Values
Aside from my freedom, what I value most in the world is providing opportunity for others, essentially serving my community and its people. I would say that I am living consistently with these values; currently I am serving as Co-president and President of Men of Color Council and Scholars Working Ambitiously to Graduate, two organization that seek to provide opportunity to and guide through college men of color. However, I will admit that my time is spread quite thin. I have devoted myself to a lot this year, and it is often difficult to put in a lot of work for each one of my orgs. However, I am constantly thinking about how I may give back to my community after college. Right now, though, I think it will be necessary to find something to give majority of my attention to.
I fear ultimately failing, being lost or broken. I have no fear of making mistakes or experiencing setbacks, I fear failing to the point of no return. I don’t want to ever have to look back on my life and say, “that where I fell off,” rather I would like to say “that’s where I learned, and now I’m here.” When things are falling apart, I pace myself and I usually meditate. Given my mind and body time to perform basic tasks is healthy for my renewal.
Semester Value Statements
1/25
"Social Entrepreneurship is a universal task."
I think that this piece can be useful when trying to find people to work with. Social entrepreneurship can be applicable to anyone, therefore anyone can be a partner.
1/30
"All entrepreneurial identities are important/ authenticity is important."
This is important for me to keep in mind as I expand my reach in entrepreneurship, always keeping in contact with who I am and what my mission in life is.
2/1
"Efficiency is key."
This understanding is important so that I can always use my resources in the most efficient way possible.
2/6
"There is always a problem to address.""
With this, I will never run out of work to do.
2/8
"Everything is connected."
In the future this will encourage me to venture off in to unknown spaces of entrepreneurship or even experience some things not clearly related to my interests.
2/13
"Life is about giving and taking. We hold on to everything in life. Sometimes we have to take something, a piece from the past, in order to make something new in the future."
I have to always be aware of where I came form because that will help my form where I will go in the future.
2/15
"Be the change!"
This will encourage me to take more initiative in the future.
2/27
"Just becasue it works, does not mean it cannot be improved."
This supports an attention to detail and a need to be efficient, because efficiency can always improve.
3/1
"There is always room to make change."
This reiterates there being a need to improve even when things work out just so you can stay ahead.
3/6
"Every choice enables progression."
In the future, this will remind me that progression is always the objective.
3/15
"Always room for improvement."
This value follows from the last in that it inspires me to pursue progress.
3/20
"Observe, have patience in movement."
This encourages me to take my time through life to pay attention to the small things and appreciate experiences a s a whole.
3/22
"Always time."
Following the last statement, there is time to experience life with patience; there is time for everything.
3/27
"Importance of "re-.'"
It is important to always revisit past experiences and understanding them to enable present day growth.
3/29
"You have all of the answers."
This encourages me not to stress about life, because I everything I need I already have, I just need to find a way to access it.
4/10
"Never assume."
Everything serves its distinct purpose, and I do not need to be aware of what that purpose is.
4/12
"Everything is a reflection of you."
This reminds me to put my best in everything because everything I experience is an extension of my own work.
4/17
"Everything is opportunity."
Everything is an opportunity to something else, always think on the bright side.
4/19
"Organization is key."
I should have order in my life, direction is important.
Making a Difference Values
This school year has been filled with many lessons, lessons that I can utilize to guide my life, as I view them as universal understandings. There are three lesson, which all relate to one another in some way, that I can identify as some that are essential to me now.
The first lesson is to trust the process. In a society in which we are meant to filled challenged and competitive, we often lose the understanding that not everything is in our control. When we feel that we have lost control, we lose meaning and purpose, but, I believe, that in these times, our purpose and meaning should be much easier to define. In these times, we are taken form the danger of becoming distracted by sometimes relatively miniscule cases in the world. We have to learn to let go, do what we can and have to do, and let the world take on the rest.
The second lesson is that everything happens for a reason. This lesson is very personal for me because it is a lesson that I learned when I experienced my first trial of depression in my Sophomore year of college. During that period, I lost understanding of myself, my worth, and life. However, in that time, I was forced to learn myself, learn the world, and love myself. Depression, while it was the most difficult time in my life, is the experience so far that I am most grateful for occurring.
Lastly, I have learned that turbulence is a part of the journey. During one class, we hosted Arel Moodie, who captivated the class with an intriguing, and gem filled, story about people from different walks in life experiencing the same turbulence on a plane. From this story, I took the understanding that turbulence and difficulty is a part of getting to where you want to be.
