Reflection Paper

Change is one of the many gifts given to us to grow both mentally and spiritually as a person. As we age, change becomes essential to the life of all human beings. Embracing change allows us to thrive in this world full of challenges. It is a basic and fundamental step one needs to take in life to excel. In order for us to reach our fullest potential, “the greatest gift to give [to ourselves] is that of [our] own self-transformation.” (Lao Tzu) I have come to the realization that as life continues, our experiences teach us moral values and ultimately molds us into the person we are destined to be. One gift that was bestowed onto me was the willingness to persevere and succeed. Having undergone two years of highschool, I have successfully been able to persist and transform into the confident public speaker I am today.

that got in my way were huge challenges and somehow I had to go through them. In sixth grade, it was difficult for me to fit in, besides the fact of being the only brown girl in my class, all the other girls seemed to have different perspectives on everything, from me. Whether it be ignoring the task I had assigned to do or whether it be actually doing it. Just remember every task, by the way, is possible to complete if you put your mind to it. My confidence level has boosted sky high in the past 3 years.

She compared her life to a hurricane, a natural disaster that took everything in its path and destroy any shred of light in her life. Thus, the weeks turned into years of regressive behavior that led her to believe that she was not good enough to truly be herself. She only allowed herself to be her mother’s puppet, an item only used for public occasions, for if she ever became her own self, she would be outcasted. Yet, during those times I recall a shout in the cave of darkness, a murmured voice saying: Carpe Diem. Seize the day. My brother used those words when I was little —he was an extroverted fellow who vocalized whatever he felt because he was confident in whom he was. Nevertheless, I was an introverted, insecure, and self-conscious kid who was silenced by the public because they scared me. Fear ruled my actions. Fear ruled my mind. Fear ruled me; yet, my brother’s words rang a certain alarm in my head when I grew up. Thus, I realized that my individuality was stolen. My silence was bought, and my uniqueness was used as a weapon for society’s cruel expectations. I noticed that the world has so many beliefs, ideas, and aspirations that I wanted my own drum to beat in my own rhythm.

This summer has been quiet a busy time to say the least. Since I recently started a new job, I was unable to partner with an organization for my community engagement project. Instead, I worked with my neighbor, Betty, who is 78 years old woman who has recently transitioned home from a six week stay in a rehabilitation center due to a severe fall that prompted her stay. Betty was discharged after Medicare would no longer cover her stay at the rehabilitation center. When she returned home, she returned to home where her grandson stayed but could not relyed on. Betty was basically on her own at home, unable to walk, care for herself the way she was used to, and felt that her needs were not being met upon her return. The purpose of this paper is to reflect on how my personal involvement has been service oriented, helped her achieve her goal, and ¬¬¬to critically reflect on the integration this course has provided in carrying out this assignment.

Haley, I 100% agree with you when you say that if we try on our writing assignments we should have no problem passing this class. This is a requirement that I noticed throughout this first half of the semester. I also have problems writing. I can write/type all day long about nonsense but when it comes to grammar or formatting I get lost. I believe that I have learned a lot sense the first writing assignment, but I know that I can learn more. Sometimes when I am writing I get frustrated because I don’t know how to start the paper. Therefore, I am glad that most of the papers we have written have the requirement to use a summary that we previously wrote. I think that having a pre-written summary has helped relieve the stress of starting a paper. I also perceive myself as more of an academic. Yes, I love to write, but I don’t necessarily like to write about specific things. This class is a requirement for the degree that I am going for, like you, and I probably wouldn’t have taken it if it wasn’t required. I would have probably taken a class that focused on poetry or free writing. Anyways, good luck in the second half of the semester.

My dad and I had a pretty good relationship with each other. We even set up days that we would have a Daddy Daughter Date. I loved to go on those dates with him. We would get all dressed up, me in a fancy dress and him be in a suit and tie. We would always go to a sushi restaurant, because that is the type of food that I loved to eat the most then. He didn’t like sushi as much as me, but for me, he would take us there, every time. After we ate a very fancy dinner, we would hop back in the car, and go to the Saline High School. In there, every month or so, they held a “Daddy Daughter Dance”. I loved to go there with him. All of my friends were there too, even my friend Kellie.

There are three words that keep me going every day, which are “Keep Moving Forward” these words are part of a classic quote by Walt Disney, which spawned the film Walt Disney’s Meet the Robinsons. These words were used as acts of comfort as throughout my schooling journey I often had myself wondering about the days before. I have conjured up to the conclusion that the past is series of ‘whys’ as in ‘why did this happen?’ and that people often dwell on their past and sometime attempt to re-create it. Throughout my schooling years I have often looked back and asked ‘why?’ as I tried to open the door into my bygone days and try to solve my question. It only so happened a week before graduating that I got a wakeup call onto the fact that I was opening all the wrong doors. Now I am opening a new door into the future creating new experiences and friendships. Throughout my last week of school, I sat in my English class 5 times, for 45 mins each, to reflect on how literature has shaped my values, attitudes and beliefs in my years of education and has shaped the person that I am today.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and Greaater Works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And, whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:12-14

Last summer my cousin and I were enjoying a meal with our families in China. It’s been 7 years since I last saw my cousin. We are about the same age and my favorite memory of her was celebrating her 11th birthday. I remember my uncle and aunt sitting to my right and my grandparents sitting to my left singing happy birthday as she blew out her candles. It has been so long I almost couldn’t recognize her when I arrived at the airport 2 weeks prior. My mom receives a call and leaves the room to pick up her phone. She comes back 10 minutes later in tears. She breaks the news to the family and that our trip would be cut short. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. In the following week, we pack up our bags and head out to the airport. She had to start treatment as soon as possible. I knew I would become the man of the house to take care of my mother and brother, who has autism, while my dad worked in New York.

Over the history of this country, many families across the globe have come to the U.S. in hopes of a better life. My family was one of the many that decided to leave our home country and come to the United States. We never realistically imagined coming to America, but when we did, it was a real dream come true. Knowing I was coming to this country as a student was especially exciting for me personally. We were so excited about this new adventure and the opportunities we would have, despite the many challenges that lay ahead. Two of the obstacles I had to overcome, were having to learn a new language, and build new relationships.

Looking in the mirror at the actual physical presentation of myself, I investigated what other people view when they looked upon me. At that moment, I began to realize what the features are interpreted as. My hair is pulled up and tight, various people have suspected military, but I have never been enlisted. My glasses and crooked teeth would suggest that my parents were low income, no corrective surgery or braces for me. My body image would be identified, instantly by women, as having children and I do have two sons. After one eight-pound boy and the other almost ten-pound baby my body did not return to its original dimensions, there was no weight trainer or nutritionist for me. My calloused hands will tell anyone that I am a blue-collar worker and the ring on my left tells them that I am married. Progressing through college and beyond will be my way out of the shell that society has created me in, it will be my golden door to freedom.

To go along with being an athlete, I am a student. To be able to get playing time, you need to have good grades. My parents didn’t just push me to be a good athlete, but to get good grades. I had higher expectations compared to my brother. But that pushed me to keep my grades up and do get an A on assignments and tests. This impacted who I was and what I decided to value. It was important to my parents that I got good grades, but to me it was too because it helped me get into college and it made me feel good about myself. Being a student, just like being an athlete, teaches me to be diligent in the work that I have in front of me. It also teaches me time management, and what I need to get done compared to going out with my friends.

Since arriving on campus, I have been asked how I came to Miami several times. Some would say that coming here is destiny, but I disagree. Psalm 139 says that before I was born, “in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (NKJV, Psalms 139:16). While there are several main components about which I will write, I keep coming back to the fact that God placed me here.

In school, I used to loathe the icebreakers that involved saying an interesting fact about oneself. I would fumble around and iterate some unoriginal sentiment about my favorite color or animal and leave without actually providing substance about myself. This all changed after I lost the vision in my right eye and could tell people about the three-inch needle that pierces my eye multiple times every year. I thoroughly enjoy watching people squirm as I chuckle and explain the process.

For most students in the public-school system, seeing a private school classroom with under fifteen students in the classroom would be an uncommon sight to them: Since most public-school classes hold up to twenty-five students to one teacher. Although this close interaction between student and teacher greatly shaped me as well as my reading and writing skills today, it did not come without drawbacks when I transferred to a public school for the first time. Highschool was the first time that I attended public school. This is when I discovered just how much personal accountability it would take to stay on top of all the essays and Shakespeare worksheets not to mention the other three teachers that expected I complete their assigned homework