Write your mini autobiography introducing yourself to your classmates.
Skip the details about your school and college career (courses, major, employment goals.)
Focus rather on your "intellectual" history: the books, films, hobbies and creative activities that helped you grow.
Avoid mentioning the "most important people" in your life. Keep the focus on yourself and your personal, individual, unique path, the choices you made that took you where you are.
(This may take more than the traditional 3 minutes of standard platitudes and laundry list of achievements. Actually, failures or dead-ends are more interesting than success stories.)
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Here is a meaningful example. This was the very first comment posted by a student in a previous semester: it set the tone for the entire class.
"Hello, my name is ________________. Most of my life has revolved around cancer. Although I am not a cancer “survivor” I have survived cancer. A couple of days after my sixth birthday my younger brother was diagnosed with leukemia. My life changed. At a very young age I had to learn to take care of myself. To escape the lonely feelings I started writing in a journal. Writing made me feel at peace. Music and dancing also lifted me. Performing during my recitals, parades and charity events was thrilling and liberating. As I was starting to feel in control of my life, here comes cancer again. This time attacking my mother and my aunt, which were diagnosed with breast cancer. Immediately, I had to learn how to manage my feelings of anger. As a freshman in high school, I decided to join the cheer team. Performing to express my anger worked. I moved up fast and became varsity captain. As Captain of the cheerleading team I was accountable not only for myself but also for my teammates. I improved my skills on how to be a leader, and take responsibility for my actions and words. Throughout my stages of development, I was unconsciously characterizing and identifying myself. In Piaget’s stages of cognitive development theory, children experience sensorimotor. That is when they are experiencing the world through senses and actions. That is who I was; I first observed and then determined to face my fears. I never said, “I can not do it,” I just did it even if it was a challenge I did not stop until I succeeded. Cancer was one of the many situations that helped me grow into the person I am today. Ironically someone approached me at my job a few days ago, and said “ I see the care you have for people in your eyes, not many have that.”
Skip the details about your school and college career (courses, major, employment goals.)
Focus rather on your "intellectual" history: the books, films, hobbies and creative activities that helped you grow.
Avoid mentioning the "most important people" in your life. Keep the focus on yourself and your personal, individual, unique path, the choices you made that took you where you are.
(This may take more than the traditional 3 minutes of standard platitudes and laundry list of achievements. Actually, failures or dead-ends are more interesting than success stories.)
===
Here is a meaningful example. This was the very first comment posted by a student in a previous semester: it set the tone for the entire class.
"Hello, my name is ________________. Most of my life has revolved around cancer. Although I am not a cancer “survivor” I have survived cancer. A couple of days after my sixth birthday my younger brother was diagnosed with leukemia. My life changed. At a very young age I had to learn to take care of myself. To escape the lonely feelings I started writing in a journal. Writing made me feel at peace. Music and dancing also lifted me. Performing during my recitals, parades and charity events was thrilling and liberating. As I was starting to feel in control of my life, here comes cancer again. This time attacking my mother and my aunt, which were diagnosed with breast cancer. Immediately, I had to learn how to manage my feelings of anger. As a freshman in high school, I decided to join the cheer team. Performing to express my anger worked. I moved up fast and became varsity captain. As Captain of the cheerleading team I was accountable not only for myself but also for my teammates. I improved my skills on how to be a leader, and take responsibility for my actions and words. Throughout my stages of development, I was unconsciously characterizing and identifying myself. In Piaget’s stages of cognitive development theory, children experience sensorimotor. That is when they are experiencing the world through senses and actions. That is who I was; I first observed and then determined to face my fears. I never said, “I can not do it,” I just did it even if it was a challenge I did not stop until I succeeded. Cancer was one of the many situations that helped me grow into the person I am today. Ironically someone approached me at my job a few days ago, and said “ I see the care you have for people in your eyes, not many have that.”
"Hello, my name is Diana Pope. Most of my life has revolved around God, educations, community service and Herb-ology. Raised by a single mom a lot of my teachings came from her. Having to take herbs over pharmacy medicines, helping out my fellow neighbors or family keeping my head in a book and to always strive to be the best in all that i do. My life changed, as i gone through the trials of life, some would say i grew up faster than i needed to be, but all in all i feel most times i still have my childhood. At a very young age I had to learn to take care of myself, even thought i have an older sister who is 6 years older than me. It was cool to be around her despite her disabilities as she grew up more hanging around baby sis was becoming annoying so i had to learn to do things on my own. To understand myself more, my mother would have me look into the mirror and say find out "WHO DIANA IS?" I started writing in a journal, from poetry to short stories sometimes doodling of things i seen, liked disliked and loved about myself. Writing made me feel at peace, at time my pen saved me. Music and dancing also lifted me. I love music whether it was making beats, to singing, to choreography or dreaming if being Michelle Qwan famous ice skater and her triple tol-loops and getting splinters trying to do the same moves. I also developed a passion for playing instruments and it was very easy being that i learned by ear, some considered me a prodigy because i learned so quickly. As I was starting to feel in control of my life, i started to find my identity. Due to my mothers bad money management i have faced many times being evicted from my home, being homeless or staying with family, eating and begging and i moved around a lot which it made it hard to make and keep friends. As a freshman in high school, i got in on a hunch it was a fashion school and i really didnt know how to draw clothing,but i was good at art and i didnt mind a challenge. Until i see the talent i was up against but God still made a way. I decided to join the basketball team and track. Learning to run off the anger and crazy and put any stress on my muscles really helped. I improved my skills on how to work with others trust others and being ok with depending on others which can be hard when you been wearing a S on your chest for a long time. I hit many walls in the fashion world even after graduation and starting my own line. I didn't want to do fashion as a career. So i up and decided to apply to Julliard school of music, i got it but then they found out i couldnt read music and it became a burden, classes were offered for me, but was costly and my mom was already working 3 jobs and recovering from her drug use. Throughout my stages of development, I was unconsciously characterizing and identifying myself.I hit many struggles again dealing with the family my sisters health my anger but through it all i knew i could over come them, as i did many otoher struggles like losing my sister junior year and my God-father had his first stroke.Faith and finding out who i am was one many constant things i had to uphold in my life, and these many situations that i could control and the ones i couldn't helped me grow into the person I am today. Now a mother of my 15 month old son and expecting twins, i can say i been through a lot only being on this earth a quarter of a century. Sometimes i feel older much older than i am. I have worn many hats and played many roles, but i wouldn't have my life any other way. New chapters have opened in my life recently and even with the little fear or worry that i have i know i will get through it. Many people tell me your wise beyond your years for someone so young and its a pleasure to be around because your cut from a different cloth. I always respond its a blessing and a curse. I thank God I'm here, standing, living, breathing and hopefully able to encourage someone else.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Vanesa Privado and I have always had a distraction problem. I tend to tune out things that I have no interest in especially when it sounds boring. I love to draw, read, write short stories and daydream. I like to be in my own little bubble in my mind because it's the one things that lets explore my imagination. It's what makes me a little happy, because then I convert that into my story writing. I also like to design and I want to use my talent to create many things, although I'm not particularly sure as to what I truly want it to be my career. I guess, I've always been impatient because I always wanted to help my family, even though I wasn't allowed to until I finish school. It's quite frustrating being to the youngest and in a position that limited my actions. I have an older sister, a father, a mother and 4 pets: 2 dogs, a turtle and a rooster. I currently live in New Jersey, and commute 4 hours in order to come to school. I don't mind, I have been commuting for most of my childhood, so I'm used to it. I not much of an outgoing person. I tend to stay indoors more often and only go to places when I have to, I guess it's the idea of walking that discourages me to do anything. I guess the reason for that was the idea of worrying my parents, never wanting them to be disappointed with me. I never wanted to be labeled as "baga", Spanish term that they refer as hobo. It's said in such a distasteful tone, that just makes one feel guilty and make you fall into the category of stereotypes and expectation of becoming another useless, good-for-nothing Latina, at least towards the view in my family. For that reason I pride myself as to not being like my relatives with boyfriends and kids and not having education. I don't want to be another fool in the family, and it gives me the courage of wanting to become better for myself, which leads to the fact that I only have few goals for myself. 1- to finish my education. 2- get a good job that can pay well enough. 3- find a way to make a business and financially secure myself and my family. 4- have kids without a husband or partner because of drama and mental work make the relationship work. 5. Continue to live with my parents and take care of their needs as they age. That's pretty much what I have in mind for the future.
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Margaret Cagara and most of my life I have struggled with my weight and expectations. Throughout my life I have been on a literal scale and a metaphorical one, always seesawing one way or the other with my weight. I have always either been very overweight or an average weight for my height, but it had never been constant. Once I gain weight I start to hate myself and go on a diet and exercise until I am happy with my weight. However, once I accomplish my end goal I stop, therefore causing the backlash of weight gain. My parents and grandparents constantly pester me to be of "normal" weight. In my free time, I love to read, but I hate to exercise. The only exercise I love to do is play sports. Now that I'm in college I'm hoping to join some kind of a sports team, preferably swimming or tennis; although I doubt I will get in since I do not have much practice in either sport. I do my best to go to work to support myself as much as possible because I don't want to be reliant on my parents all of my life. My parents tell me that I don't need to, but I know that I want to, for the experience. I've always thought I wanted to be a Physician's Assistant, but lately I have been second guessing myself. Ocean life interests me beyond comprehension at times and I would love to study that when I get out of college. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem practical in my mind and my parent's eyes. I hope to make all the right choices in the future. Similar to me, they also expected me to become a P.A because my aunt is in the same field. This way I would have connections and be financially stable for the future. But will it make ME happy?
ReplyDeleteHey there I'm Phillip Matiz everyone calls me Phil though. What can I say about When I was eleven my mother died. She went to the hospital for pneumonia and died. For years I felt bad about. I still miss her and I still think about her most days, but what can I do? I can't lay and cry about it forever. I had to pick myself up and move forward because the world won't stop if you stop moving. So I just moved on. That's life it isn't what I wanted but I can't change it. I had a teacher though in ninth grade who was one of the reasons I was able to move forward. He was in charge of the drama department. He put me in a play and gave me something that I really enjoyed. I was able to escape from every rotten feeling I had toward everything and have fun and feel good again. Then after that throughout the rest of high school I was in every play every semester. Right after high school I chose to skip college and I went right to an acting studio for lessons in how to do it professionally. Things went well but it's pretty competitive out there. Well I saw a lot of other actors like me with only high school giving up but having nothing to fall back on so I went to bmcc and got an associates in theater. I transferred to Brooklyn for my BA. Now I know if anyone reads this they'll think I'm foolish for going to college to major in the arts but if I continue my education I can teach it and maybe help someone out the way my teacher helped me out. So if I can't do it I will teach someone how to do it.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, my name is Crystal Buchanan but most people over time call me Criss. At around 12 years of age, my life made a drastic change. I used to think that living with both parents married and a little brother that looked up to you was a blessing, but what brought me so much joy, came to a halt. In 2008, a number of people in the United States, experienced the dropping of the stock market, and the economy digressed. At 12 years, I had no idea about what the economy could do to a family of four whom resided in a loving community with a reasonably large lawn space meant for family and friend gatherings, parties and much more. When the economy and the value of the dollar dropped, a lot of businesses had no choice but to close. Elderly who were ready to retire, could no longer retire, but are currently working to help rebuild their retirement funds, and the families that had nice paying jobs, no longer have jobs at all. My family caught the blow of two of those situations; not only did my father's restaurant business fall through the cracks, but simultaneously he had no job. I found it nice and sad at the same time, because now he was home most of the time, something we yearned for as little kids; to have daddy home more often during the day. The sad part, was that we couldn't get all the food he used to cook us at his restaurant. As humorous as it may sound, owning and cooking in that restaurant, is what brought my family so close. The loss of the business, resulted in the loss of a family, or what I thought was family. My parents divorced and that ended the value of what I saw as family. That same year, I found myself yearning for a sense of purpose. I accepted Christ into my life and began living the Christian life. I began dancing and singing and acting. Later on I used my newfound skills to perform in a well-known play in my town, as the timid secretary, who was wise and lovable. I became that character both in and out of the Auditorium. I found myself and what I wanted to be in life. Doing internal research about yourself and how you see yourself striving is how I came across the birth of Children. The most important thing that you come into this world with is your name and the last thing that people will remember about you is your name; so I want to be that doctor who assists in the birth of these babies and watch a memorable moment, the moment they obtain that name. I may not know who they will become but I will have known their name till the day we pass.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Tameeka Grigsby, and I am a new mom of a 17mo. whose journey to become a role model is exciting. I like that I am majoring in a field where I get to help others heal. I like learning the fascinating details of the human anatomy and the different methods of therapy that can be used to heal. I think it's made me wiser and built my passion for my field.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Tameeka Grigsby, and I am a new mom of a 17mo. whose journey to become a role model is exciting. I like that I am majoring in a field where I get to help others heal. I like learning the fascinating details of the human anatomy and the different methods of therapy that can be used to heal. I think it's made me wiser and built my passion for my field.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI am Pajtesa Rexhepi and I come from Kosovo. Kosovo used to be part of Yugoslavia for almost 100 years. I was nine years old when the war started and my country was trying to free itself from Serbia. Two days before United States started the airstrikes on March 24, 1999 I remember everything clearly. My family and my cousins which consisted in 6 children and 3 adults including my parents and my cousins mother since their father was staying in Switzerland, were gathered in our house. Everything was packed, we were waiting. My father had made plans for us to leave the house a few days later, but in war everyone knows there are "surprises". Me and my cousins were in the backyard playing and trying to forget what was going on around us. Just then about 10 trucks with Serbian army walked into our house they told my father that was the house they had chosen to stay in our village and we had to leave. We went to some other cousins in the village and on the next day we headed toward the border. We were trying to go to Macedonia who was taking refugees at that time. Before we achieved the border the Serbian police stopped us in the closest city to the border and took our car, our money and our documents. We started to walk our way across the border and that was a walk I will always remember. Started as a small group but within a couple of hours the small group it was about 500 people. One time there was a truck of paramilitaries coming toward us and they tried to run over my youngest brother although I don't remember clearly the image the sound of my mothers scream is still fresh to me. But my brother managed to run away on the side. We continued.
There were holes on the road, deep holes that my father told us to watch out because they probably have bombs in them. But we were kids and tired so one of my cousins almost fell but luckily she was walking beside my father and he grabbed her just in time. And we continued walking. I don't know where exactly we were but at some point a police car stopped us. I didn't know then but my father latter told us that at that moment he had heard them talking in Serbian to each other "How about we separate the men and we shoot them"(just like they had done with so many groups) - but as they were discussing another car approached and after that they all left, this I didn't know then but I found out after many years. After about 10 miles walking exhausted and scared we reached the border where they took us to the campsites. We stayed there for 6 cold nights. After that a family in Macedonia welcomed us in their house. We stayed there for about two months and after that my father arranged for us to come in United States as refugees.
It was estimated that almost 700,000 people were expelled from Kosovo and about 11,000 died as a result of the genocide in Kosovo. I and everyone in Kosovo is thankful to the United States for our freedom.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI am Pajtesa Rexhepi and I come from Kosovo. Kosovo used to be part of Yugoslavia for almost 100 years. I was nine years old when the war started and my country was trying to free itself from Serbia. Two days before United States started the airstrikes on March 24, 1999 I remember everything clearly. My family and my cousins which consisted in 6 children and 3 adults including my parents and my cousins mother since their father was staying in Switzerland, were gathered in our house. Everything was packed, we were waiting. My father had made plans for us to leave the house a few days later, but in war everyone knows there are "surprises". Me and my cousins were in the backyard playing and trying to forget what was going on around us. Just then about 10 trucks with Serbian army walked into our house they told my father that was the house they had chosen to stay in our village and we had to leave. We went to some other cousins in the village and on the next day we headed toward the border. We were trying to go to Macedonia who was taking refugees at that time. Before we achieved the border the Serbian police stopped us in the closest city to the border and took our car, our money and our documents. We started to walk our way across the border and that was a walk I will always remember. Started as a small group but within a couple of hours the small group it was about 500 people. One time there was a truck of paramilitaries coming toward us and they tried to run over my youngest brother although I don't remember clearly the image the sound of my mothers scream is still fresh to me. But my brother managed to run away on the side. We continued.
There were holes on the road, deep holes that my father told us to watch out because they probably have bombs in them. But we were kids and tired so one of my cousins almost fell but luckily she was walking beside my father and he grabbed her just in time. And we continued walking. I don't know where exactly we were but at some point a police car stopped us. I didn't know then but my father latter told us that at that moment he had heard them talking in Serbian to each other "How about we separate the men and we shoot them"(just like they had done with so many groups) - but as they were discussing another car approached and after that they all left, this I didn't know then but I found out after many years. After about 10 miles walking exhausted and scared we reached the border where they took us to the campsites. We stayed there for 6 cold nights. After that a family in Macedonia welcomed us in their house. We stayed there for about two months and after that my father arranged for us to come in United States as refugees.
It was estimated that almost 700,000 people were expelled from Kosovo and about 11,000 died as a result of the genocide in Kosovo. I and everyone in Kosovo is thankful to the United States for our freedom.
Hello, my name is Jody Torres; I am a single mother and independent filmmaker. I returned to school after a long career in clerical work. My hobbies include photography, videography, art, and writing or filming movies. I was born and raised in Harlem, New York in a housing projects called the Pologrounds. The Pologrounds was a rough neighborhood to grow up in, in the 80's the crack epidemic spread hard over that neighborhood. I remember a bullet entering my window as I slept and ricocheting from the wall into a stereo in my room; it missed my sleeping head by inches.
ReplyDeleteMy son is 11 years old now, and I struggle with him because he's spoiled and the only child in my family at the moment. All things aside, I've struggled but maintained and I hope to one day have my movies playing in theaters all over the U.S. I am have just finished shooting a film called "A Wishing Well in Brooklyn", I hope it makes it at the festivals.
My name is Solansh Moya, I am creative writing major. I am a junior, which means I am really close to graduating. I am taking this class because it's a requirement. I love writing. I recently started a zine called Weirdo Brigade, where we express ourselves through words, drawings, and photographs. We are currently working on the second issue. Aside from writing I also love reading and watching re-runs of my favorite shows. I also love going to Karaoke bars to sing my lungs out. I truly love anything hat is creative, I love when people express themselves creatively. I don't have a long term goal, but for now my goal is to graduate from Brooklyn College.
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