At the age of 22, I have crossed paths with and observed extraordinary humans. I have been exposed to different ways of life. I have also challenged myself to step out of my own comfort zones. What these experiences have shown me is that in order to have meaningful relationships with others, to get the full experience of life and what it offers, I have to be able to navigate through my own trials and tribulations. I must be able to understand myself before I can understand others. Therefore, I see myself as a seeker in pursuit of the best version of myself. I use the term “seeker” because the search is on-going and will never be complete. I work to achieve this goal by practicing mindfulness and daily self-reflection, by changing my perception of challenges and viewing them as opportunities, and by removing anything negative that enters my life directly or indirectly.

These things are important to me because I want to be the best that I can be for others and I do not want to miss out on life. Being mindful and practicing self-reflections allow me to live in the present moment. It raises my awareness of things that I like and dislike, which in-turn allow me to decide what action to take. Further, my self-awareness and mindfulness of others allows me to maintain healthy relationships with those that I interact with daily.

I choose to change my negative perception of challenges because I firmly believe that challenges bring on lessons and opportunities. Success of any kind can only be achieved through this realization. While I have unconsciously been on this journey my entire life, it has only been since 2015 that I have taken affirmative action to seek the best version of myself. By changing my outlook on challenges, I have reaped the benefits of this mindset in both small and large ways. From feeling more grounded in life and having better relationships with others to entering Belmont and receiving academic awards.

Mindfulness, self-reflection, and a change in perception have given me the strength to steer away from anything that could negatively affect my life. Learning when to say “no” is an important lesson in life. It allows me to separate myself from things that I do not want to be associated with it protects me from harming myself, and it reassures me I have the power to control my actions. Without these daily practices, I would not be who I am today.
I have built my life around seeking the best version of myself so that I could enjoy life and the individuals that I interact with daily. These things describe who I am and why I do what I do. It is for myself but also for others. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Luke 6:31).