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| Laura Clement | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sept. 27, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Final Personal Essay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lessons in Life | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In the past eighteen years of my life, I've learned many different lessons. Some of them were good; some were learned the hard way. Some were learned in school while other lessons were learned outside the classroom. I learned some of them easier and more quickly than others.� But not all of them are lessons like those algebraic formulas or vocabulary word that teachers quiz you on. These are important lessons that I'll carry with me the rest of my life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� I've learned that kindness can work wonders for you. Something as small as a smile or a good word can make big difference in someone's day or possibly in his or her life. When my friend and I went out to eat, I noticed that he was in a horrible mood. I just smiled and it caused him to relax and enjoy the evening we had planned together. Each of us had a wonderful time full of smiles and laughter, all because I smiled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� I've learned that if you follow the crowd, you will ultimately loose sight of who you are. I remember when I was younger. I strived to be part of the "in" crowd, but because of my tall, lanky build, most of the clothes could never fit me. I had to deal with T-shirts and jeans. Once in high school, I realized that the friends I had to begin with liked me for whom I was, not my material possessions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� I've learned that it doesn't matter if people give me looks because of what I wear or look like. If people don't take time to know whom I am inside, and they just pass judgment on what they see. I don't dress to impress anyone; I dress to please myself. Unfortunately, I have dated many men that wanted me just for my outer appearance. They never wanted to get to know me; they just wanted to be with me because I was pretty in their eyes. The same happened with some of my friends. I believe that if they are not willing to take the time and get to know me, they are not worth it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Everyone on earth is an individual and is given different interests and gifts for a reason. I take pride in the fact that out of more than six billion people, there is no one exactly like me. No one can sing or dance or love the way I do. I'm not ashamed of the fact that I love to sing. I'm thankful I can. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� I've learned that there is no point in comparing myself to other people because there will always be people both better and worse off than I am. I can't change who I am, and I wouldn't even if I was given a chance to do so. I know that many of my friends by what magazines and society says are "in." The View's of society will not affect what I believe or how I see myself because I can make up my own mind and I can make the decision between right and wrong by myself. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� I've learned that I'll never do anything that harms my body for the sake of boredom or entertainment. There's no positive effect of what smoking, drinking alcohol, or doing drugs can have on my life. Many fellow classmates have tried to convince me otherwise, but they have never given a good enough reason. I figure my imagination is good enough that I don't need those things with out poisoning myself just to forget about them temporarily. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� I've learned to enjoy life and appreciate the things I have. Not everything in life goes the way you want it to. Horrible things happen to everyone. In my life I have to deal with such things as my mothers' illness to my friends fatal car accident yet I know I� just have to learn from it and keep moving on. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I've learned that I don't know everything there is to know, and I never will. But as long as I live, I'll keep learning new things through new experiences. I know I will learn more now that I am in college, not just in the classroom, but outside as well, and I look forward to it all with an open mind and an open heart. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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