Human being’s personality Essay

It is said that every human being’s personality is molded by the sum of his or her experiences. Personally, I believe that perhaps, a more accurate statement would be that human beings are molded by what they derive from each of their life’s experiences. Hardships in my Childhood I grew up in circumstances that provide a classical example of disparity between appearance and reality. To the outside world my parent’s marriage appeared to be picture perfect. However, in reality, alcohol abuse by my father and domestic violence between my parents had created an environment within our house that, for me, was both difficult and frightening. My father had a drinking problem, and the encounters between my father and mother often escalated into violence. I spent a great deal of time trying to be a peacemaker and caretaker of my parents. Despite my unfortunate situation, I was always determined to be successful. I knew in my mind that the path to success would prove to be a great challenge for a young black female, who was not mature enough or, had emotionally stable guardians to guide her path. Nonetheless I was determined to achieve the goal, I had in my mind. Early in my childhood, sports became more than just a past time; it became a way of dealing with the hardships of a dysfunctional household. As a student, Physical Education became one of my favorite courses; since it was the only time during the day when I was able to enjoy my childhood without thinking about what was going on in my home life. By the time I was eight, my parents separated. My mother and myself relocated from Connecticut to New York City. This transition was extremely difficult for me. Although my parent’s marriage was any thing but stable, my father had always meant the world to me. Over the next few years my mother was required to make a transition from being a â€Å"stay at home mom†, to being the â€Å"sole provider† of our household. Due to dire finances and the inability to afford childcare, I always had a greater than usual amount of household responsibilities over my shoulders. My social interactions at this time were limited primarily to organized school activities. I developed strong work ethics at an early age by spending my weekends bagging roceries at the neighborhood supermarket. My mother did not want me to work but I loved the feeling of earning my own money, since it gave me a great feeling of independence. Worked as a Camp Counselor When I reached the age of fifteen, I started spending my summers working as a camp Counselor, where I was responsible for the organization and development of activities such as, arts and crafts, swimming, and delivering sports related instructions. This was the point when I first became interested in becoming a physical education teacher. I loved the feeling of being in charge and having the younger kids look up to me. Worked as a Sports/Youth Counselor By the time I began college, I was more eager than most freshmen to begin a whole new life, because so much had happened in my past life, which I wanted to put behind. Outside of athletics, I never really had an active social life, so this made my transition to university life very difficult. My undergraduate life had been quite short lived. I had to leave school after only the first semester due to limited finances. Discouraged by the inability to further continue my education, I returned home to work full time as a Sports/Youth Counselor for youths with learning disabilities, emotional disorders, and mental retardation. This proved to be one of the most extraordinary experiences in my life, as it provided me with a chance to interact closely, on a day-to-day basis, with youngsters, whose courage and massive temperament for joy and happiness, impressed me immensely. Their smiles and laughter were pure, even while they battled against significant personal difficulties for which they were not themselves responsible. Ironically, as I worked with these small children I was simultaneously fighting a small battle of my own, resisting my initial resistance and fear of dealing with these children. Before I got to know these youngsters, I was worried that they would detect my discomfort, catch me staring at them, misinterpret something I might have said, or be hurt somehow by my actions or words. In the beginning all of these things appeared to be threatening possibilities. However in reality, once I immersed myself into work, my fear of any incidents happening, disappeared. I began relating to these children in the same as other normal kids. The youngsters soon sensed this and responded well to me. Working with these youngsters made me realize that despite my childhood I was still very fortunate to have health and the ability to be as physically independent. Secondly it made realize that I had been bestowed with the gift of having the ability and passion to help others. Graduation A year and a half later, I returned to Virginia State University as an independent student, more determined and passionate than ever to finally have the opportunity to finish what I had previously started. In between my busy work schedule, I completed a work-study as a student athletic trainer. Although, very time consuming, it was a very exciting job. I loved the rush and excitement of preparing for the day of final game, and the ability of being a part of the treatment protocols, utilized on a daily basis in athletic preparation. This job provided fascinating, educational, and an exciting experience that exposed me to the field of sports and medicine all in one. This was also the major, which I pursued later at the United States Sports Academy as a graduate student. Working as a Physical Education Teacher Upon graduation I decided to take a year off from school, while I focused on settling into the teaching profession. My first teaching position was at the middle school level, in New York City. This experience proved to be the most challenging one. During the tenure of this job, I come in contact with students who displayed behaviors and emotions that were the direct results of some of the same childhood and family scars that I had once faced as a child. It was extremely difficult trying to educate these students without becoming emotionally attached. At the same time it was very stressful, trying to relate to them, and getting them to understand that their current situation would not determine their future status. I quickly came to realize that summer camp and teaching were two totally different professions in their own ways. I am currently a Physical Education teacher and Department chair at high school level. Post-graduation in Sports Medicine I enrolled at the United States Sports Academy to pursue my master’s degree in Sports Medicine, during my second year of teaching. Although I had started to get adjusted to teaching, I missed the rush of being an athletic trainer. At the end of the school year, my college sweetheart and fiance was hired at our Alma mater as an offensive line coach. This position gave me the opportunity to complete my post-graduate intern hours in an environment that was very familiar to me. I was required to make one last employment transition that would have allowed me to utilize my intern skills as a trainer. Development of my Passion for Weight Training During the course of my internship, I was diagnosed with Graves’s disease. This disease directly affected my Thyroid gland and its ability to produce hormones properly. This posed as a major setback not only in my everyday life but also in completing my master’s degree. Shortly thereafter, I suffered from major depression, which caused me to gain over forty pounds of weight and lose the motivation that had once driven me towards success. After a year of feeling sorry for myself and taking prescription medications, which generally left me feeling isolated, or sleeping during the major part of the day, I came to realize that medication was not the long-term answer. I was once again faced with a life challenge that soon exposed me to another aspect of the sport sciences. More determined than ever to get my life back on track, I invested in my first gym (gymnasium) membership. Committing myself to a strenuous weekly regimen, I soon began to experience many physiological and psychological benefits of my investment. My accomplishments in the gym helped me overcome, what a year of medication could not do. It also helped to develop a passion that led me towards the pursuit of my master’s degree. More importantly, it gave me the opportunity to help change the lives of others. My continuous efforts and positive results in the gym deepened my passion for weight training and assisted me in restoring the drive and motivation that had been lost due to depression. Within the following year, I had lost 48 lbs and completed my masters . Working as a Personal Trainer Having lost 48 lbs of weight after joining the gym, I competed in my first amateur body-building competition. Winning this competition gave me a sense of empowerment, that I had the ability to achieve anything in life that I desire. Since then I have won two heavy weight class titles and am currently classified as a pro qualifier in the NPA. In the past year I have received my personal training and nutritional consultants, and group exercise certifications. Fitness and nutrition has been a major part of my healing process along my life journey. I currently work part time as personal trainer in a local fitness center and have started my own mobile fitness business, titled â€Å"Elite Physique Fitness†. I conduct this business along with two fellow personal trainers. We offer services like personal training, group exercises, massage therapy, nutrition workshops, and first aid and CPR classes. My career plans and goals Plans for achieving the Doctoral Degree I plan to attend the academy during the school years as a correspondence student and as a – resident student during the summer sessions. I am currently a Physical Education teacher and Department chair. Besides this, I also work part time as personal trainer in a local fitness center and have started my own mobile fitness business. Although I already have an extensive educational and hands on background in the field of sports and fitness, I feel the need to develop myself in the field of management in order to successfully run my business. My desired area of study is Sports Management with an emphasis on finance and entrepreneurship. My Career Plans After Receiving the Doctoral Degree I plan to teach as a Physical Education teacher for approximately one more year, and then I plan for a transition from being a High school teacher to a University professor in the field of fitness, sport management, athletic training, or sports medicine. Upon completion of my doctoral degree, I plan to expand my current personal training business and increase its reputation within the community in the long-term. My short-term goals are to refine my management skills and develop an organization of knowledgeable professional trainers to accommodate the below mentioned programs. I am really eager to develop an educational program within the school system to deal with childhood obesity. As a physical educator and fitness business owner, I would like to incorporate a â€Å"childhood obesity and wellness program† within the school system. In preparation for this, I plan to utilize information obtained from the research courses to further study and conduct research on childhood obesity and poor nutrition in relation to the issues of academic performance and self-esteem. I also would like to offer â€Å"holistic wellness programs† to corporate businesses. I am strongly interested in developing partnerships within the community to help develop programs, which would address many health related issues in our society. Specific courses that would assist me in completing these goals are personnel management and sports entrepreneurship My Plans For A Mentorship I plan to complete my mentorship training in the field of fitness management. I also intend to apply for membership at American Family Fitness, Golds Gym, and the YMCA. I feel these particular facilities will provide the hands on training needed to accommodate and complete information learned through my coursework at the United States Sports Academy. Reasons For Pursuing The Doctor of Sports Management Degree at the Academy Reasons for choosing the Academy’s program over other doctoral programs I attended the Sports Academy as a graduate student and was really impressed with the rofessionalism of the program and I loved the fact that the program was geared primarily towards sports specific majors. I feel that the Academy will not only provide me with sound and stable training, but will also enhance my skills, which would help me in my future endeavors. It will also give me a great opportunity to network amongst professionals who have already completed the journey of success on which I am still traveling. My desire to pursue a degree in sport management is driven by my already diverse and accomplished background in the field of sport sciences. My Concerns, Choices and Goals regarding the doctoral program Since I feel the need to develop myself in the field of management in order to have a successful business, my desired area of study is Sports Management with an emphasis on finance and entrepreneurship. My aspirations for the future are to help others change their lives and teach them how to begin the healing process through health, fitness and nutrition. The doctoral program would greatly contribute towards my intellectual and personal growth and help me in achieving both my previously mentioned short-term and long-term goals.