Who Are You?

       Initially, when asked “who am I”, multiple answers come to mind. I am more than just an undergraduate scholar. I am a daughter, older sister, aunt, niece, granddaughter, sorority member, friend and aspiring attorney. I was born on April 29, 1997, in Jacksonville Florida. Currently, I am twenty-six years old and will be receiving my Bachelor’s degree in December of 2023. 

            Moreover, this degree is not just for me. Additionally, I am the oldest of three children and the only girl my parents have. Here’s a little background as to why I say my degree is not just for myself. Although, I was born with a physical condition known as Cerebral Palsy, I have been able to achieve my goals and dreams of attending college. But I have younger brothers who are not able to travel along the same path. My youngest brother has a mental disability, and I lost a brother to gun violence in 2017. Losing my brother along with attending jury duty in 2017 really inspired me to want to go for my dreams of being an attorney. However, I want to go a step further and go to the Supreme Court.

            Additionally, I am growing and learning every day. But I would say that my strengths are problem solving, time management, critical thinking, and analytical skills. I would say that discipline definitely drives my behavior. Accountability would be another personal value that drives my behavior. Because I believe that I am in control of my own actions, so if I make a mistake, then I should be willing to own up to that mistake. I understand that no individual is perfect, so I know that my mistakes will only make me a stronger person in the long run.

            Nevertheless, I have a split personality type. I am an Extraverted Thinker with Introverted Sensing (Guardian Personality) and an Extraverted Thinker with Introverted Intuition (Executive Personality). I care a lot for other individuals, which means I’ll put others before myself majority of the time. However, I’m also a very determined individual. I know how to think externally and logically. I was taught from a young age by my mother to “Be a leader and not a follower”. As I grow older, I finally understand this statement. Ultimately, I want to stand out from the crowd.

            In addition, I would say that I am most proud of myself and my ability to keep going when events or tasks in my life get tough. Whereas most people are ready to give up, I push myself because I know that although I have a physical impairment, that my goals can be achieved whether big or small. By me continuing not to give up, I know that I am being a role model for others who may have the same condition. This is definitely not easy at all. Some days are harder than others, but I remain positive and remember my goals/dreams.

            Hence, in five to ten years, I see myself being a successful attorney in the the legal field. I see myself having my own practice where I can help lawmakers decrease the crime rates or civil issues that citizens encounter each day. Ultimately, in five to ten years I’m hoping that people will understand the phrase of  “No Justice No Peace”. The world needs to change, and I can’t wait to be included in the making of that change. Consequently, I feel as if I have already started just by having an interest in my field of study.

            Thus, I feel like there are various ways that I can grow/ improve as an individual. A few ways that I can grow as an individual would include 1.) Being kind to myself. 2.) Embracing my setbacks, and exploring new activities. I am always evolving and learning new things so I believe that not only will I improve as an individual by implementing these techniques. But they can also help me in my future aspirations. I want to be able to look back and realize how much I have grown throughout the years and appreciate the entire journey along the way.

            Conversely, my future self will be different from my current self because I believe that I will be not only more focused on my path in life, but I will be able to distinguish and discern the behaviors that may trigger certain emotions and behaviors. I believe that I will be able to control my emotions, which will allow me to focus on my goals. I do think that I’ll be able to sympathize with people without allowing them to affect my work in my future profession. Overall, I believe that my future self will be even more determined and passionate about what is ahead, compared to who I currently am. Nevertheless, current events will play a significant role in how my future self handles situations in the personal and professional world.