Write your mini intellectual autobiography (two paragraphs, unless you have much more to say.)
AVOID anything that has to do with your "academic" work (major, courses, professors etc.) and "the-most-important-person-in-my-life" type of rhetoric. Most of all, stay away from "achievements" and self-adoration.
Focus on the experiences that contributed to shape your mind such as-- if you want - personal struggles; travels; books or other forms of art that forced you to think about yourself in relation to your life.
Every good writing is about the meaning of life. But there is a difference between "the meaning of life" and "the meaning of your life".
COMMENT and REPLY to one of your classmates.
The first 2 comments will earn 1 extra credit equivalent to 1 assignment.
REPLIES: pick a comment that has not received a reply yet.
Living in New York has been quite a change of pace moving from California. The fast lifestyle, eager people, and intense heat was an overwhelming introduction to this city. Overall the adjustment has been quite easy, I have previously lived in Turkey and Italy. Both of which also offer a fast lifestyle but safe-haven towns and cities away from the major metropolitans. I've always wanted to live an "international lifestyle," but did not have a clue what that actually meant until I left my family and friends and moved to Istanbul four years ago. With no connections to the country I quickly found myself desperate to make new friends in this new place. Luckily, Turkish people are quite pleasant and easy to befriend. I quickly found myself enjoying the lifestyle, people, culture, religion, and history of Istanbul.
ReplyDeleteIt was hard to leave Istanbul but I was excited to move onto my next adventure in Rome! Italy offered a different worldly perspective. The people were in your face, boisterous, and comical. The average meal often became a two-hour long affair of good food, good drinks, and a very animated story time. Again the city offered an illustrious history and many architectural landmarks. The beauty of Rome was just as overwhelming as the speed of New York. However, both places felt like home with all the new friends and shared experiences. Now I find myself in New York starting a new chapter with new friends and making new experiences. My time abroad wether living long or short-term or just traveling between countries intermittently resolidified my eagerness to jump into new places and each time I bring a piece back with me.
Hi Crystal,
DeleteYou are probably a very outgoing person who is not afraid of moving to completely different countries. I have never been in Italy but it is on my bucket list. I wonder which country in particular you liked the most. I prefer quiet and country lifestyle but instead I am stuck in crowded and busy New York.
I loved Turkey! The food is great the people are amazing and its cheap to travel once you are there! Italy is also beautiful, if its on your bucket list I would say go there. Also has great food and great people! (Also, amazing coffee and sweets)
DeleteHi Crystal, I think you are an outgoing person, I hope that I can travel to California, to compare the life of the East Coast and the West. I hope that I can travel to different countries and then we can share the travel experience together.
DeleteMy father immigrated to the US back in 1990s, so I always knew that my mother and I will be joining him someday. Unfortunately, life had different plans for my family. My parents divorced in couple of years after my father moved. And for the first time in my life I saw him when I was ten years old. In couple of years after that, my mother told me that it was my time to move to America. At that time, I knew that my mother won’t be coming with me, she had her own family by then.
ReplyDeleteI moved to the USA when I was fifteen years old. At age of fifteen, I didn’t think I would have any kind of struggle in a new country. Although, I knew that I will be leaving my mother and living with a stranger, my father, I still wanted to move. New country, culture, language, people and home didn’t scare me at first. The first wave of realization hit me when I went to high school. For the next six month, my life consisted only of struggle. I didn’t understand what teachers were asking me. Russian-English dictionary couldn’t help me with my homework half of the time. I was carrying that little wordbook with me everywhere but it also didn’t help me make any friends. I was alone for the most of time because my father was always away on business trips. And I didn’t tell my mother much because I didn’t want her to worry about me. So the only thing which knew about my feelings at that time was my pillow. I spent all summer alone learning English by watching movies on the TV with a running line on the bottom, subtitles. By the beginning of my junior year, everything got better. I was in a good mood for the most of the days, hoping for a better year. My English improved which helped me make few friends. And I simply had a goal, to bring my mother to the US. However, the second wave hit me when I found out that I could only to petition for my mother at the age of 21 and plus the whole process would cost a lot of money. The next five years were less hectic emotionally but more struggling physically. I had to work, go to school and enjoy life as a teenager at the same time. But in my mind, I only cared to reunite with my mother and her family.
It took me exactly eight years to reunite with my mother. My struggle was finally paid off. The lesson I have learned was that a dream doesn’t become reality through magic, it takes sweat, determination and hard work. And because of such experience, I became who I am right now; strong, independent and determined woman.
Hey Kristina! Thanks for sharing! The struggle always pays off and I'm glad it all worked out!
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Deletehi Anna,
I strongly agree your idea," exploring other countries and traveling is very important." yes I think travel can make me happy and relax, I also can learn a lots from traveling, I can identify different things that I never knew that it had ever exist.
I love your story! I also agree that traveling is very important. I have high hopes of traveling the country too. I believe traveling gives you a better insight on the world.
DeleteI was born and raised in California but I decided to move to New York City because I was itching for something new. I wanted a change in my life and I wanted to be more independent. Growing up as the youngest of 5, I had everything handed to me. At the rate that I was growing up, I would have never learned to be independent living in Sacramento. One day, I decided to pick up and move all the way across the country. I would be lying if I said things were not tough in the beginning I had no family, barely any savings, and did not know what my next move was. After multiple failures and struggles it’s honestly made me a stronger and wiser person.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I miss my family everyday, living in the big apple has brought me a lot of happiness and a sense of security. I’ve been here for almost 7 years and I love every moment of it. Currently I live alone and I am enrolled in college working full time. I am taking things day by day and I have high hope of traveling the country.
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DeleteHi Fan, that is very brave of you to leave your big family but at the same time it was a wise decision. Living alone in NY is not easy plus school and work. You are doing great! As long as you're happy that's all it matters. Best of luck!
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ReplyDeleteI am sorry that you lost your father. I learned of the importance of health when my daughter was diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder called Marfan Syndrome. The life expectancy used to be 42 years of age. As things are, she needs to go to the cardiologist every year to be sure she will not need an operation on her aorta.
DeleteI was devastated that my perfect baby was not to live a normal life. What is that exactly, anyway? She is now a young adult and manages her condition. She has a steady boyfriend and is currently going for her Masters degree. I guess what I am trying to say is, we all should live our lives to the fullest and enjoy the time we have with our loved ones as long as possible.
I cannot focus on experiences that contributed in shaping my mind without first talking about my family and their influence on my life. I was born a United States Air Force brat. My dad was honorably discharged when his twin brother was killed in Vietnam. From that time living in California on the base became a move into civilian life in New York. I wish I could say I got to travel the world (like many of my fellow students who have commented already), but that was not the case. I did get to live in a town where 99% of my family lived. My paternal grandparents and maternal grandparents shared their cultures and love of family with me, my siblings and my cousins. These cultural values and experiences included those from: France, Germany, England and Czechoslovakia. I also learned of stories which explained why I also have cousins who came from Bogota, Columbia. Because I have been fortunate to have been exposed to these cultures, I have shared the values, traditions, languages, recipes and appreciation for diversity with my own children.
ReplyDeleteMy personal life has been very rewarding. I am married to my high school sweetheart and have both a daughter and a son. We also live one town over from my extended family. My greatest struggles have mainly been professionally, until just recently. I have needed to get multiple certifications through the years to stay competitive with other applicants. I worked for many years as a long-term substitute and leave replacement for a number of districts on Long Island. I did everything that was asked of me and more, yet I always seemed to lose a position to an applicant that was younger but certainly less experienced. Things have not been all bad, I attained a teaching position recently in a largely Hispanic district, where I am in the process of getting my TESOL certification to work with English Language Learners (ELLs). I believe everything is God’s will, and I am discovering the purpose of those years I have struggled to be where I am today.
Hi Katherine, I totally understand where you stand on this. working in the education field is tough because they always come up with different rules and requirements. Right now if you are a certified teacher with a bachelor degree you must go for master within 5 years or else your license will be terminated. You're amazing for going back to school with 2 kids! Good luck and take care.
DeleteI've always picture my life in this order: graduate from college, get marry, open up a day care, then have kids. 2 years ago my life changed, I came back to NY from Jamaica on August 7th. I found out I was 2 months pregnant on August 8th. Even though I was only in my first trimester I still took 5 classes so i can graduate on time. We welcomed our baby boy on March 8th, 2017. It is extremely hard to do school work while taking care of a toddler.
ReplyDeleteThe hardest thing is not taking care of my son but adopting to the Italian culture. I am Chinese entering an Italian family. We eat different food, language, values, culture, and etc. I've been trying my best to expose both cultures to my son, hopefully when he's older he will speak Italian, Chinese, and English. Right now I'm very close to getting my college diploma. This is the last class I will be taking and the only class i need to pass to get my diploma. I hope that everything works out great!
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Deletehi peiling,
DeleteOur situation is similar, I hope we can graduate smoothly.
Unlike my sister, I didn't get to grow up with two parents. My mother and father separated when I was younger. When they moved here before I was born, he developed mental health conditions that didn't allow him to come around as often. He passed when I was 13 years old. Soon after, my sister also developed cancer, but she's been cancer free for a while now.
ReplyDeleteThis has been difficult to deal with, but I'd like to think I've become stronger through everything. I put most of my energy into my work as well, and it's been a great way to get most of the frustration I feel at times out. I work in an office setting but in the Youth department. I look forward to making a difference in a kid's life because I understand firsthand that sometimes things happen throughout childhood that are tough. I know it sounds cliche but I'm grateful I've made it this far, and I hope to continue learning and being the best I can be.
Hi Christine. My condolences to you and your family. I'm glad to hear your sister is cancer free. I also do a lot of work with kids mainly in the arts. People are often defined by their childhood and I believe if you make a positive impact on a kid, it will benefit them for their lifetime even if they themselves don't realize it.
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DeleteI migrated from Guyana, South America to New York City in 2008. I come from an uncompromising, closed-minded culture. My culture of people are quite old-fashioned and lead a life based on olden ideals. For example, young women are expected to be married before twenty-five. They also rarely every communicate or show affection. For the first few years, I was taken aback by the culture and the people of New York. I did not understand it. I could not believe there were so many unmarried women. And, I was also worried that I might never fit in with the popular crowd.
ReplyDeleteFast forward to 2018, ten years later, I am more open-minded and feel much compassion towards people who are seemingly different from me. I have also grown to accept that I am also different but very much the same as everyone else. I learned that communication is the shortest bridge between two people and because I am twenty-four and unmarried does not make me less than anyone else.
Hi Melissa, I can really relate to your story. A lot of people, who move to New York City struggle to understand its culture and people. I had struggled with it myself. But I feel like as long as you are willing to try and communicate, it can all work out. Having patience and comparison is the key.
DeleteI grew up in Croton on Hudson in Westchester County, NY and moved to the Bronx 5 years ago. I appreciate growing up in the suburbs. I was given a lot of freedom because of it and I think having freedom as a child has helped my development as an adult. I did a lot of theater growing up and loved the feeling of being appreciated for performing. When I moved to the Bronx five years ago, I started high school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The school was very strict and I received 90 detentions in my four years of high school, something I'm proud of.
ReplyDeleteMy dream is to be a film director. At first I wanted to be an actor but I realized I'm not good enough to be a film actor. I have a very romantic view of New York City and I want to live here and make movies until the day I die. LA is not for me.
Hi Nicolas! Film director sounds like a very interesting profession. Nowadays, there is a lot of studios working in the city, as well as independent movie production groups, so everyone involved in that industry can find something to like.
DeleteIt's interesting you say that you felt that you had a lot of freedom and appreciated growing up in the suburbs. Other people I know who grew up similarly felt stifled or controlled in that environment. But I can relate as I look back on my own childhood and the freedom in my upbringing and how it influenced my imagination, especially as a fellow maker of art.
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ReplyDeleteI grew up on the prairie of South Dakota and felt that there was nothing there for me and dreamed of a more cultural life. I am a theatre-maker and so I had always dreamed of a life in New York City. I came here straight out of high school and lived here for two years, traveled the land for two years, then lived in London for two years. After that soul-searching mission, I ended back up in the midwest in Minneapolis where I found a deep passion for creating my own work, and not just waiting for someone to cast me in something.
ReplyDeleteNow after running a theatre company for fourteen years, I have found that living in this city for the past nine years has actually caused me great stress, anxieties, and health problems. This has lead me to find a new passion in cooking, healing, and nutrition. I’m very much at a crossroads in life culminating in the fact that I will be moving to California this fall and am curious for what lies ahead in the next chapter.
Greetings Katheryn. I'm extremely glad your journey has bore fruit. Ironically, I just came from California for a small visit and now I'm in NYC. I hope California brings you more thrills. High school was a confusing time for me since I didn't know what I wanted to do in college. Very stressing time but eventually, I found my passion: joined the military. I can't express how much happier I am now. Thank you for sharing this with us. Good luck!
DeleteI was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, followed by moving to New York City at the age of 12. This was all thanks to my dad. He always wanted the best for me because he didn't want me to go through the same struggles as well. Growing up poor, he taught me to always be grateful, regardless of anything, because "we never truly appreciate things until they're gone".
ReplyDeleteNow, I try to enjoy the small little things as much as possible because who knows if this will be the last day we'll enjoy the sun, although it's very hot? Things have their ups and downs but it's what we make of it that truly helps us enjoy life. Now, I'm always to excited to see what adventures tomorrow brings.
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DeleteIt is hot outside!! I can totally relate to you as I come from a similar background. Keep on working hard, it will be all worth it at the end.
DeleteI was born In Brooklyn, raised in Queens by Mexican American Parents. Growing up in Queens was like starting from scratch because my family knew no one in the community. I had to make friends on my own and build connections without the help of my parents. However, I always knew I had the support of my parents. All the decisions I made came with questions but also support from my parents.
ReplyDelete23 years later I am young professional helping people just like me follow the right direction. Coming from a community of many immigrants, I know many young people need a person to talk to who has been there. The struggle of going without a role model is something I hope to help people with being that I have lived through it. I attended one of the worst High School in Queens and know first-hand how difficult it can be to follow the "right path".