Collage Reflection - Personal Statement Example

I raise my hands, bow my head I’m finding more and more truth in the words written in red They tell me that there’s more to life than just what I can see Oh I believe Will You Join the Dance? Do you think, at your age, it is right? Up above the world you fly. Dreaming as the days go by. Never, Never, Never Give Up! Who are you, aged man? I said And how is it you live? And his answer trickled through my head Like water through a sieve You can really have no notion how delightful it will be The future may be made up of many factors, but where it truly lies is in the hearts and minds of men. Your dedication should not be confined for your own gain, but unleashes your passion for your beloved country as well as for the integrity and humanity of mankind. You know what comes next, of course. You know I’m writing this at my desk, on a Thursday, and day after tomorrow I’ll put on bib overalls, the neighbors thinking what an affectation, and pull weeds for the composter, and dig a place for a late row of greens, most of them going to seed instead of in the pot, and tell myself what the hell, I just want to dig the dirt and watch the stuff grow, and educated fool at last. Each person must live their life as a model for others. Mazen Al-Abdulaljabbar Elizabeth Saur English 101 April 17, 2013 Collage Reflection Words can truly change our life. They impact our purpose, give wings to our dreams, and often define who we are. There are many reasons that I chose the words in my collage above. They reflect who I am as a person. They define who I am as a husband, a businessman, and a loyal citizen. I am reminded of the words, “Now is a good time to try something new. A refreshing change is in your future” (Wisdom Quotes). This phrase epitomizes my choice of texts in the collage. Now is the time for me to reflect on my future, by understanding my current identity and my understanding of my place in this world. With that in mind, I also chose a simple quote “All on a summer day” (Carroll 1992) to reflect the stage of life I am in now. It is in on orange and turned sideways to indicate that life is a bit chaotic and unsure at the moment as I continue to get a handle of what I will be doing in the future. Uncertainty, however, can be good and productive, and is all part of a day in this season of life. I chose this mixture of quotes, wise sayings, songs, poems, and book excerpts to symbolize who I am as a person. My true identity has been shaped by my childhood experiences, and my goals and dreams that I am still living out. Ever since I can remember, my fondest dream and goal in life has been to attend college. Early on I realized how much of a struggle it would be to gain entry into a top university in the United States, but that did not derail my efforts. In the words of Winston Churchill, “Never, never, never give up” (Never Give Up Quotes). This quote is in my collage because it defines my struggle to keep going and my desire to push through any obstacle that my come my way. My passion is finance. I want to be a successful leader in business so that I can help mentor others and inspire to them succeed as well. I have a passion and drive in me to do this that will not go away. The quote by Li Shing that begins “The future may be made up of many factors, but where it truly lies is in the hearts and minds of men” certainly epitomizes my belief in this area (Passion Quotes). My dedication is truly not for my own gain, but is based on a love for people and my country. The reason I chose to put this particular quote in red in because it symbolizes passion. Passion is a burning desire to do something. It is a goal and dream that I cannot rest from until it is realized. In addition, this passion was instilled in me from an early age. The quote ‘Will you join the dance?” (Carroll 1992) reflects my childhood. From an early age, I have desired to do something more with my life and I did dream about this as the days went by. I want to a positive force for change in whatever I do, so I certainly do intend to join the dance. The text in my collage is purposely arranged by font and color. Some items are italicized and others are in color. This organization distinguishes each quote as a particular area of my life that is important to me. The second to last quote is staggered somewhat to further indicate the uncertainty of life, but is in blue to signify that my dreams are alive and moving forward. The quote by Alice in Wonderland indicating that I have no notion how wonderful it can be is in green, because that color symbolizes growth, or new birth (Carroll 1992). The more I learn, both in school and in life, the more I grow as an individual. As this happens, I continue to be amazed at how wonderful life truly is. My ultimate aspiration after earning my degree is to become a successful executive in the banking sector. As I do this, I can focus on economic issues and helping my country progress by providing new ideas, services, and products. I can only envision how wonderful this will be once I get started, which is why that particular quote from Alice in Wonderland has impacted my thought process. Much of text in my collage is inspirational and sparks creativity. As a businessman, I want to push the envelope. I want to innovate. I never want to simply accept the status quo. As much as I may desire to remain traditional in my approach, there is a time for me to get out in front and be a leader. At other times, I need to accept the role of follower. Consider the poem by James Autry. There are times when I need to get out there and actively cultivate people, and there are times when I need to sit back and watch the fruits of my effort grow right in front of me (Autry 1991). Blue symbolizes inspiration. In addition, I put this text last in my collage because it summarizes everything else. Sometimes in life, I need to sit back and reflect on my goals and dreams, realize them, and then watch everything around me cause my life to grow and mature in small increments. To be successful in business, and in life, I must take responsibility for my actions. While it is important to make money, it is equally important to help others around me to achieve their goals, while at the same time realizing my own dreams and ambitions in life. I put a quote in bold orange and a different font in my collage to symbolize my belief that business and life takes work. We must dare to be different. We must, as I said before, be willing to push the envelope and to try new stages in our life. I have expressed that with my life to this point. Leaving my home country to study in America has not been easy, but it has helped me to grow in countless ways. I continue to feel fortunate that I am living out my educational dreams and I must work hard to not waste this valuable opportunity. While I am not American, I read a quote recently by the great Civil Rights leader Rosa Parks: “Each person must life their life as a model for others” (Wisdom Quotes). This particular quote is first in my collage and is in green because I believe strongly in its message. My life must have some meaning to it. I must develop my own purpose and then live my life in front of others as a model of how a responsible citizen should live. This saying is a reminder that no matter who we are, or where we are, or where we come from, we can aspire to be something better. We can motivate others to do the same. With that, I will end this tour of my collage. I hope that my reflections on the various texts in my collage have inspired and motivated you as well. Works Cited Autry, James. A. Love and Profit: The Art of Caring Leadership. New York: Morrow, 1991. Pring. Carroll, Lewis. Alice in Wonderland: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-glass. Chicago, IL: J.G. Ferguson Pub., 1992. Print. “Never Give Up Quotes.” Motivational Well Being.com RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. “Quotes on Passion.” Passion Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web 14 Apr. 2013. “Song Lyrics.” E-Lyrics.net. Np., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. “Wisdom Quotes.” Life Quotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2013. Brainstorming - Collage Writing Assignment What is important to me in life? Businessman Husband Multi-cultural identity Dreams Vision Passion Possible Quotes/People That Describe My Life Numerous quotes from Alice in Wonderland = Dreams and vision = daring to be different Discovery and self-reflection Winston Churchill = Never Give Up speech that describes what I do what I hit a wall or barrier to my success Rosa Parks = she was daring to stand up to injustice = a model for my own life that I hope to live up to Passion quotes - Li Shing - describe how here quote signifies that people of all cultures should look forward to the future and strive to make a difference in the world. Different Colors Blue - new life and hope for the future Green - periods of growth in my life Black - normalcy and please in the small things Reflection Mention each quote and explain its relevance in my life. Talk about the design of each quote on the collage and the color used for each. Make sure to mention (cite) each quote as it is discussed. Use a chronological progression to discuss what is important in my life to this point, and my hopes for the future. Write in more of a narrative style - kind of like a conversation with a friend where I am talking about different sayings that seem to reflect my own life in their words. Read More