When I took time to reflect on my high school days, I couldn't help but admire the mind-blowing abilities of self-improvement in shaping the person I am today. This path that I have tackled upon has been overflowing with many challenges, setbacks, and subjections, Overall shaping me into a determined young man willing to take on the challenges of the near future.
Within my early educational years, I coasted along, fulfilled with ordinary traits. I had settled into a comfortable state of being that overall limited me from the true potential that I possessed. However, it was during an oppressive moment of self-reflection that I realized the significance of my situation. I craved something more, a life driven by intent and ambition rather than pleasure. It was my early sophomore year at my school of Olmsted Falls High School that I realized I was far from the person I sought to be.
My journey to self-improve began with a single step, the decision to question myself in everyday aspects of life. I found subjects that grabbed my interest, and would begin to welcome the distress of talking to strangers; something the old me would never think to do. I was no longer satisfied with simply fulfilling requirements, I pursued knowledge, surfing the internet for ways to seek growth in and out of the classroom.
I started realizing I needed to be a well-rounded individual, and that I needed to develop myself and overall strengthen my interpersonal abilities. Whether that was sticking to a constant workout plan, or attending and volunteering in various church activities, I was discovering the power of hard work, service, and compassion. Whether it was helping my Meemaw bring in the groceries, or mowing the neighbor's lawn because they were sick, these experiences would teach me the importance of empathy and implanted within me a sense of authority to help others, overall advancing my inner self.
Another aspect of self-improvement I pursued was the role models I played in my family, church camps, and marching band leader. Taking on the responsibility of my younger brothers, active growing children of God, and my peers taught me crucial lessons in discipline, teamwork, and the ability to persist. Over the years, I’ve learned to inspire and drive others, to guide them through whatever it is they need. It could be my brother's homework, a child's bruise on his knee, or my peers having a hard time understanding something. I would be there for them to foster this sense of agreement between myself and others. This role has pushed me to strive for the best version of myself, ensuring that the image of myself in others' heads is a positive perception.
The process of self-improvement required persistence. Those times of failure are the times when I truly found where I excelled. Learning to view setbacks as moments to grow, and not let them define who I am as a human. Rather, I embrace every moment of distress as a chance to clarify my approach and reassess my goals. Through the use of this mindset, I have transformed my failures into stepping stones toward success.
Self-improvement has also allowed me to confront my weaknesses directly. Recognizing my tendency to procrastinate, I implemented several time management strategies and developed discipline to ensure that my time was being used for productivity. These discipline habits have allowed me to turn my flaws into new possibilities. Overall, staying consistent with personal growth and learning discipline has helped me improve my strengths and overcome weaknesses.
As I take on this next chapter in my life, I am beyond grateful for the journey of self-improvement that has shaped me into the determined young man that I am today. It has allowed me to see what I am capable of, and gives me a desire for knowledge, and a commitment to continued growth as a man in the future.
