Identifying with values in respect has translated into fulfilling relationships with family members, coworkers, classmates, and friends. Respect is a lesson often taught during childhood, since it is a common principle to expect a child to respect their parents, elders, etc. Although I was taught respect at a young age, I learned to practice the value through filling my role in the workforce. I also learned to respect different types of relationships, professional, personal, or otherwise. Respect is a basic principle that allows us to interact on a level of human understanding. Identifying with respect has allowed me to appreciate other people, the opportunities I have been given, and to respect and honor the life that I am fortunate enough to live. My latest life experience, moving away to college, is a culmination of my previous life experiences and has impacted my understanding of initiative. To move away to college I had to commit to my decision, remain loyal to my decision, set a goal to graduate, persevere to realize the goal, and respect my decision, professors, and classmates. My previous experiences have shaped how I view life in college, how I approach college as a life opportunity, and how I appreciate the role of a college education. I took a personal initiative to go to college. I recognized a college education not only as a tool to better my chances of a career in business, but to also gain more life experiences that will further shape my identity and value system. The initiative to go to college has developed my sense of control in my own life. I have the control, determination, and power to affect change in my life. Being a successful college student will have positive implications in my career in business, and reinforces my willingness to introduce new experiences into my life.

Over the course of the lifespan, every...

Life experiences have the potential to redefine "who you are" and "who you want to become." In my personal life, I have experienced my parents' divorce, health problems in the family, playing team sports, working, and moving to college. Each of these instances vary in their degree of influence on my life, and contribute to my value systems regarding commitment, loyalty, goal-setting, perseverance, respect, and initiative. All of my life experiences inherently influence and interweave with one another. Adjusting to my parents' divorce directed my beliefs on commitment. My commitment was tested, and consequently strengthened my family loyalty when family members became ill. I committed myself to my basketball team and was loyal to my teammates; this empowered me to set goals to improve my skills and persevered to achieve them. Working with a home health care company and as a waitress instilled values of respect into my identity, and helped me to recognize that every person deserves to be greeted with the same esteem.
Moving away to college is a culmination of my previously learned life lessons and experiences, and is increasing my understanding of initiative. All of my prior experiences have developed my values, my personal identity, and how I perceive my own world. I strive to be a committed and loyal individual who sets goals, perseveres to realize them, respects all people I encounter, and strives to take the initiative to make the best decisions for myself. One must accept and adapt life experiences. Personal identity and perceptions of self evolve over the lifespan to accommodate life changes. I recognize that my latest experience, the college experience, marks even greater beginnings to shape my identity and mold my values.