Personal Narrative: Creating A Culture Of Success

Imagine being at the peak of your high school career, personally, academically, and athletically. For me, that was my sophomore year. I was selected to be on the homecoming court, I won a free class ring, and a free corsage and boutonniere for prom. I was on my way to a 4.0 grade point average. I was pulled up to Varsity basketball, I became the 100 meter hurdle regional champion, and I qualified for two events at the Division 4 State meet for track and field. In one split second, a clip of a hurdle, that was over. My first race of the day was the preliminary 100 meter hurdles. Once the race started, I was calm, focused, and determined. I was starting to make my way up to the front of the pack when I clipped my trail leg on the eighth hurdle.

Over my years of school, one big influence on me has always been sports. Ever since a young age, I have always enjoyed playing and watching sports. In my four years in high school, I have fell in love with the sport of lacrosse.

I woke up and took one bite out of my pop tart but that one bite was all I could eat. My legs were shaking, and my heart was pounding. My dad told me, “It is a true honor to even make it this far so go out there and have some fun.” Once I heard this statement, I knew I was ready to go. I arrived at school and boarded the bus. The car ride was an hour and fifteen minutes of hearing the squeaking of the wheel on the bus. My teammates were getting their heads ready for the big game.

They called me an apple. Since I was supposedly red on the outside, but white on the inside, I was automatically a walking bullseye. Being one of the many oppressed Aboriginals, I understand their need to hurt someone else in an effort to release some of their internal pain. I understand why so many give up or turn into raging alcoholics in an effort to numb their pain. Coming from a reservation, my greatest challenge was proving to everyone that all the stereotypes about my people were fallacious. However, the need for a government and an education system that won’t keep on failing us repeatedly is imperative. The only way that I can make my voice heard is to break these stereotypes and to reach a higher education; hence my application for

I’ve always asked myself,” what does it really take to make it big? To play amongst the greats, how could I do that? Me, Skylar Ross, a young man with this desire, the passion, wanting to play side by side with legends, to become someone people talk about, is what has pushed me all these years. It drove me to become a better player, to become more informed about the sport. This also influenced me to become more intertwined with school, that way I could have a better chance at getting a scholarship at a college.

2017 Women in Leadership Conference has opened my eyes and my heart to a wonderful world of opportunities. These successful and inspirational speakers; Dr. Wendy Murphy and Bentina Terry, along with the list of phenomenal of panelist really stood out with ear piercing words like be myself and be confident in what I know. Having mentors would be one key to my success that I learned and can begin today. Mentors provide support, motivation, understanding, and guidance. The one last thing to drive it home was Bentina Terry outstanding and unforgettable lecture. I will never forget her words of Boundless instead, of fearless, who’s going to stop me, and never jump if I don’t have wings. The needed learning tools given in this

The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

I have gone through many experiences that have tried to tear me down. Life will never seize to throw obstacles my way. These obstacles, however, have proven to be positives that fuel me to be the person I never knew before. They teach me to stand out while taking a stand and be the powerful, independent woman that I am meant to be.

The lessons that we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn from the experience?

culture. As a business student, I am no less influenced by money than the next

Muscles engaged and eye’s wide, the intensity flowing through my veins. About face on one, hands down on two, lift my leg to a needle elevating to place on her shoulder. While she swiftly pulls, a voice in my head counts five, six, seven, and on eight it snapped… and suddenly, my stomach became a sinking pit, and a wave of nausea hit.

Veterans are people who were willing to make a difference when no one else could or would. They left their families and set everything aside to serve their country despite an immense amount of difficulty and pain. Not only did veterans selflessly offer their service, but they also went through unspeakable experiences that permanently shaped them as a person. My aunt, Darrean Ziemski, is one of these veterans who sacrificed so much when she felt like she had so little. Always a strong role model to me, she has inspired me throughout my life. I have heard her story about her service in the Army before, but it never grows old because her sacrifice is timeless.

It was a Wednesday afternoon, I was a Hostess at John Cutter’s Steakhouse in Las Vegas, Nevada. This had been my job for the past couple months since I had quit working at my first job. It was slow and quiet that day, the door was right next to the Hostess stand like most restaurants and all I heard was a family eating and discussing something uninteresting on the patio outside. My boyfriend got me that job; it made pretty good money for a 17-year-old. It was summer of 2015, July to be exact. Everything seemed content and I was happy at that moment, little did I know that was all going to change very soon.

In 2008, I was given an opportunity to learn about a whole new culture. My family had recently moved from India,and we were new to the American concepts. The Mardi Gras Parade was approaching. My uncle decided that it would be a great idea for our whole family to go see the parade to get settled in America. My family and I were greatly thrilled and accepted the offer without hesitation.

In my 38 years of life, I’ve had to overcome plenty of obstacles. When examining my life, especially in my younger years, it showed me life consists of an assortment of minor and major obstacles. Facing an obstacle, especially a major one, and conquering it, awards me a triumphant feeling. Furthermore, this feeling did provide me with determination, willpower, and courage to take on any future obstacles that life can throw at me (Harrington, 2012). This makes minor obstacles to become like a cake walk.