Personal Narrative: The Epiphany Of My Life

Today was the day that I learned nothing in life is free. Nothing is just handed to you. Ever. Everything you want or need, needs to be worked for. Maybe not super hard or really easy but some method of payment is definitely needed. Even those “free” cups and souvenirs they give out a festivals come with a price. For instance, I went to a national park over Christmas break and they had Chevrolet out front “handing out” shirts. Yeah you could get the shirt, but before you could you had to take a “quick” survey and provide contact information. So even though you didn’t need money to receive the shirt, it still wasn’t free.

Narrowing down one specific event is rather difficult. If I had to decide, it would be the Sunday morning that I stood in pool of water with my wife Amber holding my hand. Together, we were baptized in front of our congregation at a small church in Elizabethtown, KY. In order to understand why this event is so significant, and why it will influence my academic goals at CCU, it’s imperative that you know my back story. I’ve served 12 years as a military police soldier for the United States Army. I started my journey in the Army, as a young, inexperienced 18 year old young man. I ended my career as a Sergeant, with memories of experiences I will forever hold in my heart. Most of these memories are difficult to even talk about, but being a soldier

I am an introvert who values my personal space and alone time. However, I haven’t had much of either in the last few weeks. Since moving into my dorm at the University of Georgia, the last few weeks have been a rush. Every day has been a combination of classes, homework, running to stores, catching buses, and meeting friends. This isn’t a complaint. I love the freedom and figuring out how to handle more responsibility. I love being around other people and having friends that are always up for watching a movie I’ve yet to see or playing a match of Super Smash Bros. The first two weeks have rushed by and there hasn’t been a moment to just pause and take in everything that has happened so far.

On June, 7th of 2013 my daughter, Ayva Maria Gantt, was born prematurely. Ayva arrived three months early at 26 weeks gestation. I was originally scheduled to deliver Ayva on September 13th of 2013 at Civista hospital in La Plata, Maryland. Little did I know I would get to meet my daughter Ayva much sooner than expected. Ayva was born in Baltimore, Maryland at University of Maryland Medical Center so that she could get the care a premature born baby would need.

There are defining moments in every person’s life. These moments are characterized by their negative connotations and it is the way in which we choose to respond to these unfortunate situations that define who we will become. One such moment was when my biological father called me worthless. Hovering around the ages of either nine or ten, this was a very emotionally damaging experience for me. Neither my brother nor myself have ever been close to my father and that alone is harmful to a child because although a stereotypical belief, we seek affection from the mother and advice and direction from the father. Lack of time spent with your father is damaging enough, but even more so when those few interactions you do have are destructive to your self-perception. This was a defining moment for me

Moving from place to place not much other than family remain constant and that too takes a different shape with time and makes me both accustomed to change and more importantly, prepared for it. Moving every few years is a gift and a curse, giving you a clean slate when you both need it and when you do not want it. It is always difficult to move away from good friends, teaching me to remember all those who left a mark on me .

I first arrived at the Breakfast Club, and was a little taken aback by all the action that was going on in the room. In seemed like one large stew of energy that continuously fluctuated in different ways. As a camp counselor, I am very used to this type of environment, and it is just a byproduct of having more than 30 children in a confined space. After talking to Janelle, and hearing what happens at Breakfast Club the other volunteers and I got right into playing with the children. I started coloring and playing with whatever else while talking to several children. I remember introducing myself to several of them and them being cautious about telling me their names. Some of them even said things like “why do you need

One thing that I feel everyone should know about me, to really understand who I am, would be what I do with music in my life. I think that the kind of music people listen to defines them more than what that person could ever put into words.

In 1995, I was asked to relocate to a different city. I had lived in Cincinnati and the surrounding area all of my life. My entire biological family was there (well, except the ones in south central Kentucky, but that’s another story). All my friends were there. I was well-rooted into my church (my real family). Everything. All that I knew in life was in Cincinnati. All my ex’s lived in, not Texas, but Cincinnati. We accepted the call and in the last days there, I sat in shock of what I was about to do. Uncertainty was overwhelming One day as I sat quietly, I heard a still, small say, “Pam, I have taken care of you in Cincinnati, you know I will take care of you in this new city.” I was instantly in peace.

The earliest memory I have is of me walking in the garden of my old house. It is a very distant memory and only lasts about three seconds in my head. To this day, I still wonder if it was only a dream. Nonetheless, I can still recall the way the sun’s bright light hit the left side of my face and the cool grass under my feet. I remember seeing a rose and its prickly thorns. My curiosity moved me to touch one and I instantly felt pain. I cried for my mom and she quickly picked it out of my bleeding index finger. Never again did I touch the thorns of any flower. It is the earliest memory I have of me learning from my mistakes.

My own spiritual awakening began a year ago and I had resisted all my life. My Spiritual Awakening process was catalyzed by a heart break. These catalysts have a purpose: to open your heart and prompt you to seek. A spiritual awakening is a process of considerable inner change. I have become more aware of myself on a much deeper level. I am more aware of my life experiences and the lesson I have learnt from these experiences and the reason why. I am more accepting of myself and everything and everyone around me. To fully live a spiritual life one must let go of all their hurt, anger and negative feelings that they had towards their life and the people in their life. When one has a true spiritual awakening they will gradually go through the

Today I was trying to take your advise and to be more assertive, ask more questions, and state what I need them to do (and try not to say ‘no’). Many times today I caught myself saying “Can you please” and have to immediately correct myself. It’s difficult but hopeful with practices and time I will start to change this habit of asking permission when I don’t have to.

I'm going to tell you a story about how I ended up where I am. When I was 4 and could semi speak in sentences, I began talking to someone, no one fake and made-up, no stranger either. They were completely real, but they had the power to hide from my parents but only I could see them. My parents asked who I was talking to, I pointed to right behind them but my friend turned himself invisible. They turned back around to face me, something was wrong, it was shining in their eyes. They left without saying a word, only looking down, shaking their heads. Later that night I remember hearing them argue. I tried listening to what they were saying, but I couldn't understand any of the words they were using. They seemed.....foreign. Spanish maybe? I just

Have you ever heard a song that has brought you back to a special moment in your life? Music, which holds such a huge part of mine, constantly reminds of the memories that I have retained over the years. There are many songs that allow me to reminisce on those important times and experiences; from my first love, to summer days at the pool and late night sleepovers with my friends. Out of my long list, I think that a few songs in particular best represent my own personal “soundtrack” to my life.

I moved to Waterford, Connecticut in my middle of second year of high school. When I went to Waterford first time, I didn’t like it. Actually I felt miserable, because I wasn’t happy that I moved to Waterford. As soon as when I got there I missed all of my friends. I don’t remember exact dates, but I know it was winter, cold. I think unhappiness made me feel colder. Waterford looks like the old country. There was few houses in a street. Our new house was one of it. The house surrounded by some trees, a huge yard, and a stream. I thought I am living in a forest. As soon as when we moved to Waterford, my father had to go back to Korea for his work. It was our first time that we live separately. I had about a month off from the school because one of the paper didn’t go through. I didn’t know anyone in there, didn’t know what I can do, or what’s where. Afraid to be outside, and being not happy about living in Waterford didn’t makes me to do something. I just stayed in the house. Staying in the house wasn’t fun either. My father is gone. My mom started to work in her new job. My brother was busy to play online computer game with his friends. I think living in a house for a month without seeing anyone, and stay home felt loneliness was the very beginning of the depression start.