A Little Self-Reflection

It took me a little while to understand how to move forward with this self-evaluation as it is not something I have given a lot of thought to. I hope that someday my schedule will slow down enough that I can take some time for self-reflection more often.

What am I good at?

Right now, I am good at accomplishing tasks. This is helpful while trying to work full time, studying for an MBA, and trying to make some time for family. I have come to terms with this being the status quo over the next several years while I finish school. Even though I feel like I am in a rut sometimes and the days can be long and brutal, I remember how lucky I am to be in my current position. I know that this will not last forever, and even though it is painful, I hope my daughter sees how hard work pays off if you try and push yourself.

What do I value?

I value my time. Time is a commodity that is immeasurable in both length and value, and we are blissfully unaware when our clock will tick for the final time. While I spend a lot of time at work and school now, I am hopeful the ends justify the means. I want to experience as much of the world as I can with my family before my time is gone. If that means being there for major family events but missing smaller ones so I can earn enough money to have world adventures, I will say I am spending my time wisely. I believe the trick will be finding a proper balance.

How did I get here?

I got to my current work position by applying and having an excellent interview with multiple employees within the company, specifically my current manager. I chose to stay on several occasions because of him as well. I decided to attend Oregon State to get an MBA because I started, but did not finish, my bachelor’s degree at OSU so I always felt like I had unfinished business with the university. I chose my current program because it was well-rounded, and I felt it could help me move up in my career better than the other ones offered through the online program.

Where am I going?

I am going to finish my degree. That is the only priority I have right now. A lot of sacrifices by my family, myself, and my colleagues have gone into this pursuit, and I will not give up until I have my degree in hand. After that, it will be time to re-evaluate and see what will make me happy while also supporting my family and my interest in global travel. But I take it one week at a time during each class, so I do not get too far ahead of myself. If I look too far ahead, I may not keep my focus where it needs to be.

I know these answers probably come across as simplistic, but they are true to who I am and where I want to be going. Like I said, we never know when our time will be up, and I want to make the most of it while staying true to myself and being an honest person to those around me.

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3 responses to “A Little Self-Reflection”

  1. Jerrod Avatar
    Jerrod

    Hi John,
    I really relate to your response to what you’re good at and what you value. Juggling the hard work and stresses from life on top of the time it takes working towards a masters degree is not easy, but thinking of how great it will feel when it’s all said and done is very motivational. I have definitely seen that determination from you throughout this course and working with you for the group project. As I get older, I definitely perceive time to be exponentially more valuable. You don’t realize how fast time flies until you look back at the great memories from years ago or process where you stand on your “career/life timeline” and digest where you are compared to how far you thought you would be. It can be difficult at times but it’s a powerful perspective. I like your view on where you’re going. It is great to take a step back and appreciate the victories. That next step will come in time, but being a person that accomplishes tasks, you’ll be in a great position to tackle whatever comes next.

  2. Jeongmin Lee Avatar
    Jeongmin Lee

    Hi John. I also value my time so I can spend more time doing my hobbies, meeting friends and spending time with my family especially with my newborn baby. I totally agree with you that finding a proper balance between work and my time is important and I believe that this is difficult to achieve. You might not have enough time to spend time with your family to earn more money or to be promoted and this might be the result of your desire to support your family which could be harmful to you and your family relationship. From this assignment, I think asking yourself “What do I value?” could be an important question to find this balance.

  3. Taylor Christian Avatar
    Taylor Christian

    Hi John,

    It is very inspiring to see that you are so determined to balance school, working full time, and family in such an optimistic way. Your outlook is great, and I feel the same way and feel like I have to sacrifice in one of those aspects when the others become more pressing. I think it is okay that your answers were “simplistic” as you stated because they are answered the way you would answer them for yourself and sometimes it is better just be concise about what you want to say and how you want to get your point across. Thanks for sharing!

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