Personal History
Thesis
This paper is on the topic of personal life history reflection paper. This paper is divided into five sections that are namely; birth and infancy, elementary school, junior school, high school and university. I will cover this paper will memories from my different parts of my life and I will include personal and emotional experiences that I have gone through from the day I can remember.
Introduction
Growing up in capital city of China, Beijing I always wanted to come to United States for my University education. Looking back at my early life in Beijing where my family used to emphasize on my education an addition to ensuring that I learn good values and develop a strong personality. I can easily say that my mother is heavily responsible for teaching me many facets of life and develop discipline and ethics that she possessed. Personally, I am a very happy person and love to bring cheer to my friend’s lives. Due to my mother’s teaching I have learned to care about other people’s feelings and I never try to hurt anyone intentionally. Coming to Washington State University is one of the highlight of my life and I love every moment in the capital of United States. During my high school days I used to have a lot of burden on my academic front as studies in China is not an easy cup of tea. This grounding given by my schools and teachers has helped me to reach great height in my education and managed to bring to Washington State University. This being my first year in University I am still learning the culture and habits of students around me and I am learning the American way of life.
I was born in the Beijing the capital city of China and grew up in a family where discipline and values were highly emphasized on in matters of life. I can’t recall much from these days but I do remember that my parents were very protective and loving and childhood was full of gifts and toys. I also remember the smell of Chinese food that my mother prepared everyday for us especially congee, buns and dumplings. I used to love eating congee [rice porridge] and carrot ginger soup when at dinner and my mother used to have her special recipe. I remember visiting the park nearby our house, it used to have almost everything from the backward power walkers to old men flying kite. I used to love the park-sides that used to take entertainment to the next level. Group of retired adults used to gather in that park and there was a mid-afternoon karaoke that belted out popular Chinese tunes. I can recall one time my grandfather came to visit us and he started to swish his hips to make the karaoke very interesting for me. I remember my family used to take me to Gulou and the Houhai Lake and used to tell me everyone coming to Beijing should come and visit these places. Another fond memory from childhood is visiting my grandparents in the city of Shanghai.
We used to visit restaurants every weekend when I was young as my parents were both foodies and I have managed to inherit their interest. I remember the amazing apocalyptic yellowish skies that used to form just prior to a storm over the Shanghai sky. Also, the sudden summer rains used to be mystical and making the sky turn colour of maize before any rain. This was my early life that may cheers and moments that I can still recall after many years and might end up recalling all my life. To summarize my early years, I would like to say that this was the time I learned the most from life and family. I was taught many things and I can say that everyone around me, from my parents to my grandparents, to my relatives taught me values that I still believe in sternly.
Elementary school
Schooling was the part of life that brought discipline to my life as my teacher helped me reinforce the values and teachings of my parents. I can remember walking to school as it was only 15 minutes away from my home and some friends used to accompany me. I studied in International school and there were many foreign students who used to attend. This was the time when people started to come to China as it started to open its gates for people all over the world. It was in elementary school that I first started to learn English language. In my first grade I used to attend 2 classes every week especially to learn the basics of English. My parents made me believe that English is the language of world and I should master it for better future. My teacher also used to emphasize on learning the language as they believed that English the language everyone should learn. They believed that it English is the global language and it will help us develop as individuals and help in our future endeavours.
For my parents education was seen as the key for future success in highly competitive society. Learning used to be fun in elementary school and I made many friends there who are still part of my social circle. I used to excellent student in during my Elementary schooling days and usually used to score the highest in my class. I still have many awards I won in Elementary school at my home in Beijing; my parents consider it as their treasure. Elementary schooling ended up being the part of my life that helped me develop as a person and face the music in my junior school days. To summarize, Elementary schooling was probably the easiest phase of my life as studies used to be easier, helped me develop my personality and introduced me to the language that I have grown to be very fond of in English.
Junior School
Junior school was the time when studies started getting serious especially with the strict nature of schooling in Beijing. I remember I used to reach school and hand in my home work. I used to be the class leader so it was part of my role to collect homework from all my classmates and submit to the class teacher. In the morning I used to have Chinese classes in addition to classes on Chinese history and English language. Also, chatting and enjoying with my friends during the recess brake used to be daily routine and now it is a fond memory. Our teachers used to be strict disciplinarians and we were asked to be highly focused on our exams. Junior school was the time when studies were the most important aspect of education and we were asked to give priority to our classes over other activities like sports, music and other extra-curricular activities. I always used to excel in sports and Badminton was always my game, I won many tournaments in school and state-level.
As I can recall Junior school was the first time I stayed back after my classes to get help from my teachers on my homework. Every evening after school I used to go for music lessons and I loved playing my Chello. On the way to home I used to chat with my friends and eat snacks. This was clearly one of the most favourite part of my day which mostly constituted of studies and competing my homework assignments. I also recall paying basketball with my father in our complex backyard everyday that taught me about staying fit and healthy by playing use of sports. Dinners mostly comprised of my family sitting together and eating fried meat, rice, beef or pork and green vegetables. My mother used to be an officer and she herself was an exceptional student. She has set an example for me and the life I wanted to live when I grew up. Every day I used to spend around 2-3 hours to complete my homework and preparing for semester exams was part of my plans. Junior school days toughened me up and made me realize the importance of education and friends in my life. These friends form the support system and are greatly helpful in every facet of life. To summarize, junior school was a time for education and discipline for me, it gave my life shape and structure on which I developed my principles and future plans.
My High school days were the time when I started to plan my future and my parents helps me formulate a strategy that has helped me to WSU. During High school I used to have a lot of academic burden as life was full of assignments, examinations, projects and homework that stretched my day. Getting good grades came to the forefront as my teachers and parents believed that I had a bright future ahead. My mother used to be very strict in this phase of life as she expected nothing but the best from me academically. She became my inspiration and helped me whenever I needed someone to show me the way ahead. High school days were the best time of my life as I managed to express myself and dream for further education in United States. My parents were fully supportive and they pushed me to my limits to leave no stone unturned.
Academics have been the most important part of my life and similar to junior school my life in high school ended up being dominated by education. This part of life was a combination of a army boot camp and monastery. There were times when I used to attend 11 classes every school day of my semester. My schedule was so tight that I used to rise before dawn and always got tired by the time I used hit my bed at 11. If this schedule was not enough, we were encouraged to take extra time and attend extra classes on Sundays to help us revise our courses. High school days were the toughest part of my education and made me realize the importance of time management. There were times when I used take my books with me to the toilet and study for the exam next day. High school taught me, how to be frugal with my time and schedule. To summarize, High School days were tough but it made me stronger and helped me reach my target of pursuing my education at WSU.
For me my University life didn’t start when I reached at my WSU dorm room, it started a year before in the graduation year of my high school. It was a yearlong plan for applying to colleges and selecting once I got my options. Once I reached WSU I knew as soon as entered college campus that I have made it and realized my childhood and parent’s dream for the best education. Although it is still my first year at the University I can say that all the effort was worth it. I can already feel that my parents have played a major role in ensuring I learn their down to earth values and positive attitude towards life. Attending classes at WSU campus is very different from my classes back home. Technology plays an important role in education and I am learning to adapt to this new lifestyle and country. Coming here has made me realize that how cultures and people are different from each other and making relationships and friends is always beneficial.
