Self-Assessment Many of my greatest weaknesses and strengths can be attributed to my being an international student who has spent only one and a half years in the United States. Because of the language barrier and culture shock, I have often had to contend with shyness in my relationships and especially in group settings. I am still learning a lot about American culture and customs and feel often that I lag behind in terms of understanding certain ways of life and means of communication. However, learning how to overcome my weaknesses has also created much self-confidence and strength of character. Although group settings are still difficult for me sometimes, I try to maintain a positive attitude and sense of humor. I have noticed immense improvements since I first arrived here and am sure that these improvements will continue as I immerse myself even more.

Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to engage in many group settings in the United States. One of the reasons why I tend to avoid organized group situations is because of the language barrier. My fear of speaking English to native speakers is a major obstacle to my participation in groups. Even though I can carry on a normal conversation, it takes a lot of effort and self-confidence. Also, I cannot speak as fast as native speakers and feel intimidated to ask questions about things I don't understand.

It is not only the language that has proved to be a weakness in group settings....

I am still unfamiliar with a lot of American customs. For the same reasons I am afraid to ask questions about the language, I also feel intimidated when I have questions about things like gestures, eating habits, or the ways that friends interact with each other.
Because of these things related to language and cultural barriers, I find that I can be quite shy in group settings. Especially when I first meet people, I come across as being quiet, and this is not always related to my being a foreign student. Any time I encounter an unfamiliar situation or meet a new person, I am often shy. Unfortunately, this comes across like negativity or even selfishness. Strangers mistake my shyness with an unwillingness to participate, even though this is not the case. I just need time to become familiar with people before I open up and feel like part of the group. Once I do feel comfortable, my positive traits like kindness show through and I treat each person in the group equally well.

Another one of my weaknesses in group settings is my difficulty with managing and delegating authority. Because I come from Korea, a culture in which teamwork is more strongly encouraged than personal leadership, it is hard for me to be placed in positions in which I have to organize other people or assign tasks. It still feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable to me when I am called upon to be a leader in a group setting. However, I can see that groups do cooperate well with…