Each and all of our life experiences differ and how they create our paths to follow in life and the views we have on the world. My best experience stemmed from my childhood up-bringing. I for one have grown up in two worlds. My parents divorced at a young age in my life and due to their background and life experiences they too were very opposite. It was these experiences growing up on opposite sides of the fence changing lifestyles every other month that gave me my influence and perspective I have on the world today. When I would stay with my mother she was never able to provide much let alone put food on the table. Growing up on the Southside of San Antonio with her I saw a lot that changed my views on people who struggled day to day with food and many other assortments of crime and daily issues. I still remember waking up and hearing her say, “Son we have no food or money”. We would then go to a neighbor or relative and ask them for a bite to eat or even a place to stay for the night. The opposite happened when I would go to stay with my father who lived the suburban life in the small quiet town of Boerne, Texas, which was very different from the harsh realities of Southside and my mother’s lifestyle. He seemed to always have a full pantry and the ability to provide for me. He eventually gained custody of me and I ended up growing up on a bit safer side of town. To this day my brother and I are the only two out of all the male cousins on my mother’s side who managed to stay out of prison. If it wasn’t for my father I believe I would have ended up on the same path as all my cousins. These two different perspectives made me fully appreciate what I have and made me realize early on what it’s like to live in the world with very little but I also saw a more financially secure life where I didn’t have to worry if there was going to be food on the table or not. Both where opposite extremes and I think due to the fact that I experienced both allowed me to find a median in life. This also gave me much strength such as compassion for less fortunate because I walked in their shoes and made me appreciate everything. This is just one small chapter of my experiences in life but I find this to be the most rewarding one of all. This also taught me the morals and values that I needed to survive in this world. They all complete the person I am today and also give me the outlook on how I views and understand the world today.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
2. How do my experiences influence my understanding of the world?
Each and all of our life experiences differ and how they create our paths to follow in life and the views we have on the world. My best experience stemmed from my childhood up-bringing. I for one have grown up in two worlds. My parents divorced at a young age in my life and due to their background and life experiences they too were very opposite. It was these experiences growing up on opposite sides of the fence changing lifestyles every other month that gave me my influence and perspective I have on the world today. When I would stay with my mother she was never able to provide much let alone put food on the table. Growing up on the Southside of San Antonio with her I saw a lot that changed my views on people who struggled day to day with food and many other assortments of crime and daily issues. I still remember waking up and hearing her say, “Son we have no food or money”. We would then go to a neighbor or relative and ask them for a bite to eat or even a place to stay for the night. The opposite happened when I would go to stay with my father who lived the suburban life in the small quiet town of Boerne, Texas, which was very different from the harsh realities of Southside and my mother’s lifestyle. He seemed to always have a full pantry and the ability to provide for me. He eventually gained custody of me and I ended up growing up on a bit safer side of town. To this day my brother and I are the only two out of all the male cousins on my mother’s side who managed to stay out of prison. If it wasn’t for my father I believe I would have ended up on the same path as all my cousins. These two different perspectives made me fully appreciate what I have and made me realize early on what it’s like to live in the world with very little but I also saw a more financially secure life where I didn’t have to worry if there was going to be food on the table or not. Both where opposite extremes and I think due to the fact that I experienced both allowed me to find a median in life. This also gave me much strength such as compassion for less fortunate because I walked in their shoes and made me appreciate everything. This is just one small chapter of my experiences in life but I find this to be the most rewarding one of all. This also taught me the morals and values that I needed to survive in this world. They all complete the person I am today and also give me the outlook on how I views and understand the world today.
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