New Year's Post.
December 31st, 2008 § 2 Comments
New Year’s is a holiday I find particularly enjoyable since it marks the ending point to nothing in particular, cause honestly, the fact that my calendar will say ‘2009’ instead of ‘2008’ doesn’t do much for me. However, this change gives me an opportunity to reflect about the past year, a time frame that is long enough for me to mess up many many times and also long enough for me to make significant changes in my life. For this reason, I want to do some reflection about this past year before celebrating its end and welcoming a new year.
This past year was marked with many challenges and transformations both in my personal and academic life. During this time some friendships have grown stronger, others have weakened, and a few have remained strong all along. I’ve made many decisions that have changed my current situation and have influenced my perspective on things. I’ve grown as a person more than ever before. Also, academically I’ve had some good and some very challenging moments. I re-evaluated my career choice, and not long ago decided to pursue a business career.
I’m going to answer some of the questions I found online to reflect about this past year. [http://blogec.typepad.com/essential_connections/2005/12/end_of_year_ref.html]
1- What happened this year that I want to record?
Significant things that happened this year and I want to remember [both good and bad] include:
- My mom joined Facebook.
- I had my worst academic term so far.
- I became very close friends with my 金 – definitely one of the most significant things that happened to me this year.
- I became an assistant instructor in taekwondo and got my second black stripe.
- I became historian for the Sport Taekwondo Club.
- I watched the Olympics with interest for the first time.
- I moved off-campus.
- I dropped a class for the first time.
- I closely followed the elections for the first time.
2- Where did I meet the targets I set for myself and where did I fall short?
I fell short academically. Although in the fall term I performed much better than ever before, it doesn’t really help as much because of the spring term.I think there is nothing else I felt particularly bad about. I had my ups and downs with other aspects of my life (friendships, family relationships, etc.) but nothing terrible. I am very happy with what I’ve accomplished.
3- What behaviors helped me to succeed? What behaviors caused me to fail?
This is a very difficult question to answer. I don’t know particularly where I went right or wrong, but what I do know is that a good attitude and showing respect to others were two things that have helped my relationships immensely. Thinking about some of the things I wish hadn’t happened I realize that most of them could have been avoided by thinking about what’s really important to me, what I want in the long run, and reflect how current behavior is helping/hurting my chances to achieve what I want.
4- What did I learn?
I learned that I love my family immensely and value my friends much more than they realize. I learned that although some of the things that happen to me are not great, everything that has happened to me has contributed to who I am and where I am right now. I have no regrets.
5- What do I want for the coming year?
a. What do I want to start doing?
i. I want to focus on the good qualities of the people around me and to bring energy and happiness to others. I want to be a good influence in other people’s lives. I want to be more humble, friendly and approachable.
b. What do I want to stop doing?
i. I want to stop worrying about what others think about me. This is particularly difficult when ‘others’ refers to people I esteem very much.
c. What do I want to achieve?
i. I want to be admitted to HBS’s 2+2 program. Difficult goal but I’ll give it my best shot.
ii. Get my black belt in taekwondo.
d. Happen?
i. I want to go to Japan for the first time and explore such an interesting, rich and different culture.
e. For me?
i. Have my friends around me.
f. For those around me?
i. Success and happiness.
6- Why are those things important to me? What difference will they make in my life?
All of them are things that would allow me, in one way or the other, to have more fulfilling and genuine relationships with other people and to reach my goals.
7- What decisions do I need to make?
There are decisions to be made every day.
8- What goals am I setting for myself?
Either get into HBS’s 2+2 program or find a job that would allow me to prepare for when I have to re-apply to an MBA program. Other than that I want to keep my friendships healthy and alive and keep do my best in Taekwondo.
That’s all I have to say for now. Happy New Year!
-Omar
Hi Omar,I used to do research at MIT but I am back over in the UK. Anyway, I thought you might appreciate looking at this book when it comes out in April… I 'm promoting it in Boston!http://brucemhood.wordpress.com/about-supersense/No matter whether you are a believer or a skeptic, it has something really important to say from the world of child development about the origins of adult belief.Ok.. a shameless plug to promote the book but these are hard times!BestBruce
Hi Omar,I used to do research at MIT but I am back over in the UK. Anyway, I thought you might appreciate looking at this book when it comes out in April… I 'm promoting it in Boston!http://brucemhood.wordpress.com/about-supersense/No matter whether you are a believer or a skeptic, it has something really important to say from the world of child development about the origins of adult belief.Ok.. a shameless plug to promote the book but these are hard times!BestBruce