Who am I?

Hi, I'm Simone! I appreciate life to the fullest, despite its many drawbacks and imperfections. I love who I' am and the life I was given. I value a lot of things, but the most valuable thing in my life is my family. They are my support system that rewards me with love, kindness, and happiness. Without my family I would not be who I' am or where I' am today.

I was raised in the Catholic tradition. I went to Catholic school all my life so I've been exposed to all of the expectations and devotions that a Catholic is supposed to exemplify. I believe in Christian values that most Christians uphold as well. Although I' am a Christian and a Catholic, I do not like to judge others who believe in different religions or value different beliefs than I do. We all have the freedom to think creatively, so I think that it is not my place to judge and scrutinize someone based on how they choose to live their life.

I believe that having a relationship with God is vital to my sanity. I know that I have friends and family here on earth to confide in, but it's hard not to wonder whether or not they're judging me, and it can make me feel uncomfortable sometimes. But I know that with God, he's omniscient so I can't hide anything from him. Furthermore, I know that he doesn't judge me. He's my confidante and the one thing that represents security and stability in my life. People and things will come and go in my life, but God will always be here, and because of that, my love and respect for him is unwavering. Therefore, I have to obey his will for me and  allow him to provide his grace upon my life.

Both of my parents were born in Jamaica so I' am a Jamaican-American. I take great pride in my cultural background because it represents a large part of me. Without my Jamaican ancestors I would not be here today. Among my friends, I' am the only one who has foreign parents. I've really come to embrace this attribute because it has allowed me to become more exposed to cultural things that an average American teenager does not see. Because my parents are foreign I am always very defensive when people insult other people's country. Because if you are not apart of a culture, you have no place to discern what's right and wrong in an environment that you are completely ignorant of. I've learned the act of respecting different cultures and I've also learned the value of respect itself. Because my parents are from a foreign country, they were raised differently. They respected their peers at a level that is not really seen in my generation today. So as a result, that same level of courtesy is expected of me.

I hope to one day be on TV. I want to major in broadcast journalism because I love oral communication and talking. I feel that as a journalist it is my job to get the word out to the public whether it be political news, pop culture, gossip, etc. Being on TV has also been a dream of mind, which is another reason why  I want to major in broadcasting. But most of all, I feel as though I will be fulfilling my purpose, which is the most rewarding. But my most important fulfillment in life is to make others happy. I want to make a difference through service work. When I make someone happy, that is so much more worth it than putting myself first. Because in the end, happiness will be received on my part. I want to be happy and comfortable with who I' am in my life. I know these feelings will go in and out throughout my life, but I want to be able to enjoy and reap the benefits of living.