It is almost the end of my first semester here at Converse College, and that just doesn’t seem real. My life has both changed completely and stayed rather the same since high school. Music has always been a large part of my life, but now my life literally revolves around music. And that both stress me out and gives me great joy. Since my last reflection paper life has continued on. I have continued to deal with the death of Remie, I have injured myself and learned things from it, and I have almost made it through my first semester of college. The death of Remy has continued to be something that I have had to deal with. But I think learning Your Song by Ellie Goulding has helped me along the process. This song was one of Remy 's favorite …show more content…
It reminds me of how Remy and his parents were able to make life more wonderful for other families when they donating his organs to other families with children who were in need of them. I also usually think of it in the past tense, something I started accidentally, Not only have I started to emotional heal over the course of this semester I have physically healed too. About the beginning of October I injured my right arm and wasn’t able to use it all for almost a month. It was during that time that I realized how much I had come to enjoy practicing, how much playing music helped me, and how deeply the identity I have of myself is rooted in music.
When you are denied something that is often when you want it the most. That concept is used in countless movies from simply creating an unforeseen romance to being the motive behind the villain. Perhaps it has become a cliche because there is truth in it. In my music journal I reflected on how much I would want to practice but I could not. That the moment this ‘chore’ was taken away from me it was the only thing I wanted to
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While I wasn 't able to play my friends started to notice a mood change in me. I was more often sad, grumpy, or irritated. I just never seemed to be myself till I was able to practice again.
My identity had also seemed to have been stripped from me. Sure, I was still a music student and I still attended all my classes. But now I was just the kid who couldn’t even take notes in class. I just talked during my lessons and I just sat during rehearsals. I felt absolutely useless and like I was slacking off. After all, I can here to achieve my goals and it didn’t feel as if I was getting any closer to them. I wrote about this in my journal and realize that perhaps I should identify with something besides being a musician and college student.
Most recently in my journal I talked about how can not believe I have almost made it through my first semester of college here at Converse. I never thought I would flunk or drop out, but I also never thought I would actually make it through this first semester. I am not quite finished yet but I think I can see the light at the end of the
(maybe a transition) So many people praise the ability to play a musical instrument—the outlet it provides for the emotions we keep pent up inside, the thrill of being able to transfer printed ink into song. Yet for many years, I couldn’t see the appeal. I lost the ability to enjoy music in my desire for easy results.
As I look to graduate, I become increasingly aware that I have my entire life to look forward to. Even though I will have struggles throughout my life, I still have my well being to fall back on. When all else fails, I am and hopefully always will be self-assured that I am here, healthy and able to bring myself through the worst of circumstances.
When I moved into my dorm, I didn’t know what to expect in college. It was something my parents expected me to attend. For most of life, I was a sheltered boy who stayed home all the time. I didn’t hang out with friends until my last year of high school. After I come home from school, I would either finish homework or watch Youtube videos. It wasn’t until the first few days of college until I realized the amount of freedom I received. College allowed me to do what I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid. It has already taught me more than the last 18 years of my life. I’ve experienced and learned more about myself and the world around me in just the first semester and it started with my classes.
College was the biggest influence in my life, so many things transpired. For some reason, I was free there, free to be whomever, I wanted, since no one knew me. I could change from being the introvert around others, so that I would not be judged. It was in college, that I began finding what did or didn’t work for me. I was embraced by friendships that boosted my confidence and provided reassurance. I finally began to find my identity and I was excited about it. Maybe, two years after graduation, I began subbing as a middle school math teacher. It was then that I found my true passion in life,
Throughout the next several quarters, I watched my fellow students' lives and saw that none of what makes a life was over. We gathered together in support of one another when someone's kid broke their arm, family members were taken suddenly in an auto accident, divorce ended a marriage, illness prevented class attendance, babies were born and weddings went on. We were able to balance family, school and work commitments by simply juggling our days and supporting one another.
My life has been full of so many events. I’ve lived through many hard times combatting my anxiety and depression, while having family problems, and trouble with many other areas in my life. School was a daily problem, and a problem that couldn’t really be avoided or fixed. I really hope that the rest of my life goes in this upward climb pattern that I am in right now, although I expect to have my ups and downs, but now I at least know that I am prepared for them.
As the end of my senior year in high school approached, I had to make an important decision. What school was I going to spend the next few years of my life at? When the financial aid packages arrived, I was torn between two colleges. After sitting down with my mother and discussing the advantages and disadvantages of both schools, I came to my final decision. It seemed like a year ago I was imagining what college life would be like and suddenly before my eyes, I would be a college student in a matter of four months.
I have always been one to spend my time watching things that others wouldn 't think to watch. I have seen things like “The Wind Rises” by Hayao Miyazaki, “Queen” by Vikas Bahl and my favorite “Mary Kom” by Omung Kumar. From documentaries to animes, to silent films. I have dabbled in a little of everything so far. I am known to watch a few of these to pass my summer as well. So, when it came time to watch the foreign film “The Lives of Others” directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, I was fully aware of what to expect. From the subtitles to funny English accents, to sharpening my skill of being able to read the words and focus on the action at hand. You could say I 'm somewhat of an expert in those areas. Thank you anime! The movie was
I can almost remember that day like it was yesterday, I awoke like on any other school day. It was a gorgeous May morning, the rays of sun flittered through my miniblinds blinding me as if I hadn’t seen light in days. I sluggishly dragged my limp body out of my warm bed, retiring to the bathroom to perform my normal morning rituals shower, shave, brush my teeth, get dressed, do my hair, and all the other regulars. As I looked at myself while combing my hair, it hit me like a speeding express train, I was about to graduate. I couldn’t help but smile, but at the same time I felt like a part of me was drifting away. A tear came to my eye as I realized what was about to happen to me.
To think that my first semester of college will be over this friday makes me realize how fast time flies. The first few weeks of college were tough, tiring and full of anxiety. Being in a new environment, a different state and not knowing one single person was something that I did not prepare myself for. Throughout all of the tears and the frustrations, I had to constantly remind myself that I am at The University of Akron to gain an education and become a successful individual.
Through the last 13 weeks I have learned about whom I am and what makes me who I am. I have made some great friends not only my age but also older and younger than me. I have realized many things about myself that I never would have realized if I wouldn’t have came here. College is a whole new experience that you could never imagine unless you are there. It is nothing like you read or even that you watch on TV. It is completely different and you learn a lot about yourself as a person.
As I have reflected on the examined life, intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually, over the span of this semester and applied it to our own life, I have noticed a theme that links each of these dimensions together. Life is a journey of self discovery where individuals are constantly trying to come to terms with who they are as a person. Through this journey, individuals can find their calling or vocation in life, discover their potential, know one’s self, and even just make sense of life. Furthermore, I will examine this theme of self discovery in the context of each dimension and apply it to what I have learned over the course of this semester.
Personal Development is a lifelong process that involves the assessment of current skills and talents and the enhancement of oneself based on that assessment which then leads to the realization of goals and an improved quality of life. To be able to assess yourself, you need to be able to reflect on your past which helps you to understand the attitudes you have developed and the foundation that you will be building your life on. Also, you have to reflect on your present to see if there’s room for improvement and reflect on your future so that you can achieve your aspirations.
In Erikson’s Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, I thought, “Who am I?” countless times like many other adolescents. I occupied much of my time trying to construct a firm identity of myself, which I now realized did more harm than good. Letting myself explore different interests would have helped me find my identity than me trying to fake some firm identity.
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: