Becoming Who You Are

Parker Palmer writes about the theme of "becoming who you are". Parker says, "The idea that vocation, or calling, comes from a voice external to ourselves. Vocation comes from a voice 'in here' calling me to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original self-hood given me at birth by God." Palmer says the deepest vocational questions are, "Who am I? What is my nature?" He says that our deepest calling is to grow into our own authentic self-hood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to be.

In today's society, we feel that we must pretend to be someone we are not in order to fit in. Instead, we should follow the voice inside our head calling us toward our vocation and the person we were born to be. I agree with what Palmer says about our deepest calling is growing in our own self-hood, whether or not it conforms to who we ought to be. Today, most people are worried about how much money they need to make, the most prestigious college they should attend, the nicest car to drive, or the biggest house they can live in. These desire take us away from following our vocation and discovering who we truly are. I think success is only possible if you are willing to accept yourself for who you truly are and for what you are capable of achieving. I fully agree with Parker Palmer's assertions about vocation.

Mission Statement

I will always be accepting of all people I encounter throughout my lifetime. I will always accept myself for the unique person God made me and try not to compare myself to others or pretend to be someone I'm not. I want to keep a strong faith as I grow older and continue to move closer to God. I want to make other people happy. I will continue to stay motivated academically and athletically. I will always keep a strong bond with my family and close friends. I will never give up on the people I love or the things that I am passionate about. I will always keep a strong work ethic. I want to find a profession that I love and that will make me truly happy. Overall, happiness is the biggest necessity I need in my life in order to fulfill my mission
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Sources of My Identity

Three specific factors that have shaped my identity are my family, my decision to attend the Mount, and athletics.

I have a small immediate family including my mom, dad, and older brother, Robert. My parents support me in anything I am passionate about. They are also understanding and have always been there for me. My brother taught me how to play basketball when I was young, which is now a major part of my life today. He also supports me with basketball today and attends most of my Mount or AAU games. My parents have established a sense of confidence in me with their compliments of me as a player and an individual. I would not be where I am today without the support of my parents and brother.

My decision to attend the Mount has shaped my identity because I have learned more about myself and what I am capable of. The Mount has taught me to strive to reach my fullest potential academically. I have also gained lifelong friendships and have learned how important each of these friendships are and how they impact my life. Knowing I will get to see my friends everyday makes the Mount experience that much more enjoyable. My work ethic has also excelled since I have entered the Mount, and I know this will help me as I venture to college and into the real world. Going on Unitas retreat has also helped me realize how each Mount student has their own story and how comfortable I feel with each student after this amazing experience.

Lastly, athletics have shaped me into the person I am today. My three sports include: cross country, basketball, and track and field. I have been playing basketball ever since I was 6 years old. I started running in 6th grade but did not fully dedicate myself to it until high school. Cross country and track have taught me the importance of perseverance and motivation. It can be difficult to run long distances but self-motivation to beat a previous time helps me through each race. My favorite sport, basketball, is something that I have been passionate about my whole life. I play for Mount and for an AAU team called Fencor. As a captain on my AAU team and on the Mount, I have learned the importance of leadership and will carry this quality with me into my future journey. I have chosen to play basketball at the college level at Ursinus College because it has greatly impacted me throughout my life.