This I Believe Essay

My Personal Credo

When I think about my unique approach to life, it is not super unique at all, actually I hope it is not because I would want others to tackle life in the same way. I approach life with an abundant amount of a positive attitude. I surely do believe that it is important to continue seeing any situation with an optimistic point of view, good or especially bad. I think that if an attitude is set negatively during a bad situation, well my friend, then most likely there will be continued negative slaps to the face. There is a famous quote by author Charles Swindoll, “Life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% of how you react to it.” That 10% could be a gut wrenching dilemma, but do not complicate it more than it already is, a bad attitude won’t serve you to refine the situation.

I learned to be positive at a young age when half of my family was torn apart by Immigration. I was so angry…so angry, and sad. No nine year-old kid should feel damaged at a young age, but there I was missing my dad and older siblings. Not understanding why bad things happen to good people. My positive mother, told me something that I would never forget around these hard times. “Be thankful for the good and the bad, because they make you into the person you are today.” Of course I still didn’t quite understand that wisdom at that age. I wondered, why the heck should I be thankful for something bad? But little did I know then, I am grateful for the good and the bad still to this day.

Tackle life with positivity people, it is nonsense to do it another other way.

Busy Bee, Busy Week!

06/27/2015

What a busy week this has been for me! It seems that when it is time to get busy it all happens at once. Everything piles onto one plate. Then at other times it seems that there is no action to be found.

For a while now, my schedule has been to work Friday through Monday. Then my new English assignments start on Monday, while luckily I get a nice weekend and get off Tuesday through Thursday to get my homework done before I start working again. That being said usually my daily routine consist of work, school, homework, and cleaning, repeat. That everyday routine was starting to get to me a couple of weeks ago. Since it was dampening my spirits the only thing I could do was change my routine up. Which I did, but somehow I bite off more than I can chew. In other words, when I decide to change something I want to do everything at once. Maybe if I was an octopus with six more arms or had some type of outrageous multi-tasking super power I wouldn’t be crunching up my time. So here is how my week goes… Monday I cleaned my apartment, received my new assignments for my summer class and worked at my job. Tuesday, I had a job interview for a different career, went to the lake with my friend, went to another job interview, visited my boyfriend, went to his little brother’s baseball game, and rode motorcycles. It was a fun actioned packed day! Wednesday, I woke up bright and early and headed to Arkansas to accompany my boyfriend to take a test for his next potential career. We were gone from about 8am – 9pm. I didn’t have to go to that but I would have been just a home body like I usually am, so I thought I would join him for moral support. We also went to the lake for a while and hung my newly bought hammock and relaxed. Thursday, I started a new babysitting gig. The baby was so sweet and a bundle of joy even though she was sick. That also started bright and early while her parents went to work and until 3pm. After I could have done my homework for my class but I was fatigued by getting up early than I normally do. From work I don’t get off until midnight and even then my body doesn’t normally get sleep until 3am the latest so I usually wake up at 10am. Waking up bright and early is nice and has some calming vibes every once and a while but I was not use to it since school got out in May. Any who, Friday I went on the road again to Kansas for another job interview with my boyfriend. That was another six hours in the car, I feel like I have been in a car all week more than I was at home. Later that day in a couple hours I went to work.

Goodness gracious! I’m sorry if I bored you guys with the details of my week, but it was a bit unbelievable to me that all of these situations happened in one week. I usually just hang out at home, do my homework and enjoy my days off. Maybe take a trip to the lake or pool on one of my days off, but I was on the go like a busy bee every day. It did feel nice to get out of my routine, but when it is all said and done… my laundry was getting piled up and my homework kept getting pushed aside. It was a challenge to balance having a social life and keeping up with my responsibilities. Something that I have had to do since I was 15 because that is when I got my first job, but seems that I need a different tactic every time. I am a person who always takes care of my work first before ever socializing, but work seems to be endless so I chose to socialize this past week. As that is all said and done, I really enjoyed spending time with my friend, my boyfriend and his family, and catching up with my wonderful family. I also liked how I had the opportunity to be interviewed for a couple jobs. Spending time with my loved ones was worth it even if I felt a bit behind in my class. Balance is also important to juggle work, school, and a social life. I am still trying to better manage my time, but I think that time will usually get the best of me. Either way, I’m sure this won’t be the last time when things get piled onto one plate.

Until next time, busy bee!     

Know Your Audience Analysis

The twenty question game my English class played was entertaining and insightful. Through the “Know your Audience” assignment I enjoyed getting to know my classmates/audience personalities.

Beginning with the color of our attitudes, I discovered that my peers are mellow individuals. Most love to be outdoors and play with their families. Many had adaptable attitudes to different colors. Some of my audience chose more than one color to identify their attitude to correlate with a span of situations. I was also pleased to read how compassionate my audience answered the question, “what three wishes would you wish for and why?” Unanimously, many wished to have an end of all wars and have long lasting peace. As well as, to find cures for illnesses and there to be an end to diseases. A lot of the answers to the three wishes highlighted a chance to help others in need. It shines a light of hope on humanity when 15+ people in a class are being selfless with their three wishes if they would ever stumble upon on a genie. It was nifty to read where my audience grew up. The majority were raised in Springfield, MO so I like how many of us have that in common. It was great to see where everyone has traveled to and it gave me some ideas where I may want to visit. Morocco sounded especially exquisite.  I’m glad that much of my audience is family oriented and that their family makes them blissfully happy. Too much we take family for granted because others don’t have the opportunity to be a part of a loveable home. We witnessed that in the book “The Heart and the Fist” by Eric Greitens. When my class and I read the chapter of the kids in Bolivia.

These questions that we prompted one another were really helpful and insightful. I will be more comfortable writing to my audience now that I feel I know them better. Reading through some of the answered questions I’d like to invite my peers to a café and chat. I saw we all have distinctly unique lives and we are all still learning and growing

This I Believe! (Freewrite)

                                     I Believe I Will Shoot Towards The Stars For My Mom

The person I look up to. The person I admire. The person who believes in me. The person I gained my hard working ethic from and honest intentions. The ultimate hero in my life, is my mom.

My mom is one of the best individuals you would ever have the pleasure of meeting. She has this vibrant smile and positive energy that would illuminate any room. Her presence is safe and feels like you are under a security blanket. A very important statement that I have held dearly to my heart since my mom told me as a little kid was, “be thankful for the good and the bad, because each mold you into the person that you are today.” That sentence I have always reflected back to in any circumstance. Mainly because even when something sucks, I know that it will shape my character. I know that I will welcome that mistake or horrid situation I am in so I can become wiser.

In hearing the endeavors that my mom has had to face being a single mother with eight children I have made a promise to myself to give back to her as much as she has sacrificed for me and my siblings. Her husband that she had with my older six siblings died when they were young. As for my dad and little brother’s he was sadly deported to Mexico. It is tough when you are an immigrant family coming to the United States trying to make a better living. Of course my parents should have done the proper paper work to be allowed a better security for living here, but that process is easier said than done.  

After the years, however, luckily my mom received her citizenship as well as some of my siblings. In doing so, my mom has worked extremely hard to keep a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, and other necessities. I wish I can put into more words how hard working my mom is, because it is so extreme. She has definitely set a bar for my siblings and I to work extra hard in our jobs, school, and personal lives. But of course, leave it up to a mom to juggle everything and make it seem like a stroll in the park.

Although, now that my mom is getting older, I can tell a stroll in the park is not as easy as it used to be. Which is why I hope to soon be able to support her and get her out of work. I want to definitely assist my mom financially, because she has carried eight other lives with her for the majority of her life. I want to give my mom the rest she deserves. I want to grant her vacation time with her children in Mexico. I want her to have time to do the things she loves to do. I want to support her without her having to worry about working another day in her life. I hope to accomplish this goal of mine soon, because it is a top priority on my list. After accomplishing my college education and getting a career this is what I will do. My mom is a wonderful human being and I have learned a lot from her.

I believe I will provide for my mom as much and more as she has provided for her family. I will shoot for the stars and succeed for my mom's well-being.

I have completed the above "Freewriting" assignment in ten minutes and with a total of 582 words typed.  

This I Believe!

I believe…

1.       I believe I am a loving daughter

2.       I believe I am a caring sister

3.       I believe I am a supporting girlfriend

4.       I believe I am a goofy friend

5.       I believe I am a hot Cheetos fanatic

6.       I believe in wearing sunscreen; (you can still get a good tan either way ladies and gents)

7.       I believe all produce should be organic, I can’t believe we have a choice between organic produce or processed

8.       I believe I am a concerned citizen

9.       I believe in standing up for yourself and letting your voice be heard

10.   I believe I am a good student

11.   I believe I have a purpose

12.    I believe there is much to yet discover: about myself, yourself, earth's terrain, our mental and physical capabilities…etc

13.    I believe I am a hard worker

14.   I believe finding balance in important

15.   I believe love is powerful

16.   I believe love is scary

17.   I believe love is magic

18.   I believe in romance

19.   I believe passion is essential in all you do

20.   I believe I can make a difference

21.   I believe surprises are fun

22.   I believe money is not everything, but is does help in our materialistic world

23.   I believe in not following all the rules

24.   I believe our world is a beautiful place

25.    I believe in the simple life

26.   I believe no one should ever stop learning, there is always something new to learn

27.   I believe in having respectful manners

28.   I believe in myself

29.   I believe one day I will give back to my mom all the wonderful things she deserves for always having the best intentions for me and her family

My Typology and Writing

Reflection of Jung Typology Test

Since high school, there has been a personality test to indicate who we are as person, writer, student and worker. In college I took this test once more as part of an assignment for my English class. The test is called the Jung Typology Indicator (here is a URL with more information: http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/). As I concluded my test, my indication came out as “INFJ” meaning, Introverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judging. When I read the description it did detail some attributes of mine. Starting out by stating that my character is complex with a strong humanitarian outlook and that INFJ’s are generally “doers” as well as dreamers. I am fond of this combination of vision and practicality. I usually do find the Jung Typology Indicator helpful. Not because it is supposed to tell me my personality and after 70 question instruct me of who I am, since life is more complex than a mere test. However, I find it helpful because it points out your weaknesses too, not bluntly but by merely suggesting you are these four letters in this combination. Well, what about the other letters or sixteen other combinations. I mean I want to be a well-rounded person, so I like to see what I should work on in order to achieve more abilities. And let me tell you, that J at the end of “INFJ” used to be a “P” meaning perceiving. Now I consider myself both especially when I read the details. It just kind of goes to show you that obviously change happens overtime. That being said continue to evolve and adapt as change should be embraced. While also balancing the authenticity of yourself with practicality.  

Me as a Writer

Every now and then, I come across my essays, notes for school or even some exchanged with friends, as well as research papers that I have written over the years. I find it valuable when I stumble over old things I have written and giggle a bit at my writing technique thinking how much I have advanced since then. I notice how my personality has changed and that I gained to be a bit wiser as a writer and as a student.

Why keep these bundles of paper? These compositions should be thrown away after use, or better yet recycled. Free up the space… but nay I say! I just think it is neat to go back and read your writing. People may not believe so, as I also disbelieved, but writing is important. Mere words written on paper can be as powerful enough as to persuade someone to change their train of thinking. Motivate, influence, create new ideas, maybe even haunt or scare. That is why I think looking back at your writing, learning from your mistakes, and changing them for the better next time allows for better self-expression and fluency. A powerful tool, writing is, and it must be exercised. Think about it next time you want to express yourself a certain way, but are at a loss for words. Think about it when you need to sway and encourage the audience your way.

Writing is important, invest into its charm.