My Experience Essay

1. List and briefly describe the two most significant distinctions or awards you have earned at university/college/CEGEP, or upper years in high school.

High School: A time in our lives that sets the mold for who we are going to be in this world. It does this by teaching us great lessons about life, ourselves, and other people through various experiences. One of these experiences I chose to take part in was football. It was this decision that led me to this fateful day. A day in which my left leg was shattered and my perspectives on life were drastically changed. The journey I had embark on to deal with all of the after effects of this event taught me life lessons I’ll never forget.

As soon as I graduated from college I became a pharmacy technician at Walgreens. There I worked for two years. I acquired experience that no other institution can provide nor teach me. I learned not only about my interpersonal workings and more so about who I am when I am outside of my comfort zone. Having that job expanded my communication skills to a point where I can adapt to any environment or group of people and still be who I am. Customers became an importance to my life. I was able to related to them a personal level and a healthcare provider. Many patients had family members came to the pharmacy who had cancer. Having to be able to relate to their situations helped them to get through the hardships and giving them comfort

I didn't realize how hard parenting could be. So many times it's the hard part that teaches the greatest lesson. Or at least that is what I choose to believe or I am not sure I will make it out alive....

When I first entered St. Charles High School I felt out of place. Almost as if I wasn't supposed to be there. Everyone else seemed to be adults towering over me. As the bell rang to go to first period, I walked very quickly to my first class so I would not be late. I was very nervous but also very excited to start a new chapter of my life. As I look back on freshman year it was very eventful but also a learning experience that I will never forget.

Growing up in a divorced household was difficult when I was younger. It was even harder going to my mother's house since she was an alcoholic. My parents got a divorce when I was about two years old. I didn't even know what it meant to get divorced or to be an alcoholic. I'm glad that they split up when I was younger because I don't remember them being together that much anyway.

When I was 6, my parents filed for divorce. Their divorce led to many changes in my life; new places I would call "home" and new schools along with different friends.

My life has been a crazy roller coaster with many events that have affected my life all in different ways. There have been times where my life has been at its highest peak in the world then it falls down, right into a deep valley. From the time my lovable younger sister came into my life to when my grandpa had a near death experience, I have learned many valuable lessons through the rough times as well as the more happy times. When I was a young girl, my mom had always told me the same thing over and over again. I never really thought about how a few words would have a deep effect on me in a short amount of time.

Suddenly my senior year of high school was coming to an end, and I found myself looking for a job for the summer. College cost increase every year and I knew that if I wanted extra spending money, I would have to contribute. Summer employment is a great way to earn extra money plus, I am a person who likes to stay busy, and I realized having a job during the break would help accomplish both. Having played multiple sports in high school, I was always doing something throughout my day and I knew I couldn 't have a job like lifeguarding where you have to sit and watch a pool for hours. Having a task to perform or a job to get done are things that I enjoy, and now that I knew I wanted to work I started my first job search by networking with people I thought had connections that could help me land a good job and this search led me down my learning path.

Everyone has been through a personal experience, whether it has changed their lives for better or worse. These experiences can be eclectic events such as going out to explore the world or even devastating events such as tragic accidents. My personal experience occurred a year ago during the summer when I took a trip to visit San Francisco, California with my family. This trip to San Francisco was a thrilling adventure due to the city being very beautiful and breathtaking. During my visit to the city I was able to take part in the beaches, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Six Flags.

It was a beautifully clear day, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky when I received that green and gold folder in the mail. I thought coming to college would be the answer to everything. However, that feeling of being a strong independent black woman only lasted so long. My first year was just fine, I thought that I'd adjusted fine. I made plenty of friends on campus and joined numerous cubs! I even got my first real job working at Busch Gardens. Everything was going great, that was until August of my second year.

The first class I attended in high school was English, and it influenced my life forever.

It was a cool fall day, the pleasant cool breeze against my face, as I make my way down the road to the rendezvous point. I arrive at the high school, and realize I’m slightly early. I put the skateboard on the ground and proceed to attempt to ride it, thankful that no one was there to see. Though I enjoy skating, the point of meeting at the high school was so that no one had to see our novice attempts at it. After five minutes of failing to get the board to leave the ground with me remaining on it, Raith and Mea cross the road just in time to witness my pitiful endeavor.

I have had the great opportunity to be apart of a great program and class at college. Most of us who are going to become teachers know about this class and the required 80 hours of volunteering at a middle school for a semester. I was eager to volunteer, because I have experience in working with middle school kids. The school I work for, has prepared me to handle school aged kids, so I was relying on my background to carry me though the semester at a new Middle school.

I remember saying to myself one day I 'm going to ask everyone who knows me what would they say if they had to describe me. I was so shocked when I got the same answer from everyone. “Well, you 're very pretty…,” they’d say with a long pause. It caused me to think, Wow, is that all I am? Is that all I have to offer?