The Role of Watershed Moments - Essay Example

Watershed Moment Paper al Affiliation The current essay presented a personal experience which was considered a watershed moment due to the events that eventually changed one’s outlook in life. What initially started as a simple walk home towards an easygoing and carefree life; the experiences and challenges encountered by a cousin, Khaled, provided the instrumental turning point that ultimately changed the direction of one’s life towards a greener and more productive path. One realized that through the lessons learned by other people who have influenced our lives, we get to reflect and decide to select from alternatives that would change our lives completely. Watershed Moment Paper One could consider opting to pursue higher education as a watershed moment in one’s life. As one was made aware, watershed moment means “a critical turning point. A moment in time where everything changes. A point in time when nothing after will ever be the same as before” (Meaning - A watershed moment, 2013, par. 5). It is a crucial turning point in terms of one’s assuming a more mature and responsible stance in outlook and perspective. Prior to this decision, one had previously maintained a generally happy-go-lucky attitude. One previously believed that things happen naturally and what comes in just a matter of fate and destiny. The old perception was that one did not have to strive hard enough since one’s family, educational institutions, and societal organizations have provided comprehensive support that would ensure that each individual would be appropriately directed and guided towards the right path of life – without having to exert extra effort or define explicit personal or professional goals. At an ordinary week-end, one remembers walking home from a gig with friends in the outskirts of town. It was a spectacular afternoon, where the sun was on the verge of slowly losing its radiance, but just holding back, prior to giving in to the moon’s reign. There was this man, whose familiar face, one knew, had been met in some occasion somewhere. He was walking the opposite direction from me, but following the same route. He must have come from the same aisle that goes to my home. There were just about five homes in the block. Ours was at the forefront. One’s mind lingers back to the man, dressed in old tattered clothes; his face bleak and remorse – or maybe, too tired to reveal any positive expression. As one entered through the backdoor, as one normally does, the kitchen table was still laden with cups of previously filled coffee. Mother must have had a guest. Several pieces of awamat, or crisp doughnut balls (Fayed, 2013), still remained on the serving plate and one immediately sat to get one’s share. Mother appeared from the living room and was actually glad to see me. She said that one just missed my old uncle’s son, Khaled. She reminded me of Uncle Rakan, actually a second cousin of hers, who had a son, Khaled, just four years older than me. Khaled told her that Uncle Rakan passed away about five years ago when he was just about to graduate from high school. Since it was Uncle Rahan who was the breadwinner in their family, his demise left their family with no resources to assist all siblings in pursuing higher education. Their mother, Aunt Sarah, died earlier, while they were just little kids. As such, despite all siblings’ wanting to go to college and complete a degree, all had to find employment to make ends meet. Since Khaled was the eldest, he had to take menial work, assuming the role of a supportive breadwinner. Since he was barely out of high school, the jobs that were available entailed physical labor: working as an apprentice in construction, trying to work in farms, carrying heavy load in ports, among others. Due to lack of sleep and food, his health has apparently significantly degraded and he eventually became more recluse, depressed, bitter, and pessimistic. It was really a very unfortunate story. One suddenly remembered the man that one met along the way and described to mother the clothes that the man wore. She confirmed that it was indeed Khaled. She said he came to find out if there is a chance that some people within the neighborhood would need a hand at a construction of something, so that he could have some income to earn. Mother allegedly told him that she knew of some people who might help him and she gave Khaled the address. That night, as one was lying in bed trying to sleep, one could not take one’s mind off Khaled. His image of loneliness was just troubling; it is as if he carries a very heavy load on his shoulders and that his life would have been different had he been able to pursue his dream. One remembered him saying before that he actually wanted to become a physician. But the turn of events precluded him from fulfilling this goal. At that instant, one reflected what really is one’s personal and professional goal in life? There is some interest in computers, but that really was not evaluated in greater depth and detail. Or one could see oneself working in banks and financial institutions as an office manager or supervisor; particularly heading a department tasked in handling functions of recruitment, training, or development of personnel. Or maybe, one could work in a health care institution, just like what Khaled originally dreamed of. By working in this environment, one could be an instrumental contributor to the improvement of the well-being of people – in addressing their illnesses; or working in a research facility where new medical discoveries could be made and revolutionize the cure for cancer, for instance, or HIV. As far as reflecting on future profession, it all started with that afternoon walk towards home that week-end. Subsequent talks with one’s parents on personal and professional goals were slowly developed and confirmed. My parents have suggested pursuing higher education in the United States through the international academic exchange program (Institute of International Education, 2010). I later learned that that “the number of students from the Middle East at colleges and universities in the United States increased by 16 percent to a total of 33,797 students in the 2009/10 academic year, according to the Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange” (Institute of International Education (IIE), 2010, par. 1). As a result, it was emphasized that the exchange program was actually instrumental in forging more strengthened ties between the United States and Middle East countries. The same report acknowledged by the IIE President and CEO, Dr. Allan E. Goodman that “educational exchange is a critical component of promoting closer relations and dialogue between the people of the Middle East and the United States. It enables students and future leaders to collaborate across political and cultural borders to address shared global challenges” (Institute of International Education, 2010, par. 6). The progam therefore impacts the greater American culture in terms of providing opportunities for professional growth and development for Middle Eastern students; and at the same time, gaining shared knowledge through the rich culture and traditions learned from us. One was glad that current resources could support higher education. Other support systems such as parents’ approval, conformity to what one intends to pursue, and educational access, to name a few, were all in place. The commitment, determination, perseverance, and diligence to complete an intended degree course was finally confirmed. One realized that maybe, if similar tragic events happened in one’s life, similar to Khaled’s, one would be more resilient and would have to iron out strategies that could still assist in achieving what one has dreamed of. It would entail a whole amount of courage, skills and persistency, an unwavering faith, and the recognition that it only really takes an affirmation of personal and professional goals to pursue what one really wants to achieve in life. Of course, the holistic support provided by one’s family is also a crucial factor that assists one in working towards one’s goals. One considers that afternoon walk towards home an epiphany and the watershed moment in one’s life. References Meaning - A watershed moment. (2013, January 4). Retrieved from Ks Learning Diary: http://kslearningdiary.blogspot.com/2013/01/meaning-watershed-moment.html Fayed, S. (2013). Awamat - Crisp Doughnut Balls. Retrieved from About.com Middle Eastern Food: http://mideastfood.about.com/od/dessertssweetspastries/r/awamat.htm Institute of International Education. (2010, December 7). International Academic Exchange between the United States and the Middle East on the Rise. Retrieved from iie.org: http://www.iie.org/en/Who-We-Are/News-and-Events/Press-Center/Press-Releases/2010/2010-12-07-Open-Doors-Middle-East-US-Educational-Exchange Read More