Nicole Varghese, 11/12/20, PD 8, Day C

 Nicole Varghese

Period 8

November 12, 2020

Day C

Goal Setting & Growth

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

At this point in my life, I am focused on discovery. I refrain from saying self-discovery due to that fact that it limits the boundaries of what there is to be discovered. Not only do I want to discover myself but also the world around me. I have always been a very inquisitive and perceptive person. I enjoy philosophical discussions and making connections with other people because this is how I like to gain more knowledge and insight about life. I would say that I am at a crossroad in life where my future is determined by the actions that I will take with where I want to go to college and what I want to major in. There is a lot to consider and make sense of, but the essence of it all comes from understanding myself. This concept feels intangible and intimidating but I would like to continue working towards this goal of discovery. There are a lot of questions that I ask myself: Who am I? What is my purpose? What do I want in life? Why do I want it? Who do I love? What makes me happy? What interests me? How will I make a difference? I think it’s important for me to come to terms with myself and really assess what I want in life. I have come to realize that my goals, dreams, aspirations, passions, and experiences are all what sets me apart from others and allows me to understand how I fit in this world. 

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

There is no set way for discovery which makes it all the more challenging for me to achieve my goal. However, I think taking risks and being more open to different aspects of life is what I have been doing. I now realize that this goal was something that was instilled in me in the beginning of this summer. I hadn’t realized that discovery was in the back of my mind but I do now since looking back, I realize that this summer really changed me. Quarantining and being stuck at home made me crave social interaction and seek the things in life that I took for granted. I wanted to travel and just be able to hug and converse with the people I loved. I met a lot of new people in my neighborhood and this allowed me to make connections with each of them and their stories. Taking risks is something that I realized that I want to do more. I have always loved adventures and experiencing new things because they make me feel free. I demonstrate resilience by never giving up on what I want in my life. This whole year I faced challenges with my family, culture, religion, hearing impairment and experiences like love, heartbreak, hope and anger. Regardless of the challenges, I know that through the ups and downs of life, I will still venture forth and continue my journey of discovery. 

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

The world is dynamic and complex and especially right now, there is so much division and chaos. Humanity as a whole is experiencing some of the most unusual historical times which will certainly be recorded in the history books. The current state of the world makes me feel like it is even more important to pursue my goal of discovery. Being able to formulate my own opinions and understand my values in this world is a crucial part of my growth as a person. I realize that the world plays a huge role in the development of a person and so it is definite that it will affect me and my dreams. Due to this, it is very possible that the person I am today will not be the same person I will be in the future. I also am interested in being able to understand different people, their circumstances, their beliefs, and hopes. Without this capacity to be open minded and sympathetic, I think that we are doomed because it takes away a chance at unity and understanding. In my own life this very year, there have been a lot of changes and I intend to use these changes to advance my experiences and learn from them. Therefore, the world in its current situation, inspires me to take action and actively discover myself as well as discover the world and what life offers for me.