My Life Reflection

A few years had past since my family had become a statistic, when my sister and brother left home on their way to their own goals in life. This new change produced even a greater effect on me than did the departure of my father. Now came the time where I decided if no one else had to stay in the family, neither did I. I took this opportunity to become closer to my friends and their families hoping to become more welcome there than I did at home. It was not long after my constant deviation from what was left of my family that my mother decided she was going to keep me out of the house for extended periods of time. Now the time had come for me to really find my path in life.

Excellent questions are the key to understanding a text since it requires deep processing of information; from what was just read or from another source that you need to search for. The internal processing can only truly begin when the reader is willing to join in on the academic conversation that is already happening. By joining the conversation, the reader has read numerous texts relating to what they are inquiring about therefore they have already begun asking stupendous questions. The academic discussion is only possible because of critical inquiry from the reader. For example, while I read Ta-Nehisi Coates memoir Between the World and Me, I continually questioned what Coates was saying about the injustices he faced. I had already believed

Growing up isn't always easy, you can lose friends, family or even have your closest family separate. At young age i began to realize that the fragile emotions of my inner being began to overflow and spill out. During my parents harsh arguments I tried to understand why this was happening and why things weren’t how they were in books that I had read and tried to envision or movies that i watched and tried to make a reality. Over the course of several years I watched my parents marriage slowly crumble from a impenetrable diamond to a broken stone. I remember specifically, sitting down in the kitchen working on my homework and listening to my the beings that I looked up to and wanted to be just like when i grew up, I sat there and heard them

My life has had its ups and downs and, for that, I am utterly grateful; for it has made me a stronger and better person. As a child, I had a simple but fruitful childhood. I was born before one in the afternoon, and I am told that I was welcomed with much love on February 13, 1992, in National City, California. I was named after my father’s youngest brother to commemorate his honor. I would be the last child my parents would ever have. My father had been married twice and fathered a total of five boys. Growing up, I would say, that we as a family, had our ups and downs just like any other family; however, our ups and downs, in the end, ultimately, always brought us closer and closer –we learned to lean on each other, to support one another, to preserve each other. This, I believe, helped me for what was to come. In my early years, my mother fell into an illness that she would never overcome. It vastly impacted my life in the most dramatic way possible. After her passing, it was like a great icon in my life was now gone… an icon that would never return. The months that followed were the hardest in my life. But with the help of my loving father and brothers I would prevail; I would eventually fill this hole in my heart and raise to an enhanced me. The void left from my mother’s passing helped bring the family even closer; it was like a cliché: for the most intense of hopes come from the saddest tragedies.

At the end of the week, a little girl hugged me and presented me with a card that she had made earlier in the week. At that moment I felt some type of calling to work with children as a career. During the next two summers, I attended Missionfuge (missions camp) where I was given the opportunity to play with children from low income homes, and lead a bible study. I was also privileged to interact with children whose home was located at an abuse center for women and children. Seeing so many broken homes and hearts sparked a fire into my heart, inspiring me to do something positive for the unfortunate children of the world. Whether it be through teaching a child his or her colors, numbers, and alphabet, or guiding them through some of life’s lessons, I am determined to show my students that no matter what struggle(s) may cross their paths, they can surpass them if they believe in themselves and one another.

Although I have only been alive for a short time, my life experiences have been intriguing. My earliest childhood memories emphasize my alcoholic father hurling verbal and physical abuse, as well as his eventual incarceration. As I grew, I felt smothered by my extended family’s criticisms. My family’s low income has always persisted as a major challenge, so I seldom felt I could explore my own interests. Meanwhile, social anxiety and jealousy from peers pricked at my skin every day. Despite all of the hardships I face, I still find and seek success, and I believe that I will help bring the betterment of the world. I wish that more people would understand me as a person of potential and success rather than tragedy.

Through all of my accomplishments and disappointments, I have always remained humble and determined to overcome any obstacle. With that being said I’m Amber, a sophomore in college. A 25-year-old divorced young woman, with a beautiful 4-year old daughter to raise. With that being said, life just hasn’t been easy. I would have never imagined doing all of this alone. In the past year, I’ve lost 9 family members and friends. One happened to be my 44-year-old father and the other was my aunt. The greatest woman alive. I didn’t know my own strength. As the days and nights came and gone, and on the verge of losing consciousness, I asked myself who am I? Why am I doing this? I had no answer; my mind blanked out from mental and emotional exhaustion.

I'm so glad I've been able to participate in a philosophy class like this. Art of the Living Ethically has made me have many thoughts and ideas about what and how I do things. I never really even thought out my core values or what I fully wanted to do with my life until this course. After sitting around thinking, brainstorming, free writing, and asking others for advice my top value is family and what I choose to stand up for is racism. With values and what you stand up for can be a sensitive and serious subject it was hard to find a poem that elaborates on both topics so I have two separate poems that spoke to me. The first is “A Tribute To Family” by Michelle A Morgan and the other is called “Racism is Around Me Everywhere ” by Francis Duggan.

I came to know the Lord at a young age. I was raised in a Christian home. I publically accepted the Lord in my heart as my Savior when I was fourteen and got baptized at Rutherford Bible Chapel. I say publically because I always knew Him as my Savior, but getting baptized it’s one of the many ways you can share that feeling/relationship with God to everyone else.

Something I have always said is “life is about trials and tribulations, but it’s how you react to them that shapes the person you are.” It all started around my sophomore year of high school, the pain was excruciating and on going for months, and I just wanted answers to why I was in pain. Many doctors said the same thing, but I knew that the amount of pain I was in something was wrong. When I received the gut-wrenching news, my perspective on life changed and I realized who I needed most in my life. God helped me through the predicament that I was placed in, and I learned to grow from the tribulations I had to overcome.

I’ll say right off the bat; this course was definitely more than just a history lesson for me. I was the sojourner exploring ideas from the past, learning how history trickles down into the present and future. If I had to do it over again, I would pay more attention to the legends, folktales, and out of class readings that were discussed since they are so rich in life and human nature. Learning about how the different cultures lived reiterated the lessons of the struggle for survival. Heretofore, I was too naïve by expecting this to be a boring history class. The truth is, I ended up learning much about life in the end. If a mind is open to finding some sort of insight when learning, chances are you will probably find what you are looking for.

Life is a collection of experiences, opportunities and tests that shape you and your story. My story is valuable and worth telling, but just not well known. Through life, I’m learning from the failure and gaining from success. Through this journey, I’m discovering who I am by reflecting on my past. I’m examining my present to realize my struggles and strengthens. And I’m figuring out the person I want to be by exploring my hopes and dreams.

I reflect on how I was raised and what I have learned from my mother, a single woman with three children, ages varying by one year. This was not only a challenge in itself, but reading writing and communication was not exactly something that was promoted in my home. My mother worked as she still does to this day, so playing outside getting into whatever we could so she could sleep was more interesting than sitting down reading a book. It actually wasn’t till after I graduated high school that I began to build my internal self. I Continue to strengthen my weaknesses, attempting to become that man I so desire. I ask myself from time to time, “Where might I be if I was not shown how to change my thinking?” I like to think I handle tasks in life whether big or small by stepping back and thinking critically and logically. This is something my siblings still do not get.

Up until that year, I felt like the only one in my elementary who hadn’t experienced anything drastically life-changing. I had loving parents to come home to every day: a dad and mom who embraced my unique qualities and would disregard their necessities solely to ensure my emotional, mental and physical security. I was blessed with a family that cared for me tremendously, one that I equally adored. Although my life was nowhere near the epitome of perfection, it was somewhat ideal in the eyes of many. The fact that I didn't know what it was like to feel unloved, burdensome, or secondary was incongruous with the majority of kids I attended school with. I was aware that I mattered while unaware that it was a privilege that I did. Even though I wasn't sure how or why I was important, my family guaranteed that I knew without question. I hardly had a clue at that moment that life would always be persistently fickle and unpredictable, ready to alter the possibility of your expectations for what is in store.

One's dream and aspirations to supersede in life must be stronger and greater than limitations set forth by others. The experience that were bestowed to me during my short life has elevated me to the woman I am today. Please walk with me as I give you the opportunity to see the world from my eyes: