I vividly remember walking down the aisle during my 8th graduation. The ceremony had just ended and I was proceeding to the cafeteria for dinner. Then all of a sudden, my grandpa, who has always been relatively close to me, pulled me aside. He whispered into my ear the key to life. "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching." However, as high school progressed, I seemed to have forgotten this advice. I have focused my attention on attaining wealth for the mere eminence of it. When I love others, I love them expecting to be hurt and therefore I fail to love them with my full heart. When I am asked to dance, I politely turn down the request, often times fearing what others may see and think. There are a lot of ways to become a failure, but never taking a chance is the most successful. However, the past three theology classes have reminded me of the importance of my grandpa's advice. I actually feel that is some respects my life has been a waste up until this point. So often, I have failed to seize the moment. I have hidden behind a deleterious mask. Often times, my deportment has not reflected my true sense of identity. I have let myself be what others want me to be, rather than who I uniquely am. Most importantly, I have learned that I have control over my life. I may not have control over many of the factors, which influence my life, but I do have control over the way I react to these factors. After reviewing my notes, it has become quite clear to me that I demand success. However, the success that I demand is derived from material possessions, status, and power. Right now in my life, I really could care nothing about family or marriage. Perhaps my perspectives are out of focus. I must realize that I will not always attain true success, but I also must always remember that a flawed diamond is far more valuable than a perfect brick. I must not let perfection kill me. I have also learned a great deal about who I am from what others think. My friends seem to believe that I am intelligent, ambitious, open-minded, competent, humorous, and determined. The value of feelings in my life has also been reiterated. I have learned that the most difficult feelings for me to express are the feelings of isolation and uncertainty. I like to think that I know it all. In reality though, I fall so very short. I never want to show my weaknesses. I have learned that the easiest feelings for me to express are those of frustration and anger. Too often, I belittle people and when I see that someone is wrong, I am first to point out their faults. Criticizing another's garden won't keep the weeds out of your own. In conclusion, I am who I am. I am made up of all of the people that I have met and all of the events that have occurred in my life. "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do." - Helen Keller

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