Category: About Myself

Self-Evaluation and Its Importance in Goal Setting

This paper touches basis on some of the reasons an individual may feel the need to perform better based on their knowledge of themselves and how it relates to goal performance and goal setting. Goal setting can be a very important thing to people who desire to reach that particular goal based on their motivation at the time. A person’s self-evaluation may be the underlying motivational factor of how well they decide to perform during a goal performance task. This paper is supported by the exploration of a published article entitled, “Determining the Importance of Self-Evaluation on the Goal-Performance Effect in Goal Setting: Primary Findings” written by three authors Bruce Martin, Jeffery McNally, and Simon Taggar, who examined a study of the goal setting theory on student participants. The goal-setting theory examination took place in a laboratory, to see if or how self-evaluation can play a role in a person’s goal performance based on their self-knowledge and self-validation. This study from Martin et al. is a following on the previous work conducted by authors Harkins, White, and Uthman in the year 2000.

Self-Evaluation and the Goal-Setting Theory

This article takes knowledge of the many previous studies, experiments, and thoughts conducted by previous authors’ to see if people will have the desire to evaluate their abilities based on their knowledge to learn about themselves. The way a person evaluates himself or herself may be an indication of how well they will perform during a given performance task. The authors of Martin et al. of this article were unsure of this goal-setting theory and decided to conduct their own examination to see if it was true. In the article, the many studies conducted by the other author’s studies felt as if a person’s desire to self-evaluate will drive their need to perform better outcomes of those wanting to achieve a specific or difficult goal versus those who desire to do just their best. (Martin et al., 2016)

Martin et al. Thoughts, Findings, and Results

According to Martin et al., they specifically found out that rather than having a do-your-best type of goal, an individual would happen to benefit from their specific goals with a more valuable outcome attached to them. They felt as if having a lack of goal commitment was resolved by having a financial incentive or reward attached to it. Therefore, they conducted an examination on business students with a charitable donation including making the goal achievement a motivating factor for the participants while also being paired with any potential for their self-validation and self-knowledge. “Monetary rewards attached to goal achievement may impact the value facet of goal commitment but not the expectancy aspect of goal commitment” (Martin et al., 2016). I personally have to agree with this theory of goal setting and trying my hardest to perform better with the knowledge of an incentive. Monetary gain has definitely been a motivating factor for me to perform at my best at my job, when I am aware of a raise coming up work I make it my mission to set that goal in action and take every step possible to achieve it.

Martin et al. also found that people who feel self-validation might feel so by allowing others with whom they feel a comparison to have achieved a particular goal and are likely to believe or want to be able to achieve this same specific goal if they put in the hard work. The authors also felt that self-evaluation is important and needed in the workplace; they feel that a person’s goal performance will highlight the need for businesses to ensure the potential for self-evaluation to be conducted on their employees. Personally, for me I find the study of this article to be very correct, I honestly have the need to feel self-validation as it relates to setting my goals, and I do this by comparing my achievements of completion through beating my competition such as a co-worker. I am glad that this article feels the same as I do and I am not alone in this thought of self-validation. It is actually good to know that many people find competition to be a motivating factor for them to complete their goals, which means I am not alone.

Their findings or results in the study found that self-evaluation can be motivated by a person’s need for either self-validation or self-knowledge. (Martin et al., 2016) They found that a person’s intrinsic motivation is the highest when, those achievement goals are set regardless of any external evaluation, even if it is given by an authority figure. Martin et al. also feel that their sample study was a bit biased, considering that; their participants were individuals with higher achievement outlooks. The results from this study suggest that external evaluation may not always play an important role in task performance, which contradicts findings from Harkins et al. (Martin et al., 2016). Therefore, with that contradiction, I feel that any evaluation conducted by an external figure or a superior does nothing for a person’s motivation or goals because they rely on their own thoughts, their own validation, and their own self-evaluation of how well they perform at any given task.

Conclusion. After reading and reviewing the many thoughts, reviews, theories, and results included in this article, I feel that it supports the theory that a person’s goals can only be set by their own personal motivations and self-reflection. A person’s goals can rely on the foundation of their self-knowledge and self-validation to how well they want to succeed. When a goal performance task is given to highly motivated individuals, those individuals tend to perform or work harder with the knowledge of any reward, especially if it is monetary. With the help of comparison to others who have accomplished a similar goal, people also find motivation in competition. They feel the need to validate themselves by performing better and completing the same goals, even if it means more or harder work. Self-evaluation is important to anyone who seeks to set a goal for himself or herself. How you seek to go after your goal or what motivates your goal should be entirely up to you. No matter what an individual’s goals maybe their self-evaluation only helps to carry out those goals even further.

References

1. Martin, B. McNally J., Taggar, S. (2016). Determining the Importance of Self-Evaluation on the Goal-Performance Effect in Goal Setting: Primary Findings. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science. Vol. 48, No 2. 91-100 Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.libproxy.gracechristian.edu/docview/1776786238/BDB43E8C1B1444CBPQ/1?accountid=54847

Introduction

Human beings can communicate with each other using language. We can share knowledge, beliefs, opinions, and feelings through the use of language. Language is a unique trait for human beings. Humans can acquire either monolingualism or bilingualism through learning, observation, and practice. In Brunei Darussalam, the people usually communicate by using their official language which is Brunei Malay, and sometimes, English. Ozog (1996; as cited in Noorazam, McLellan & Deterding) observed that, for Bruneians, English is the language of knowledge, but Malay is the language of the soul. It is very common for Bruneians to switch between English and Brunei Malay.

My Family

My family consists of only 3 members; my father, my mother, and I, the only child. My father works as an office helper at the ministry of Foreign Affairs and my mother works as a clerk at the Land Transport Department (JPD) under the ministry of Communication. My father comes from an Indian-Brunei family, where my grandfather is Indian and my grandmother is Bruneian. He has 5 siblings in total, whereas my mother comes from a Malaysian-Bruneian family, where my grandfather is Bruneian and my grandmother is Malaysian. She has 6 siblings in total.

Language Use by My Family

Diglossia is a concept created by Fergusson(1959) that can be applied to Brunei society as Brunei Malay is used in daily conversation and Standard Malay and English are used in dealing with the higher authorities such as the government and also in education.

Diglossia is a term where two languages or more are used alongside in a society and each has a sensible extent of limits (Deterding, 1998). My family is mostly bilingual as in our household; our use of language mainly circles standard Malay, Bruneian Malay, and English. My dad uses standard Malay and English in handling work-related jobs, including talking to the higher officer, workmates, authorities, and foreign clients daily. However, he usually speaks in Bruneian Malay when he communicates with his friends and family. The same goes for my mom, she also speaks using standard Malay and English while communicating with clients daily.

However, in my mother‟ ‘s family, whenever there is a gathering my Malaysian relatives from Miri usually come to visit, especially during raya, they speak in the Kedayan-Malaysian dialect. From what I observed, they tend to add „k‟ at the end of some words. For example, “emak muk di mana?” meaning, “Where is your mother?” and “baik juak kauk padah capat” meaning “Fortunately you told us earlier”. Other than that, they also tend to add Kedayan words in their conversation, for example, “handicap” [hən‟tæp] which emphasizes the meaning of “really”, for example; “Laju handicap ia began”, meaning “he walks fast” and also uses some Kedayan words to substitute some standard Malay words, such as “manuka” [mentʊ‟kə] which substitute the word “kereta” in Malay or “car” in English and “yank” [„æyənɪk] which substitutes the word “searing” in Malay or “right now” in English. There is a high level of similarity between Kedayan and Brunei Malay.

In addition to that, my cousins and I spoke a little bit of Korean and Mandarin. We usually watch Korean dramas and movies; hence, we can pick up a few words from it. Such as “kamsahamnida” [kæms ɑ ːhæmnɪdə] which means thank you, “pangapsumnida” [„pəngæpsumnɪdə] which means “nice to meet you” and “stencil chukahamnida” [seɪŋɪlchʊkæhəmnɪdə] which means “happy birthday to you”. We also spoke a little bit of Mandarin due to my cousin studying at Chung Hwa Middle School and

I am currently taking Mandarin classes. They taught me how to pronounce a few words in Malay and how to differentiate the tones, as the tone mark usually distinguishes the meaning of the words even though they have the same meaning. Other than that, we also spoke English among us as we talked about topics related to English drama series, books, movies, and sometimes politics. I observed that sometimes my family switches from Malay to English while speaking and back. For example “Kaka, can you simpan the file arah almari baba?” which translates to “Kaka, can you put the file in your father‟s cabinet?”.

Furthermore, it is also fascinating in my opinion how the word “bah” can have different meanings according to its context. For example, “bah” can mean “alright, I am going to go now” or it can also mean “I am already done”. It can also refer to the tide in some context.

My Attitudes Towards Language Use

According to Ozog (1996) the use of English is seen as a mixed blessing as some Bruneian parents take pride in their child‟ ‘s competence in using English however, this creates the assumption that their child is doing well in school. The use of English is also considered an alien culture in the very traditional culture of Brunei, as the use of language in the local market of Brunei is considered inappropriate. In school, although we are taught in both Malay and English, most of the academic discussions held in school use English to assess the topics, which is true based on the school works and discussions held at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). The debate held in class is usually done in English and it can be seen mostly among the Malay students.

Government businesses use mostly Malay, but 33.4% of the workers use English in the work-related industry. This indicates the high status of English in Brunei Darussalam. However, the use of English is usually seen more in private business than the government business, for example, in shops in Brunei such as Body Shop or Face Shop, they tend to greet their customers and communicate with them in English rather than Malay. Furthermore, it is said that greetings in Brunei Malay convey friendliness whereas the use of English causes a feeling of formality among the peers. For example, in meetings, people tend to start the meeting by using Arabic language to give „salaam‟ and continue with standard Malay, however, as the meeting goes on the use of language tends to change from standard Malay to Brunei Malay and English. Hence, dealing with domains of English in Brunei is not rigid, language shift is a normal phenomenon among the people. It is unlikely that English became the first language status in Brunei as it is a product of the bilingual educational system group. However, if the use of English by local people increases, there is a high chance that the domains will expand.

However, according to Jones (2007), the use of English in Brunei had brought along a high amount of criticism among the people before. As the use of English may cause the loss of identity as traditional culture may be replaced. The education issues from twenty years ago are still an issue today as some of the teachers in schools are lacking in training and are showing poor results in teaching. A bilingual system merely exacerbates the problem mostly due to the extra training involved. In addition to the above, attention was given to parental, cultural, and politico-ideological fears. An assumption that acquiring a second language is difficult was made by parents in Brunei, the reality is learning a second language in natural surroundings as a child is normal although trying to study a language at school might be difficult. Now, the fears have been replaced with the worry that their children may not be able to manage and keep up.

Twenty years ago, there was a fear of losing one‟s culture, especially given that many in the region had only recently regained national autonomy, especially differentiating between “Asian values” and “Western values”. However, the discussion has ceased and any that persists tend to be more pragmatic as nations and people realize they cannot exist in a nation that builds up barriers to prevent the use of English, rather than how one accommodates the language that matters. Several countries in Asia have a national ethos that people are encouraged to practice and in Brunei, it is Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), in English it translates Malay, Islam, and Ruler. Hence, the use of Malay is encouraged among the people, and confusion arises as encouragement of using Malay while also being told to learn English. As a result, many proficient English language users report being abused and vilified when others hear them using English. English is associated with educational success and knowledge, and others who have neither advantage of hearing their peer using the language may experience jealousy and tension to arise.

However, most of the issues from twenty years ago no longer exist today. Nevertheless, problems misunderstandings, and some new issues have taken their place. The Minister of Education has addressed the poor rate of passing in the country‟ ‘s English O-level examination even though the use of English has increased, this shows that pupils may be using poor English rather than Malay. The key, however, is providing the right kind of support. There is a need to get the pedagogy right and to ensure that the education system will benefit the students.

Conclusion

Hence, in conclusion, language plays a vital part in our society in terms of communication. English may be developing its own identity as it is spoken fluently among the people of Brunei, but, the use of Brunei Malay and standard Malay will remain as the original language of Brunei no matter how the domain of English has expanded as Malay is one of the main national ethos that are still being practiced in school all over Brunei.

References

1. Deterding, D. (1998). Approaches to diglossia in the classroom: The middle way, REACT, 2, 18-23.
2. Ferguson, C. (1959). Diglossia. Word, 15, 325–340.
3. Jones, G. M. (2007). 20 years of bilingual education: Then and now. In D. Prescott (Ed.), English in Southeast Asia: Varieties, literacies and literatures (pp. 246-258). Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
4. Noorazam, H. O., McLellan, J. & Deterding, D. (2016). The Use and Status of Language in Brunei Darussalam: A Kingdom with Unexpected Language Diversity. Springer.
5. Ozog, A. C. K. (1996). The unplanned use of English: The case of Brunei Darussalam. In
6. P. W. Martin, C. Ozog & G. Poedjosoedarmo (Eds.), Language use & language change in Brunei Darussalam (pp. 156-172). Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Center for International Studies.

There are multiple social factors, which make up a person’s social location. My social location shapes and defines my own story. I identify as a 25-year-old, heterosexual, Caucasian, female. I am from a family of four, one brother a mom, and a dad. We are of Italian, Slovak, Scottish, and Irish descent. I was born in Canada into the upper middle class. I am able-bodied, wouldn’t be considered ugly nor do I have any disfigurements. My mom is educated and my dad was a professional hockey player in the NHL. I grew up in a predominately white neighborhood and attended catholic school. In the schools I attended, the majority of the students were from white middle to upper-class families. I graduated high school, 2 diplomas from college, and a sociology degree from a university, and am currently in the education program. My identity has been shaped because of my parent’s choices and they have provided me with the necessities to be successful.

As a result of my social location, certain factors have been influential in my educational experience. The biggest factors that played an important role in my educational attainment are money, time, my mother’s education, and family size. I am fortunate in a way that my parent’s incomes meet usual living expenses – if not more, my mom has an education and my family has financial security. My parents had my brother and me in their later years making them older than most parents of people my age. They were able to obtain that financial security before having their children. My mom was able to take time off work and focus on being a stay-at-home mom. She was able to spend time with my brother and me during our early years. My dad’s job was stable and well-paying in order to give our family that opportunity. My mom has an education of her own and because of that, she has placed great value on education. My family’s income gave my brother and me the opportunities to purchase books, computers, extra outside-school support – tutors, etc. Thus, aiding my parents in promoting education and enhancing what was being learned. My mom took the time to be involved in our education. She was an active participant on boards from kindergarten to grade 12. Once graduated from high school I was academically prepared to enter college because of knowledge from teachers, administrators, and family. I was fortunate enough to attend college and earn two diplomas without having any student debt.

Being a part of the predominant racial group in Thunder Bay, I have had many opportunities that some may never experience. Being a white female means that I may have less power in some situations but in some ways, not. For example, a 25-year-old female of color may face racism, stereotyping, or discrimination in schools compared to me being a 25-year-old white female. Why? Because the “power of normal” is white. The curriculum in our catholic board is written and taught by people who share my identity or identities. Our teaching staff in this city is largely white native-born Canadians. This privilege I have has given me a greater chance to receive compassion, and help and be looked at with potential. People of color, without this privilege, face racialization, stereotypes, and lack of compassion or help for any of their struggles. I can safely say that my teachers assumed I was fairly intelligent because I understood the topics being taught in class. Growing up I do not remember having many children of different colors or races attend the Catholic school I went to. As time passed and I got older there was more integrated into our Catholic system. The schools I attended had many recourses for students to succeed. My schools had plenty of books in the library, computers, laptops, and sports teams. I can safely say that the existence of my privilege allowed me opportunities that others have been denied, “people who are like me in every respect except for the social categories they belong to.” Even though “my access to privilege doesn’t determine my outcomes, it is definitely an asset that makes it more likely that whatever talent, ability, and aspirations I have will result in something good for me.”

Connecting back to when I said being a female means that I may have less power; in school, I remember experiencing a lack of encouragement in male-dominant courses, ie., woodshop or welding. Us females were encouraged to take, drama, dance, or cosmetology. Since I didn’t like any of those courses teachers encouraged the females to take, I took “neutral” classes such as foods class or computer arts.

According to Peggy McIntosh, there are two types of privilege, unearned entitlements, and unearned advantage. Unearned entitlements are “things of value that all people should have, such as feeling safe in public places.” When an unearned entitlement becomes restricted to certain groups, it becomes a form of unearned advantage. I am able-bodied – I am heterosexual – I am Christian. In an educational context, I have received unearned privileges. These privileges are something I never realized I have benefited from. Being an able-bodied female I have never had to worry about walking up and down stairs at school, being concerned if I can get through a doorway, sit at a desk, or in fact just be in a classroom. There are many things that I have and still am able to do within my school setting that some may never get to experience. I am able to play sports; I can use the bathroom and I can expect to be included in group activities. If you are heterosexual in the Catholic school system you are not looked down on. I never have to worry about what bathroom I can use or cannot use, and I have never been looked at funny or rejected by anyone based on the person I am with. This goes hand in hand with Christian privilege. The holidays I celebrated were always realized. Crafts are made, plays are constructed and presented and the celebrations are always known. I will always have a day off from school or work on a religious holiday and never be questioned about it. Christian privilege is something that I have personally never thought about.

All children are unique individuals who experience life through a different lens. They all have their own unique patterns or approaches, every child needs opportunities adapted to their individual needs with respect for individuality. As a teacher, I am responsible for keeping children safe and providing them with a positive learning experience. As a teacher, it is my duty to understand intersectionality and social location because it is important to recognize students intersecting identities and how they can contribute to students’ experiences. My teaching style will be open and inclusive. I will advocate for equity and fairness for all my students, privileged or marginalized; everyone’s identities matter. The environment that children are in is key to development. Teaching with intersectionality in mind means “seeing your students as more than just the thing that stands out in the classroom, as far as race or their gender, and understanding that there is a long background to all those things”.

As an educator, it will be up to me to continually examine the social location and how it impacts learning, privilege, invisibility, bias, and assumptions. I must repeatedly remind myself as a teacher, what is invisible to me as a result of my privilege? How many of my students will respond to me as a result of my identity and power structure? As an elementary teacher part of my responsibility in fostering equity in the classroom will be to start laying the groundwork at an early age that everyone is worthy of respect and empathy no matter race, gender or sex. According to Safe at School in order to become allies for students in an equitable inclusive school environment teachers can;

• Make it routine; create a “new normal”.
• Get students to start thinking and questioning what they see around them in the larger culture
• Use positive and inclusive language
• -Incorporate imagery that allows everyone to see a reflection of themselves, particularly effective for younger students.

My role as a teacher and as a person with power over the classroom will be positive and hopefully act as a guide for the children. I hope to be able to share experiences with the children and to help them have healthy development. I will always have an open door policy to families and guardians of the children I teach in the hopes of creating strong communication. My goal is to create a classroom where children and their families/guardians feel safe and welcomed.

What is a nontraditional college student means? To be considered a nontraditional undergraduate, you: Do not immediately continue your education after you graduate from high school. In this research paper, I will talk about my own experience as a nontraditional college student. I will talk about my life as a nontraditional college student and the reason why I wanted to come back to school and continue my education. I will also write about the reasons why I didn’t continue my education and where or what school I attended during my youth.

Experienced of a nontraditional college student

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time” by Thomas A. Edison was always my favorite quote of all time. Nontraditional students are contrasted with traditional students who ‘earn a high school diploma, enroll full time immediately after finishing high school, depend on parents for financial support, and either do not work during the school year or work part-time’. I didn’t graduate from high school but my passion is all about getting a degree.

With today’s changing world and the economy, the way it is. It is not uncommon for people of all ages to enter the college setting. Two-thirds of students entering the college setting are classified as non-traditional (Brown, 2007). Bill (2003) found that there was an 11% increase in non-traditional student enrollment from 1991-1998 displaying 35% in 91 and 46% in 1998. These numbers have since increased according to Jacobson & Harris (2008) showing that half to 75% of undergraduates consist of non-traditional students sitting the reasons for reentering the college setting are economic.

In this paper, I will talk and share about the hard life that I experienced during my youth. What exactly defines a non-traditional student and what services may they need in comparison to the traditional student? There is much tradition that has passed on through the generations today that is not the same as the years that passed away. As stated in the bible or the fifth commandment, I will also share in this research paper.

So, as a nontraditional college student, I will write about the reason why I didn’t finish my education and also the reason why I wanted so badly to come back and continue my education while I can. “I believe as a nontraditional college student, I can still get that degree because my parents died, all my children are off island and I’m chasing my dreams.”

Why I didn’t finish my education

I used to go to Samoa College in Apia. I grew up in a pauper family. My family was not that well known inside our village as a rich family but it was well known as one of the lowest families. Right after my level 12, I told my papa and my mama that I would stay home to look for a job to help them. I feel sorry for my parents about the things that our village said about us I decided to put a full stop right there from my education and started to look for a job at the time. I always think about Abraham Lincoln and his early education life. According to the Abraham Lincoln Historical Society (2009), Lincoln received little schooling during his childhood, but, as a teenager, he borrowed and read every book he could find and it’s just amazing how he was the 16th president of the United States of America.

The particularized motives of nontraditional students may vary according to age. For younger non-traditional, obtaining the credentials necessary to enter desired employment has been critical. People between thirty-five and fifty years of age often seek to improve their career prospects with expanded qualifications. This marks an important shift in motivation toward growing one’s capabilities to keep up with changing knowledge demands or to assume greater responsibility. Further, rapid changes brought by globalization may require quick retraining if the worker is to remain competitive in the global economy. People in their later years, on the other hand, are overall more likely to pursue personal enrichment goals, and even to seek degree credentials for their own sake.

Nontraditional learners are likely to take longer to complete their degrees than traditional students and to have higher attrition in their first year. The ability to satisfactorily take and pass classes in the first year is an important factor in the retention process. Having peer or faculty mentors, and adequate access to student services are also important in keeping nontraditional on a course toward a degree. I always wanted to continue my education it’s my passion. I had been out of academia for just over 30 to 40 years and had forgotten much more than I recalled; I was about to find the necessity of rapid adaptation. I would soon be thrust into a world in which everything would be new. I would be like a fish crawling out of the primordial goo with fresh legs about to take my first breath with fresh evolved lungs.

I am referred to as a “non-traditional” student. According to Leslie Lang, the coordinator for Adult Learner Programs and Studies at Penn State, there are 4000 non-traditional students enrolled at Penn State. Leslie Lang says, ‘The criterion is any student over 24 years old who is enrolled as a first-time student, or under 24 with multiple roles: they’re married, they’re parents, or they have military experience.’ I fit the mold in that I have been out of high school for 30 to 40 plus years and am almost 81 years of age.

People are beginning to realize the importance of education and accreditations to remain competitive in the working world. Jobs are now scarce and even graduates are not able to get jobs in the fields of which they studied.

Early life experience as a nontraditional college student

As stated in the bible or the fifth commandment “Honor thy father and thy mother”. The generations of the past have been subject to parental discipline and instruction. The father and mother do not rest. Parents that are alert in the community and instruct their children on how to behave. As a nontraditional college student, I feel so sad when I see these things in our new generation. That’s the life that I experienced when going back to school as a non-traditional student.

Parents that are alert in the community and instruct their children on how to behave. Today the voice of the father and mother is gone, but the child is alive and always watching TV shows or movies that are not suitable for children 3 or 4 and younger. I live near the movie theater in Nuuuli and I noticed a family, the father and mother moved in with the little ones. By no means should this time be a family time for the children and their parents to gather around for an evening service and then after the evening prayer, the father would speak and tell each child of what should be done in the family. For example; the father would say, “Jim and Tom, weed the plantation and prepare the umu for Sunday” – Like that Samoan song, “Usu atu o le sue, e tutu Lana faapusa, otegia le ava, ua susu ulama”.

The reason why I am continuing my education

As a nontraditional college student, experienced the life of the new generation nowadays, and it saddens me. It’s like 75% of all youths in American Samoa don’t want to continue their education. Non-traditional students are often faced with obstacles that make life that much more challenging as compared to traditional students.

Parents died

As I mentioned before, the reason why I stopped going to school was to help out with my parents. I missed them and I hope to see them soon. Now my parents are not with me anymore, I get the chance to go back to school continue my education, and get my degree. I thank God, that my parents are not with us anymore but I still get the chance as an 80-year-old adult to continue my education.

All kids are off-island

This was another reason why I didn’t get the chance to continue my education way before my parents died was my children. Right after I dropped out of school, I looked for a job and got a job at Molesi Wholesale in Apia. While working there, I met my husband and he got me pregnant while we were still a couple. We got married while I was still pregnant with my first baby. Right after we got married, my husband wanted to have more babies. We have 7 children and that stops me from continuing my education or my goal. Now, they are all grown up and have a family of their own, moved off-island, and got good jobs.

Chasing my dreams

Kevin NGO (2015) says should we continue going after our dream because seeing the look on the faces of the people who said we couldn’t, will be priceless. (SUCCESS.COM) As Mentioned before, while growing up it’s my passion and my dream to continue my education and get that degree. Even though I didn’t finish my high school year thank God I’m still alive and that gives me the chance to chase my dreams again.

Conclusion

Sometimes you just want to take a break from all the fussiness that is causing you stress at work. Remember success is not a destination; it is a journey that you need to go through for a long period. It is not a sprint, but a marathon. Many people mistake success as doing something great and that success will come over overnight. The truth is the opposite. If that helps you spend more quality time with your family then so be it. Almost all the successful people who have accomplished amazing results can do so because they persist long enough, they take action consistently enough, and of course, they never give up. I thank God for giving me the strength at this age to go and continue my education and my dreams.

Education:

My educational experience has had a drastic influence on not only who I am as a person but has also done much to shape my goals and aspirations for the future. Although there have been some rough spots in my academic career, the knowledge that I have attained throughout my education has proved to be crucial in forming my passion for learning and my interest in developing my abilities and using them to make a difference in my community and the lives of others.

Throughout my education, certain teachers have played key roles in bringing out my academic and personal strengths and interests. For example, my English teacher helped me completely transform my approach to writing and ultimately instilled in me a passion for the subject. Also, my web technologies teacher placed a strong emphasis on teaching about building web applications, both of which fascinated me and sparked a desire in me to start getting involved in the field of web development, since that time

I decided to be a Web application developer.

Not only have several teachers positively impacted my life, but my educational experience as a whole has also taught me many important lessons and virtues. At some points in my academic career, there were times when I struggled with my attitude toward learning and my teachers for a variety of reasons. Yet, through these difficult times, I learned many lessons that can apply to all areas of my life. These struggles ultimately allowed me to attain a better understanding of virtues such as patience and perseverance, both of which I had very little of in the primitive stages of my educational development.

Overall, as I reach the end of one stage of my educational experience, I have learned to value every aspect of the experience and appreciate all the knowledge and attributes that I have gained because of it. Because without this profound educational experience, I would be missing some of the core values that have led me to become the person that I am today.

What is most important in your life? Numerous people have been asking this question throughout their life. I thought for a long time about this question. It’s not all about material wealth or power and reputation. Rather, it’s all about what you want to be in your life. For me, living a life to the fullest with no regret is what I want.

Life is a very fragile thing to me. I’ll try to make each day to be the best day I can. I do not want to waste my life on people or situations that will make me feel miserable or depressed. Other than that, learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy with your life, don’t wait for something outside of your life to make you happy. Just like living for the current moment, be as happy as you can and when you can. Do the decision that will make life feel happy, we may not able to choose what we can achieve in our career or what will happen in our life because too much of uncertainty, but being a happy and optimistic spirit is something we can choose.

There is one memorable experience I ever had in my life, which bring me the thought that life is short and we should live our life to the utmost fullest and after all become a wonderful and beautiful memory in life. During I was 19 years old, around 8.00, my friend was driving me and my other friends to another district for a futsal game. I was in the backseat, just right behind the driver’s seat. My friends and I were joking around and laughing in the backseat when all of a sudden the world was covered with bright white light and a great impact came on us, causing the car to lose control and slipped a few circles to the opposite lane. We had been hit by another car from the opposite lane. During that moment of just a few seconds, I got a short memory flashback in my brain, and surprisingly, I have a clear mind that thinking a lot of questions and things. I immediately thought to myself, ‘Why did this happen to me?’, ‘Am I gonna end my life here?’, ‘I am still young’, etc. After a few moments, we are rescued by the citizen nearby who brings us to the roadside. When we get out of the car, I only realize the injuries on our bodies. As for me, I was injured on my face, nose, ear, hand, lung, ankle, and knee. It wasn’t painful though at that moment, it was just numb and unable to move. We asked someone to contact our family and then we are being sent to the nearest hospital. Once we arrived at the hospital, we were each assigned a room and the medic did some simple emergency wound treatment. Then I had been sent to detail checking such as X-ray and CT scan. After all this, I had been transferred to a private hospital to perform a more detailed whole-body check. Finally, it took me a few months to become fully recovered.

This is when I realized that death, can sweep you away in an instant, that is why we should not hesitate to live every moment of our life in the best way we can because living is once. In my mind, I could never fancy how a few seconds of life could change my view of my whole existence. You can only live in this moment, that’s why you need to make this moment count. Sometimes we are stuck in bitter feelings about the past or worry about what might happen in the future. We are either holding regrets or worrying. However, what happened has passed and what is going to happen depends on what you do right now, so make every moment of yours count and be full.

There is another concept that I have grown to truly believe in is ‘YOLO’ (You Only Live Once). This concept has gotten me to where I am today and I had no regrets along the way. ‘YOLO’ is a term used by the youngsters of today, it carries meanings and implications of doing the things you want now because there might not be a tomorrow. I try to live by this concept as much as possible and take advantage of this short life by being spontaneous and willing to try new things. Holidays and vacations are almost always good times for experiencing new things, so I always take as many vacations as possible with my friends. For example, last year I joined a dual award program and study in the UK for one semester. One day, my friend and I decide to take a day trip to England, we didn’t plan anything, even the destination. We randomly bought a ticket at the train station and start our journey, whatever happened from there on we didn’t have a clue. This trip turned out to be one of the best times of my life, and the best part was we didn’t know what was going to happen on that day, we end up reaching a lovely and beautiful small town called Derby.

In my point of view, I think everyone should live on the edge and take a few risks in life. Some people need to realize you don’t get a second chance at everything, so if you get a chance to do something, just do it or you may regret it for the rest of your life. You may regret bad times in the past, but those bad times are gone, and what you do next is up to you. There are too many obstacles in life to dodge, and no one is perfect, so take advantage of this life that we are blessed with before it’s too late.

For as long as I can remember I have been a patriot. When I was very young, my grandfather would tell me stories about Spain, it’s history and accomplishments and I remember how proud I felt to be Spanish. I love my country and would do anything to protect it. But I am also a citizen of the world, I have lived in ten different countries throughout my life and thus been gifted with the ability to look at the world with an open mind, without prejudice. When I see an individual, I don’t see a nationality I see a person. I have discovered that I might relate more to someone in Japan, Canada or Russia, than to a Spanish national, because beyond traditions and customs souls do not wear flags.

It is because I consider myself a proud Spanish patriot and a citizen of the world at the same time that I want to draw attention to the differences between patriotism and nationalism. Patriotism is officially defined as “love for or devotion to one’s country” (Merriam-webster.com, 2019). Nationalism refers to “a sense of national consciousness, exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups” (Merriam-webster.com, 2019). Therefore, it is this sense of superiority that characterizes nationalism and provides for a distinction with patriotism. As Charles de Gaulle stated “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first” (Goodreads.com, 2019).

Today we like to say we are embracing globalization, however at the same time countries are closing its boarders. We speak many languages but we refuse to put them in practice, we take pride in enjoying international cuisine but judge other cultures for their culinary habits and so on. Isolationism is a curse that will prevent us from achieving greatness. It is our loss, of humanity, from what we could accomplish together. We live in an era of advancements and technology; humans are developing intelligence to unimaginable extents up to the creation of artificial intelligence, but at the same time we might be losing touch with emotions like compassion which are the very essence of humanity. We are progressing yet we are regressing, isn’t that strange?

Let’s talk about fear, that feeling that pushes us to make rushed decisions, to conduct evil actions, that prevents us from thinking clearly and that always ends in tremendous pain for all parties involved. We need to stop looking for someone to blame and start taking responsibility for our own actions. It is often that we hear people say that something needs to be done, a very dangerous remark as it often means nobody knows what to do. Nationalism is behind many of the greatest wars human kind has ever seen. The two most devastating wars in history. World War I, when a radical Bosnian-Serb nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. World War II fueled by Germany’s ethnic nationalism. But also, the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, the recent Russian intervention in Ukraine, the conflict between El Salvador and Honduras in 1969, and so many others. The truth is that no country is exempt of guilt when it comes to yielding to nationalism at a certain point in their history. These wars have every time been brutal, but today we have to consider something else, it is precisely those technological advancements that I previously mentioned that pose an existential threat to our existence. In a world with access to weapons of mass destruction it could take one nation’s fear and hate to destroy the whole world. Are we willing to put the future of humankind in jeopardy because of a misunderstanding or a grudge?

As Carl Sagan mentioned in his Pale Blue Dot speech “Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot” (Sagan, 1994). It is the time for unification, to take care not only of the land and the people within our borders because at the end of the day we all share a home that is Earth and it is our duty to protect it no matter our nationality, race, gender or religion.

There have been so many people over the course of my life who have influenced my life in many various different ways, like my family and my friends. One of the biggest things that I believe has influenced me the most so far in my life was to find something that I am good at. If I was never influenced to find something I am good at and passionate about, at a young age I would have wasted a lot of time continuing to look and would not be where I am today. Once you find that one thing that you love doing it makes you feel like a burden has been lifted off your shoulders, it allows you to feel 10 times better about yourself. For me, it did not take a long time to find something I am good at, but now it gets to stay with me and will never change over the course of my life.

How it all started because my mom and dad wanted me to get out of the house and play a sport. My parents mainly wanted me to play soccer because we are Portuguese and if you did not know soccer is a very big important sport in Portugal. My dad was an amazing and talented soccer player and so is the majority of my family. My dad was given a great opportunity to play soccer professionally but unfortunately, he got drafted into the war back home in Portugal before I was born and did not get to. I started playing soccer at a very young age and the sport came naturally to me. Now that I am older and I am actually able to understand things I have realized this was it, this is the thing I am good at and this is what I am passionate about, the thing that I have spent all this time looking for. I realized that the thing I am good at I have been playing all my life but it took me until now to realize that. Therefore as I have continued to play soccer, I have realized the hobby that I loved was what I was actually good at all along.

To me soccer is more than just some sports game, that is not how I think about it. The best feeling is playing the sport itself. The soccer field is such a magical and amazing place for me, it is the perfect place to go to, to focus, to train, and to clear your head. When you watch a soccer game from the stands all you witness are the chaos and high energy from everyone cheering, but simply being on the field you are focused and working hard, you are dedicated to something so much more than just a game. The sport itself provides me with a sense of feeling that I am indestructible as I stride across the field toward the goal. Believe it or not, making the goal is not the best part, that feeling does not compare to the feeling that I get when I put my cleats on, lace them up, and step foot onto that field. I just do my best to score and not only make myself proud but my team proud. I give it my all, everything I got goes into that field.

The time I spend on the soccer field is time I spend on self-reflection. I have learned a lot about myself through playing this one sport. This sport has helped me to try and set a new goal for myself. I want to translate my hard work and dedication ethic into my school work. Through playing soccer I have learned that I am a very competitive person. I find it very important to present myself well because every opportunity is an opportunity to advance myself as a person and show others what an asset I could be. If I could translate that ethic into my school work it could open up many doors and opportunities for me.

Playing soccer is an outlet for me. It took me a while to find a constructive way to release all of my aggression and anger. My aggression would often be misguided and cause me to react in ways I should not. Rather than bottling it up inside and keeping it to myself, which was never the best option, to begin with, I started to release it on the field. Now that I have found a way to properly channel my aggression and anger I can say I feel a lot better about myself. When I am tense or angry about something I no longer have to force myself to fight through it on my own or seclude myself from others. I can make myself so much better just by going to my backyard or soccer field and kicking a ball into the net. Now the game has so much more meaning because working on drills and skills not only improves my game, but now it makes me feel a lot better about myself.

What I love most about the sport is that it has opened many great chances and experiences for me. It has changed me as a person and has helped me realize things about myself. It has taught me that if I work hard enough I can achieve what I want by being dedicated and doing what I am good at and what I love, not only sport-related but school or work-related too. I can achieve so much through hard work and dedication. If it was not for my hard work and dedication I would not have been able to spend parts of my past summers training with great teams in Portugal, or escalating from all the various levels of play for the sport. For all those opportunities I am so grateful. I have learned to be thankful for every opportunity I get through this sport as well. Lastly, this sport has taught me not to only appreciate the game of soccer but appreciate every opportunity I get.

Volleyball has been my passion ever since I was introduced to the sport in middle school. The first time I stepped onto the court, I was immediately captivated by the energy, teamwork, and exhilaration that volleyball offered. It quickly became my favorite sport, and over the years, it has not only provided me with countless hours of enjoyment but has also shaped me into the person I am today.

I remember the first time I held a volleyball in my hands, feeling its texture against my fingertips. It was a small moment, but it ignited a spark within me. From that moment on, I was determined to learn everything about the sport and become the best player I could be.

As I began my volleyball journey, I faced many challenges and setbacks. Learning the fundamental skills, such as serving, passing, and setting, required hours of practice and perseverance. There were moments when I felt frustrated and discouraged, but I never gave up. I pushed myself to improve with each practice and game, knowing that every mistake was an opportunity to learn and grow.

The more I played, the more I fell in love with the game. The feeling of diving to save a ball just inches from the ground, the sound of the crowd cheering after a perfectly executed spike, and the camaraderie among teammates during intense rallies—all of these experiences fueled my passion for volleyball.

Beyond the physical aspect of the sport, volleyball taught me valuable life lessons. One of the most significant lessons I learned was the importance of teamwork. In volleyball, every player has a role to fulfill, and success can only be achieved through effective communication and collaboration. I discovered the power of unity, as we worked together as a team to strategize, support one another, and celebrate each other’s successes. These lessons in teamwork translated into other areas of my life, such as school projects and group activities, where I learned the value of cooperation and the strength that comes from collective effort.

Volleyball also taught me resilience. There were moments when our team faced formidable opponents, experienced losing streaks, or encountered setbacks during crucial matches. However, instead of giving in to defeat, we learned to bounce back stronger and more determined than ever. We embraced the challenges as opportunities for growth, and through our perseverance, we became more resilient both on and off the court.

Furthermore, volleyball provided me with a sense of belonging and a supportive community. The friendships I formed with my teammates were unlike any other. We shared a bond forged through countless practices, games, and team-building activities. We celebrated victories together and lifted each other up during moments of defeat. The volleyball court became a sanctuary—a place where we could be ourselves, push our limits, and create lasting memories.

As I reflect on my journey with volleyball, I am grateful for the opportunities it has presented me and the person it has helped me become. It has taught me discipline, resilience, teamwork, and the importance of pursuing my passions with dedication and determination. Volleyball has given me a platform to challenge myself, grow as an individual, and create lasting connections with others who share the same love for the sport.

In conclusion, volleyball holds a special place in my heart. It is not just a game; it is a part of who I am. From the first time I held a volleyball in my hands, to the countless hours of practice and the unforgettable moments on the court, volleyball has shaped me in ways I could never have imagined. It has taught me life lessons, provided me with a sense of belonging, and allowed me to experience the joy and thrill of competition. As I continue my journey with volleyball, I am excited for the future challenges, triumphs, and growth that lie ahead.

Over the years growing up, I knew the importance of maintaining good relationships; between parents, friends, colleagues, and supervisors. The connections we make with others define our lives. I always strive to build stronger relationships. The relationship I value most in life is with my parents; it roots in my childhood and continues to impact my adulthood life. My parents are my emotional support because I could always count on them to have my back. Me, I don’t have regular everyday communication with my folks, but in any case, I take care of them a great deal, particularly my father. I used to imagine that I was attracted to individuals who were like him. The reality of the situation was, I was searching for myself in the individuals who were like him. Maybe I would acknowledge I wasn’t him all things considered. I would realize myself better and feel more secure.

Generally, I’ll like to consider myself an introvert, and to some extent, I’ve made progress to make new friends at every opportunity I get. It’s always wise speculation to invest time and vitality in friends; who love us, bolster us, and are there for us in stressful situations. But on the other hand, it’s astute to focus on the weak ties in our groups of friends. Because there’s nothing too close to home that may risk impeding us, it’s about common advantages. Wherever we go, these weak ties can be our brand drivers, our business, and our open life. They can be scaffolds to our futures, and create ways to new possibilities. What’s more, before we know it, a portion of these weak ties may transform into long-haul associates, intimate connections, or even families. Therefore, don’t be imprudent. Careful thought goes far.

Finally, my relationship with myself is meaningful, as well. It ensures excellent treatment for my body, mental health, and focus. It is, without question, the most significant relationship that we should value most. At last, you are the unrivaled individual that will stay with you for each second of your human life. How you converse with yourself, how you treat yourself, and how you consider yourself are altogether exceptionally noteworthy issues that you ought to always be aware of. Taking a shot at your connection with yourself resembles dealing with a relationship with a perpetual life accomplice. My father has always been the most important person in my life. His academic success has always been a source of motivation in my life. For me, it has been growth and performance and has implied venturing outside of my customary range of familiarity. It requires some investment from me, so I’m in no situation to pass judgment; I plan to partake in creating a better world. Right now, this is my domain of concentration; however, I need to add to the world in the most meaningful manner conceivable in different territories too.

My Dad frequently moved me to discover things I’m good at. Growing up, he regularly reminds me to go after things with a reward mentality. Changing my approach to things, not considering the prize, and attempting things for the experience helped me to all the more likely comprehend what I truly needed to do with my life. My father’s guides center around my qualities, not my shortcomings. If I center around strengths, I’m bound to feel cheerful because I feel proficient and can handle challenges thrown at me. He has these fascinating experiences, including trials and struggles he has overcome to make him the person he is today. He once told me to: ‘always be optimistic. There’s enough wealth in the market for everybody.’ He always comprehends that sharing information and connections doesn’t make him less successful. Reasonably, the more he shares, the almost certain he is to learn and grow more. In conclusion, my father is my mentor. I look up to him for advice, and emotional support; he is always available, a good listener, and gives constructive feedback. He has always set an excellent example for me and truly lived up to his promises. His commitment has given me the clarity to work hard to accomplish all my dreams and goals with a positive mindset. I have learned, and hopefully, I believe it has changed my life in a significant number of ways and inspired me to achieve more.