to Great Wolf Lodge. The trip to Great Wolf Lodge was amazing. Sometime later Uncle Heath decided to move back to Florida, and our Nina moved into an apartment. A few months later we started to build a house and our Nina decided to move back to Flordia to live with our Papa when our house finished. Our house finished and our Papa flew out so he could help our Nina move back down to Florida. We unpacked all our stuff into the new house. Our childhood friends that we met when we first lived in Washington sadly moved to Texas. A month later I started the sixth grade at a new school. On the first day, I met my best friends for life, Lauren, Christian, and Marli. We were the best of friends and got along better than anyone else. That summer I went to Florida for the summer. When I got back that’s when conflict struck between my mom and me.

My grandfather came to this country as a teacher in 1960. Most of my family is still in India and I’ve been visiting my relatives on a regular basis. When I was a young child and visiting India, my youth protected me from asking questions about serious economic disparities. I have now been greatly perplexed by the enormous gulf in living standards and this has unsettled me. Seeing poverty and beggars coming to me who look like me and are the same age as I made me wonder why my life is comfortable and not theirs. It made me think I could be that girl begging at my car window dressed in rags and not at school. Recent poverty crises in Africa also made me wonder why some African countries are doing well while others are in crisis and yet they have lots of resources. In the UK the huge difference in living standards is less tangible. Economics is what really answered the question of why a girl just like me was begging and I was not begging from her and also why some countries are not as successful as they could be.

It has been an inspiring revelation to me how economics explains disparities of wealth affecting countries and individuals. I’ve been building my essential grasp of economics and am greatly enjoying studying the subject at A level. My other academic subjects have helped me gain skills that will further help me in later life. My academic study of mathematics has helped me in the analysis of problems in economics as well as understand economic theories. My study of biology has shown me how the scientific method is applied. This has made me appreciate how evidence is gathered and theories are tested. For my future academic study, I want to learn about economic theories and quantitative techniques and how they are used analytically. The work experience I’ve done has given me a glimpse of how some economic theories and principles are applied in practice and I would like to have further insights before finishing my university education.

My study of economics has motivated me to regularly read articles in The Economist magazine. I have been amazed at how these articles on current world affairs are much more enlightening than being informed by standard news media. I am compelled to study economics further because with this knowledge events and decisions with regard to individuals, nations, and globally can be understood.

I have attended lectures and courses relevant to Economics. I attended a Young Investment Banker Programme where we took part in a live trading demonstration (there were three teams: the sales team, the traders, and the research team) where we learned what the terms ‘short’ and ‘long’ meant with regard to stocks and general resources. This was particularly interesting because of the simple supply and demand economics involved and it was insightful to know that the economics we are currently learning in school actually takes place on a global scale. Attending the course has further inspired me to continue learning economics as an academic subject and I look forward to applying my knowledge. At the most basic level, I’ve been helping with the petty cash books at my father’s place of work. I’ve been doing this for the last year with me assisting a senior administrative member of staff and I learned the importance of being able to account for each penny. I have also gained work experience in a larger firm where I was allowed to shadow a management accountant and gained insight into how larger firms operate. I listened to an insightful talk by a senior executive of a large global company and this made me fully appreciate the composition of economies by different-sized businesses. These experiences made me appreciate how all sizes of businesses can be successful and in turn create jobs and also raise tax funds for the government. I am very curious about what is required for an economy to be functional and thus successful. Conversely, I would like to learn why there are failures or absences of successful economic systems around the world. On a spreadsheet, the less successful economies may just have a lower GDP and other economic parameters, however, I always think of that girl and why it is that she is not applying to study at university and I am not begging for food. I’ve read about how solving poverty is not as simple as giving international aid. Questions about why international aid has not been as successful as predicted, led me to choose my EPQ title as “To what extent has the giving of foreign development aid been successful over the past fifty years, and what alternatives are possible?” While studying economics at school I found some areas that we do not cover under the specification and have taken it upon myself to submit an article to my school magazine regarding the subject of behavioral economics, as I had just read a fantastic book called ‘Misbehaving’ by Richard H. Thaler. I touched upon topics such as sunk costs and why they matter macroeconomically, the effect of payment depreciation, and therefore the general theme of how some of the economic models we use today are fundamentally flawed due to aspects of irrational behavior that we as humans have.

Alongside my academic studies, I enjoy learning to play the classical guitar. It has shown me how new skills are learned with repetition under the guidance of an experienced teacher.

I find that I can recharge my physical and mental energy levels by making sure I have regular exercise. I particularly enjoy swimming and am a member of a local club.

I am looking forward to continuing this hobby at a university swimming club. Achieving the Gold Duke of Edinburgh award has been instructive with regard to the importance of teamwork and I look forward to learning how teams work together in economies both on individual and larger levels.

My work experience placement at Heathrow airport had group exercises and I volunteered to be the leader of my team. I learned the importance of planning before going ahead with a team effort. I was in charge of finance for my team and though initially daunting the whole exercise made me appreciate the importance of risk management.

My experiences to date have stimulated my curiosity with regard to learning economics further in depth. I am enthusiastic to learn further and committed to this choice.

In the 1600s Britain had control over the colonies in America. They were moving Brits into America and colonizing what is now the east coast of America. Colonists started clashing with British officials in the 1760s after they started to strip the colonists of their basic human rights. The first battle of The Continential Congress vs. The British happened at Lexington Concord, and there started the Revolutionary War. In December 1777, George Washington led his 12,000-man army to Valley Forge where they would endure the harsh winters of Pennsylvania. This became an important part of the war because soldiers began to question if it the war was even worth fighting for and if they should stay or go. Historians have debated whether or not America would have won the war if The Continental Army had. The army marched out of Valley Forge in 17778 in high hopes for the future even after undergoing unbearable conditions and losing many soldiers to sickness or fleeing. Soldiers deserve better than what they had a Valley Forge. They deserve to have respect from others in America, especially congress, they deserve better conditions than what they had, and they deserve the recognition they deserve for putting their lives on the line and going to war.

A reason that I would quit Valley Forge is because of the high possibility of me getting sick or even dying at Valley Forge. There is a high illness rate at Valley Forge, about 50% of the 12,000 soldiers here have one illness or another. Not all that are sick end up dying, only about 2,500 ended up dying, but that is 20% of the army gone and there’s about another 30% of the total number of soldiers who are dealing with one illness or another,(Doc. A). The deaths were due to the lack of medicine and necessary supplies to keep all of the sliders alive. This would make me quit because my intentions when coming into the war were to fight for my country and fight for something that I believe in. Everyone gets sick in the winter, but having to see soldiers die left and right, I would start to get down and rethink my decisions of why I even started fighting in this war. I would have left my family and friends at home to go fight in the war to gain independence, but to die at the winter camp and not in battle is not a very noble way to die. It would be much easier to go home and continue the simple life I had. I gave up everything to fight for his country but there was a big chance that I could die at the camp and not in the battle because of the supplies that we do not have.

Another reason why I would quit Valley Forge is that they didn’t have enough supplies to survive at the bare minimum at camp. Soldiers were dying constantly due to a lack of supplies and necessary tools to keep them surviving the jarring winters that Pennsylvania has. George Washington was a great leader to all of the soldiers, he was arguably the greatest commander of all time, which also meant that he cared for his soldiers. He would try to get more supplies from the Continental Congress to try to find a solution for the number of illnesses and deaths that were occurring at Valley Forge,(Doc, B). Continental Congress would stay off-site of Valley forge at a mansion in Moore Hall, so they couldn’t see what the soldiers were really living like. Congress did not know what the soldiers were living like. They wore all warm clothes, head to toe, while some men didn’t even have shoes or pants to wear,(Doc, B). This would make me quit because the Continental Congress shows up to Valley Forge in their nice, warm coats and hats while there are soldiers with no pants or even shoes on while there is snow on the ground. The soldiers are fighting for not only their independence; but also, the Congress too, so it would make much more sense if Congress would supply them with the necessary tools for them to be able to win the war without the number of troops that are dying. If congress doesn’t believe that we are good enough to receive their supplies then why should I fight for their independence when they aren’t on the battlefield? I am going through all this trouble and sacrifice to fight for people who don’t even respect me enough to help me win a war that will greatly benefit them, then there is no point in fighting.

The last reason I would quit at Valley Forge is because of the conditions at the camp. Having to eat horrible food and being cold constantly is not a reason why I am fighting in this war. Dr. Albigence Waldo was a surgeon at the camp helping the need for sick soldiers. He said that he is living with “Poor food-hard lodging – Cold Weather – fatigue – Nasty Cloaths – nasty Cookery – Vomit half my time – smoak’d out my senses – the Devil’s in it – I can’t Endure it – Why are we sent here to starve and Freeze.,”(Doc, C). If I am leaving everything I know and love at home, then why do I have to live in these unbearable conditions while I am doing a service to my country? When fighting in a war or battle, your soldiers should be treated with the utmost respect and given everything that they need in order to stay alive and defeat the enemy, but if I am living through those conditions, then what is the point? I am not guaranteed a good meal to keep me going every day, Dr. Albigence threw up his meals half the time, and I could be walking around barefoot in the middle of winter. There’s smoke everywhere, when I sleep, eat, or am just walking around I am constantly surrounded by the smell of smoke. I would not be able to stay there after a week. I would get frustrated after Congress decided not to help us out and get madder when I see the way we are living every day. The conditions would be way too bad for me to handle and sleeping at my house with my family sounds much more enjoyable that the whole situation that is going on here.

If I am fighting for my country’s independence then why don’t have the respect and attention I deserve from them? The army should receive the necessary supplies to survive in the war because right now we don’t even have the bare minimum to survive. Soldiers should not have to live with the constant fear that they could die when they are in a winter camp and not even fighting in battle. Also, if Congress does not believe in us while fighting in the war then what is the point of trying to gain us and their independence while we are stuck living in horrendous conditions in snowy Valley Forge? Knowing if soldiers quit or stayed at Valley Forge is very important because many soldiers who were living there most likely asked themselves if it is worth staying there. They probably went through the pros and cons just like we did to see if it makes more sense to stay or go. I would see why people would stay because they are fighting for their own independence and even though the conditions were terrible, they probably kept thinking about how freeing it would be to finally defeat the British and get the freedom all of the colonists wanted and deserve. If people didn’t stay at Valley Forge then who knows what our future would’ve looked like, but god bless the people that remained there, or else who knows, we might have not been able to break away from Britain.

Over this semester I found the whole process of this unit of study to be very interesting and highly educational, but overall the two themes that I found the most compelling and seem to have shone above the rest me were themes of Social exclusion and the discriminatory nature of western practices. It is to this point that I am providing a holistic approach to unpacking the social perspectives about the themes of social exclusion and the discriminatory nature of Western mental health practices are interwoven with the link between diagnosis and trauma.

For me, we must consider the two main factors that are contributing to said social exclusion in the mental health system. The first is that there is a level of interwoven discrimination within the mental health system that is embedded institutionally when dealing with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and women from other Culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The second main factor is social exclusion through the existence of profoundly negative instances of stigmatization and discrimination that occur within some ethnic communities regarding the language and labeling used through the depiction of mental illness that happens when trying to interact with the topic of mental health as a whole and especially to the people who are experiencing symptoms that match a diagnosis within those communities which highlights the negative effects in which diagnosis imposes which ultimately further connects to the overarching effects of trauma.

Initially, I began to center my reflection on assessing the level of disparity that exists within the mental health system and how it particularly affects indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse people, not only confronting but truly alarming, so we must recognize and assess conversely how social exclusion relates to the nature of western practices and the history behind it, particularly in the wake of European settler-colonialism and the long-lasting effects which have trickled down.

Equally, I have recognized that this is explained by delving into Australia’s history of colonization through the considerable amount of trauma which has profoundly affected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the form of dispossession of land, removal of children, family separation and displacement, and loss of culture. Resulting in increased levels of stress and anxiety (Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Report, 1997, p.324).

Having analyzed the historical, cultural, social, and economic contexts of Guerin & Guerin (2012, p.555) of First Nations people It is clear that with that comes the need and importance of acknowledging the existence of a racialized social structure “where health care providers ‘willingly and unwillingly, knowingly and unknowingly’ subjugate Indigenous knowledge (epistemology), beliefs (ontology) and values (axiology) to the hegemonic western biomedical model at the level of policy and practice” (Durey, 2011, p. 2). This not only serves in being another tool that erodes First Nations people of their autonomy but also can the hegemonic nature of the Western biomedical model as it ignores the fact that connection to land, culture, spirituality, family, and community are important to First Nations people’s mental health.

Furthermore, I when shifting back to the crux of my first main argument which will highlight how the disparity and the interwoven discrimination in the mental health system are linked to social exclusion, particularly regarding indigeneity. It is clear that both historically and currently Aboriginal children are often current victims of past policies and practices this is blatantly displayed by the child removal rates of Indigenous children from their families which has continued to have long-lasting effects such as depression and anxiety due to the separation process from their family it creates a sense of alienation and isolation.

It is to this point that is my understanding that not only is this a contemporary form of colonialism through which it evidently strips the remnants of agency from Indigenous people and their communities respectively. However, it conversely serves to echo Ferdinand et al. (2015) point that experiencing discrimination & social exclusion through isolation can lead to the risk of psychological distress it also allows for one to consider that ‘some behaviors and mental illness (e.g. depression and anxiety) may be reactions to racism, dispossession, and disadvantage’ (Vicary & Westermen, 2004, p.3).

But as a future social worker ultimately it is my job to understand the intersectionality between the discriminatory nature of the mental health system and recognize it as a by-product of the recurring theme that is social exclusion and the trickle-down effects of colonial history and its overarching impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is evident through recorded trauma and diagnosis.

Subsequently when looking at the social exclusion and the discriminatory nature of Western mental health practices women from Culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Drawing upon the knowledge and understanding I have gained from both Brown (2019) and Ferdinand et al. (2015) it is apparent that large racial disparities in the mental health treatment system exist, as by taking into account the theoretical framework between the intersectionality of race and gender regarding the dominant socially constructed discourses of depression, self-management, and gender via the use of African American women and depression.

Something that I have also noticed is the existence of dominant and racialized socially constructed discourses of depression, self-management, and gender. This exists through the enforcement of traditional gender roles, leading to women’s entrenchment into the notion of “the good woman” by focusing on passiveness and reliance through the obligation to assume the care of others and unpaid domestic labor.

This is problematic as it can lead to social exclusion through a discriminatory assumption that women are expected to be resilient when feeling distressed and this is particularly important when looking at the disparity within the mental health system and how it matters toward women of certain ethnic backgrounds as being more resilient. I find this alarming as the presumptive nature of the discourse within the mental health system goes without recognizing the chain of effects it can cause, which include the experience of negative life events, insecure housing tenure, more chronic stressors, and reduced social support networks.

When assessing the socially exclusionary nature that diagnosis can impose and its connection to the overarching effects of trauma. I have recognized that by using the example of women experiencing postpartum depression being seen as ‘lacking a connection with their child, cold, disinterested” or other negative views due to a societal expectation of women based upon attachment theory, which may in turn cause women already experiencing ‘emotional distress’ and ‘emotional difficulties’ to feel worse due to social impacts and the stigma placed on said, “lack of connection” (Brown, 2019, p. 151 -155).

As a future social worker in my practice, I would strive to shift the focus on women’s depression from the context of pathology as it decontextualizes the person and allows for progress beyond the rigidity of the bio-medical outlook. By making the recommendation of implementing a feministic framework to approach making efforts to strive for societal gains in gender development through social policy amendment, along with the advocacy for women’s rights and governmental investment in programs focusing on women. That aims to tackle the issue of social exclusion and disparity within the mental health system.

Equally, as a person of color and a social work student, upon reflection, I found that the theme of social exclusion can occur through the existence of profoundly negative instances of stigmatization and discrimination that occur within some ethnic communities to be compelling as well I have seen it happen first hand within my community that both the person dealing with mental health issues can

This could include both internal and external forms of stigmatization, as such by acknowledging that varying attitudes towards mental illness exist and how factors such as cultural and religious teachings can shape and influence individuals, families, ethnicities, and countries in regards to the source and nature of the mental illness, this can lead to the formation of attitudes towards people who may be mentally ill. This can create this us v them mentality and promote notions of extreme othering thus leading to social exclusion through alienation/ and solation created due to fear.

Alternatively, I have recognized that “through the process involving the contributions of others, that being the social environment & society “ (Topor, et al 2011, p. 90), I may be able to strategically combat the ways in which social exclusion due to mental health can be difficult however an example could be as a social worker engaging in developing community programs that serve in educating and promoting discourse surrounding mental health as people from ethnic minority communities may be facing cultural barriers as well as perceived normative understandings.

Ultimately as a social worker as Topor et al. (2011) highlight that is our role to help clients, build Relationships, by providing adequate material conditions & responsive services and support systems.

Reference List:

1. Brown, C. (2019). Speaking of Women’s Depression and the Politics of Emotion. (Viewpoint essay). Affilia Journal of Women and Social Work, 34(2), 151–169.
2. Commonwealth of Australia. (1997). Bringing them home: Report of the national inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/education/bringing-them-home-community-guide-2007-update
3. Durey, A., & Thompson, S. C. (2012). Reducing the health disparities of Indigenous Australians: time to change focus. BMC health services research, 12(1), 151.
4. Ferdinand, A., Paradies, Y., & Kelaher, M. (2015). Mental health impacts of racial discrimination in Australian culturally and linguistically diverse communities: a cross-sectional survey. (Survey). BMC Public Health, 15(1), 401. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1661-1
5. Guerin, B., & Guerin, P. (2012). Re-thinking mental health for indigenous Australian communities: communities as a context for mental health. Community Development Journal, 47(4), 555–570. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bss030
6. Topor, A., Borg, M., Di Girolamo, S., & Davidson, L. (2011). Not Just an Individual Journey: Social Aspects of Recovery. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 57(1), 90–99. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764009345062
7. Vicary, D., & Westerman, T. (2004). That’s just the way he is: Some implications of Aboriginal mental health beliefs. Australian e-Journal for the advancement of mental health, 3(3), 103-112.

What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘religion’? I think of a contract with rules and regulations that stipulate the following of these to receive a reward. For many, the rewards are enticing as it gives them hope as to what lies ahead. In my opinion, the negative impact religion has had on society as a whole has deeply outweighed what little charity it has provided, and it should be abolished.

I was ushered into religion when I was a baby, and baptized at the local Christian church in my area. I remember attending Sunday school to earn my communion and volunteering at various functions. Although my memories of the church are quite fond, I never stuck with it as I grew older because of the many demands that were made and the few rewards that I received. I was required to study the Bible, a book that would contribute nothing to my education other than the fact that I was reading it, attending mass at least once a week, and following the rules of the church at all times. I enjoyed singing in the choir and reading the stories with my fellow church members, but I did not care about getting into heaven. I wanted to do what made me happy purely for my own sanity’s sake and I wanted to share that happiness with the world in whichever way I could reach it. The church never strayed from traditions to help others or even encouraged the expression of one’s individuality as well as all of our similarities. For these reasons, I decided to not follow any one religion. However, I do attempt to maintain an open mind by attending a mosque a temple, or a synagogue occasionally to see how each major religion has changed over time.

Since early religious practices were established, they have followed a traditional layout. Teachings were expressed through a sacred book and they advised those that followed the religion about what to do and what not to do. If the individual were to choose what is deemed by the place of worship as the correct path, then they would be blessed in life and, if it is a part of the practice, the afterlife. If the person were to negate the teachings and follow a relatively wrong path then quite the opposite would happen and, depending on the religion, the person would experience misery in life and turmoil in the afterlife. In itself, this rule of thumb makes sense because for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; however, the consequence should match the transgression. If we take Mormonism as an example, religion is very strict in terms of what its followers can and cannot consume; even in the Latter-Day Saints division of the church, but, it seems rather unnecessary for one to spend eternity in a place of purgatory for having a morning cup of coffee or some afternoon tea or a soda (Mormons are not supposed to consume caffeinated foods and beverages). Christianity, another prominent religion, encourages the forgiveness of every wrongdoing yet continues to preach to its followers that they must do what is specified in the Bible or they will end up in Hell; the wrongs will be forgiven regardless of their level of intensity and, unlike Mormonism and its unfair punishment, this religion has no ultimate penalty; the teachings are contradictory.

If religion demands much of an individual’s life both mentally and physically, why do so many choose to be devout throughout their lives? The answer varies from person to person but it revolves around just that; an answer. Religion solves the most perplexing riddles and baffling conundrums. For example; Judaism tells us that God created the world, that we were put here simply to live our lives following the instructions outlined in the Torah, and that we will one day return to the pure soul we once were and lie with our ancestors watching over from above those down below. This take on eternal life is granted only to those who follow the Torah closely, if they do not they are pulling themselves further away from the purity needed to guard over others. While there is no physical evidence to prove this, religion offers an answer that provides comfort in times of stress and fear. In such times we also come across situations in life for which there is no apparent reasoning for what someone has done or for what has happened to them and some religions have fashioned deities in response to this. Hinduism has over 30 million gods and goddesses that all govern a particular subject and can account for times when nothing else makes sense. For example; a man whose good luck never seems to end can be thought to have earned the favor of Lakshmi, Goddess of Good Fortune while those having difficulty conceiving could be encouraged to worship Parvati, the Goddess of Fertility, Love, and Devotion. In addition to strengthening the layer of mind that makes sense of the world, religion can also provide an answer to oneself. The question ‘Who am I’ becomes less daunting when ‘I am a child of God’ is within easy reach. For many, it can provide a powerful feeling of belonging, something found to be an important factor amongst developing adolescents; needed for them to successfully transition into adulthood and become positive contributing members of society. However, this desire to know where we came from, discover where we are going, and crave to understand our purpose here and now are all wants that are not necessarily needed for a human to survive and be happy. A person can find comfort in individuals who share similar interests as well as those who sport different ideals. We could all focus on the fact that we are here instead of why and attempt to better those and the world around us.

Even though many religions claim to benefit society, few give back, and too many profit from their actions. Throughout history, religion has provided an excuse for the conquering of lands and people alike, resulting in the decimation of entire cultures through forced assimilation. It also continues to spark animosity towards others when the individual’s religions do not mesh together. While it is argued that many religions reiterate affirmations of love and kindness, a book should not be needed to tell someone that they should help the person behind them if he is struggling or to support the one in front of them if she is sad. A person should act nicely because he or she wants to feel good or wants to help someone else feel good, not because they are afraid of retaliation from a higher being or because they are following orders from a dated novel. Religion adds an extra cloud of judgment to an already biased and emotional human mind which often prevents us from speaking and acting honestly (openly).

Although my personal experiences with religion have been nothing but enriching and memorable, I developed a strong dislike for the lack of leniency in most, particularly as it relates to my friends, as I grew older and encountered other religions. One of my closest friends was born into a family of Mormons and was pushed into religion. While it has encouraged him to participate in activities that could shape a well-rounded individual (such as Boy Scouts), Mormonism is also the reason that he has had to postpone his education and dream of becoming a geneticist (because he was forced to embark on a two-year Evangelist mission). Another religion that encourages practices that I wholeheartedly disagree with is the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Another one of my close friends is extremely devout and belongs to this group. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia a few months ago. With a blood transfusion, he has a 95% chance of survival and without it, he has a 5% chance. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to accept any blood products and he has members of his organization coming to the hospital where he is staying encouraging him to continue refusing the transfusion. I commend him for his loyalty to his beliefs but it is misery for his family and me to have to watch him die slowly and painfully. During all of this time not once has his church come to help ease his suffering by assisting with the medical bills, offering words of encouragement, or even staying to talk to him about what he wants to discuss. It appears to me in these situations that the religion cares about promoting its cause and either forgets or ignores the individuals who make it up in the first place. This type of disregard for human life becomes an increasingly recurrent pattern as more people enter this world.

Unfortunately, religion has been a part of the human way for so long now that it is quite likely it has become impossible to separate from our DNA, metaphorically speaking. People continue to join religions because there are already so many others a part of it, promoting it day in and day out. Even more disheartening is the fact that those without religion are often looked upon unfavorably and are sometimes unable or too uncomfortable to speak out. All in all, religion has been more of a hindrance than an advantage or guidance and I maintain my stance that the human race would be better off without it.

As a student-athlete, whether in high school or now in college, I have been told that I must perform on two different stages. I must be able to perform as a student in the classroom by maintaining grades despite difficult study hours and as an athlete being able to maintain my high level of performance on the playing field without regard to stress. I have been told that these two areas define me as a person leaving me in a mental box experiencing mental highs and lows all based on how well I perform in two worldly satisfying areas. However, when I have put my identity in two unstable worldly things I have always been led to dissatisfaction and feeling belittled. On the other hand, when I have put my hope and identity in God who is greater, more stable, and more satisfying than anything I would be able to find on earth, then I have allowed myself to find my true identity in Him. Even though I find my identity in Christ, the world has told me otherwise and I have fallen into believing the lies. Many people argue that athletes should be defined by the performance of the sport, however, I argue that as a Christian athlete, you must choose to put your hope in God because sports are a temporary feeling that will make you experience emotions that will either make you feel as if you are at the top of the world or feel as if you’re in the depths of the sea.

There are many passages in the Bible where I interpret the meaning being instructions on how to find an identity. The book of Hebrews encourages the audience, the Hebrews, to stay firm in their faith to experience the peace and rest found in Jesus. Even though the Book of Hebrews does not say who wrote the book, there are still many takeaways I have been able to apply. With the world being filled with sin, and the temptations of the world getting bigger and growing exponentially, the author of Hebrews encourages the readers to strive for a holy life saying “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2a, NIV). As a Christian reading this passage, Paul has encouraged me to live a life as Jesus did when he was on earth. While this goal is impossible because Jesus was perfect in every way and I am a sinner, I can still strive to achieve this goal and live my life in a way that would honor Him. When reading the book, Religious Belief, and Personal Identity, published by Professor Dr. Vincent Brümmer, the author uses a quote from Iris Murdoch “Man is a creature who makes pictures of himself and then comes to resemble the picture” (156). If I choose to put my identity in sports and academics then that is what is going to identify me. However, if I choose to live my life as Jesus did, I will find myself placing my identity in something much larger than this world we live in, which often leaves people experiencing hurt, stress, and uncertainty. Trying to live like Jesus seems like an impossible task because it is hard to be perfect in this sinful world. A way to live like him is to think like him as Paul says in Philippians. Paul gives us a list of characteristics regarding what we should be thinking about, including true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8, NIV). When I think of these things and live them out, that is when I can find my identity in Jesus rather than finding my identity as a student-athlete.

Throughout the gospels, Jesus uses stories, teachings, and practicality when speaking to his audience. In Matthew 11, Jesus uses beautiful imagery while talking about a yoke. A yoke is “a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals are joined at the heads or necks for working together” (Merriam-Webster, 2021). While we do not see yokes being used in today’s world, we are still able to understand Jesus’ message and apply it to ourselves. I love this imagery because Jesus is helping us picture the idea of submitting ourselves to him and allowing him to take over. When picturing how a yoke works, if you have one animal working harder than the other then the plow or whatever is being pulled goes off track, but when the animals are working side-by-side then they are on a straight path and neither gets left. This passage has reminded me day in and day out how to find my identity in something other than the world. When I focus all my attention and effort on getting good grades in school and performing in my sport, my side of the yoke starts to go ahead and my identity is being pulled offline. However, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV). My interpretation of this passage is to take all my stress and worries about my identity and let them go. I also admire this passage because Jesus does not say for us to take upon the yoke but it may be hard to walk with him, but he invites me and gives me this eternal rest that is only found in an eternal source, Jesus. When I am choosing to take Jesus’ yoke and walk with him, I can find my identity in Him, leaving the stress about grades and performance behind.

When looking at this issue of self-image and identity within collegiate student-athletes, I see many athletes go through difficult stages in their careers that affect both their physical and mental abilities. In a study titled, Mental Well-Being and Sport-Related Identities in College, the authors Kathleen Miller and Joseph Hoffman use the term “toxic jock” to identify those who find their entire identity in their sport. The terms athlete and jock are seen as interchangeable, however, the two terms are unique and represent two different meanings. An athlete can play a sport and find their identity with something else, while a jock finds their identity in the sport and their performance. Authors Miller and Hoffman used a series of questions to determine if the participant viewed themselves as a so-called jock or athlete. The authors would then ask the participants if they had tried to commit suicide in the past year. With the results, Miller and Hoffman analyzed the results and believe that the groups of jocks were more likely to try suicide than the athletes. This solidifies the fact that when you put your identity in something that will let you down, you are not experiencing a source of hope which leaves you with stress and worry about future performances.

I have experienced both highs and lows of life all due to my performance on the field. I am blessed to know that my identity is not found in my sport or academics but even with knowing that there are moments where you think that is what defines you. As a senior in high school, after leading my team to a state championship the last two years, I had started to put my identity into my athletics. I wanted people to know me as a good athlete and student rather than a solid Christian man, and that was not sufficing my hope. I came into college wanting to change that narrative of my identity but still, as a first-semester student-athlete in college, I was still trying to find my identity in my sport and school. I had lofty goals as I wanted to be a starter who was going to make the all-academic team as a freshman. The first tournament rolled around the corner, and I was able to play for the team! I exceeded my goal and quickly began to think my identity was found at Belmont. However, as the next two tournaments approached, I was unable to travel for the team, leaving me mentally frustrated with myself when I was not performing to the highest capability and was not able to find a quick solution. This left me in a low mental state, as I was putting so much time into worldly athletics and academics instead of into an eternal source which is God. I was reminded by a teammate, that in the grand theme of eternity, making a tournament or missing a tournament really doesn’t matter. What does matter though, is that I am choosing to find my identity in Christ and choosing to follow Him. Now, as I am finishing up my first semester at Belmont, I have been reminded by my teammate weekly that our identities should not be found in worldly things I was trying to put my identity in, but I should be seeking to find my identity in Christ which is a solid foundation.

As I have three and a half years left at this university, I would love to spread this message not only to student-athletes but to all students on campus. I believe that all students try to find their identity in worldly things whether it be friends, partying, school, or sports and it all just ends up leaving them in stress and hurt. Brenda Colijn talks about the new identity found in people being baptized. She writes a chapter called, New Birth Into a Living Hope: The Brethren Understanding of Regeneration, in the book, Brethren Life and Thought, where the topic is the transformation and obedience of those who decide to make their faith public with baptism. She also includes Alexander Mack Sr.’s viewpoints about regeneration (baptism). Author Mack views baptism as the action of “spiritual rebirth” (Colijn, 2007, 104). As I am a Christian student-athlete, with a small platform, I would love to see lives experience this spiritual rebirth on the Belmont campus. My goal is to remind others that they will never find eternal, satisfying hope in school and sports, but they can experience the living hope that the Lord gives. I will try to prioritize this in my day-to-day life as I will include this topic in conversations and let people know the kind of hope that God provides when you choose to put your identity in Him. The hope that the Lord gives is never-ending and cannot be taken away just as it says in 1 Peter, “According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). With the death and resurrection of Jesus, he has given everyone hope in a protected future, hope in provision, hope in Heaven, and hope in much more. With the hope he has provided us, we should be finding our identity in this hope! When reading Ephesians, the author, Paul, was writing this to the church of Ephesus while in prison. He reminds the church in chapter 2 verses 3-10 on how they can find their identity in Christ. Paul reminds the readers that God has chosen, loved, united, blessed, forgiven, and adopted all of us, and wants us to identify ourselves by these things rather than temporary things on earth.