Senior Capstone Behavior-Based Question #20: How have you changed since you started college?
Since coming to college, I have learned more about the world, about other people, and about myself. My hometown of Carmel, Indiana is a suburb of Indianapolis that is not unlike Brentwood in terms of demographics and reputation. Although I had grown up in and around the city, I had no concept of what it was like to live IN the city. I wasn’t used to being afraid to walk alone at night or crossing traffic lights. I didn’t understand the concept of someone’s family not being able to afford college; all of my friends’ parents could. I have since learned that I have been very fortunate to have parents who could give me everything I needed and some things I wanted; I’ve also learned that the real world is an unforgiving place for some people, that life is not fair, and that I must work hard if I want something.
My perception of people has also changed. I used to view people as static entities that were defined by their current situation; I saw a snapshot rather than a story. However as I’ve watched my own story being written I have begun to view the lives of others as marks on a timeline. For example, as a child and even a teenager, grown-ups were grown-ups, parents were parents, and teachers were teachers. I can now see that other people are just living their story; my parents were once in college, they once had their groups of friends, they once were a young couple, and they once looked ahead in anticipation of what life would bring them, just as I do now. We are all human beings walking along the timeline of life, each at a different point on that line.
Finally, I have learned a great deal about myself through my college experience. I came to Belmont knowing only one person from my hometown. What I wanted most was a fresh start, somewhere where I could redefine myself and leave behind some of the stupid things I did in high school. I was self-conscious, sensitive, and still horribly bitter and hurt from a huge fight with one of my best friends senior year. It’s taken some hard falls and painful lessons, but I’ve found that no matter how hard we try to change what people see on the outside, we will always be the same person in our core. The task of growing up is to find what we like about ourselves, to find what we can change, to find a way to relate that part to other people.
I’ve discovered a few things during my time at Belmont:
When you doubt yourself, you give someone else reason to doubt you.
Always be willing to change for the better.
And most importantly, never waste time being angry with someone you care about.
