This reflective essay delves into the transformative journey of the author during the initial days at university, shedding light on the challenges faced and the invaluable lessons learned. The narrative unfolds as the author grapples with the daunting experience of feeling isolated and friendless, eventually leading to a moment of self-discovery. The essay explores themes of resilience, self-reliance, and the significance of critical thinking in overcoming adversities. Through recounting a pivotal incident, the author emphasizes the importance of perspective and the potential impact of rash decisions on one’s future. This introspective narrative serves as a testament to the enduring lessons learned during this period of personal growth
Running Head: REFLECTIVE ESSAY 1
Globalization
Name
Institutional Affiliation
REFLECTIVE ESSAY 2
Reflective Essay
Introduction
New beginnings are always tough for me. I always feel the pressure when I meet new
people that I will be spending some time with, and that I need to get along with. When it comes
to first days, therefore, my track is not an excellent one as I tend to worry too much about the
events and happenings. Such was the situation when I joined the university, something that
changed my life forever. University is an important phase of every person as one learns the
meaning of responsibility and grows into an adult. In the course of my studies, I have learned a
lot about myself, relating with others, as well emotional stability in different circumstances.
Some incidents that occur in one’s life may seem like a big deal but some years down the line
they do not appear like such big events. This was the case with the incident when I just joined the
university; something that made me want to quit studies altogether, but it does not look as severe
today. The incident, however, taught me to always think critically before making decisions in my
life.
Discussion
The first day in the university is permanently stuck in my head. On that day, I remember
waiting for the taxi; however, took long and I ended up being late on my first day. I was forced
to report to school a day late compared to my colleagues. As such I reported when everyone had
settled, and looked confused. As if this was not enough, I got the impression that all the other
students had found a friend and I was left alone. I had to do things by myself like the odd one
out, keeping to myself most of the times. My attempt to get friendly to people did not bear any
fruits, as I am not very good at making friends. The place the situation left me was not fine at all.
I had to stay alone and isolated when everyone else was interacting with their friends. The
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situation got me stressed out, and one week later, I ran away from school as this gave me
consolation that I could not bear the idea of having no friends while others enjoyed in the school
compound. My parents were surprised to see me back so soon. They asked me the reason for my
absence from school so quickly, and at first had to lie to them as I was afraid of the
consequences. Further, I knew they had a lot of faith in me, and I did not want to disappoint
them. I, therefore, told them I had been given a one day break to get some papers I did not have.
One day later, my mother noticed that something was bothering me, and I just had to tell her the
truth. Rather than being disappointed, she was genuinely concerned for me and talked some
sense into my head. After a lot of convincing, I decided to go back and continue with my studies
as I had to achieve my goals.
On going back to school, I had to convince myself that it did not matter whether I had
friends or not. I decided to learn to do things by myself, not worrying what everyone else was
doing. It was however not that easy, and I had to go back to being isolated from everyone else. I,
however, had to catch up with the rest of the students and kept myself busy with the studies. The
situation at the school was, therefore, different from everything I had imagined. This is contrary
to the beliefs I had gathered from watching on the television where it was all fun with new
people. For the first days, I could even miss classes locked in the hostels as I was scared to go
out there and deal with the fact that I was all alone in a new world. What made the situation
worse is that I had lost confidence in myself and at this point, I could not bear to start a
conversation with everyone else. The most surprising thing is that everyone else probably
thought I did not like to interact and left me to myself. The situation changed on this day when a
random guy talked to me, and I realized I was not the problem. Just as I was afraid to interact
with people, they were afraid to talk to me because I apparently looked like a snob. This
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conversation, therefore, got me thinking, and I realized it was not that hard to talk to people. I
later also learned that you did not really need friends to go through normal activities, as I started
to enjoy my quiet and alone time when I did not have to do stuff to make others like me or
appreciate me. I later realized that being alone is not that bad after all, as you could do the stuff
you liked without having to listen to what everyone else thought. However, it was nice having
some people I could hang out with when I needed to.
Conclusion
The incident could have changed my life for the worse if I had decided to drop out of
school only because I did have friends. The situation was stressful at the time, but now that I
look back, I realize that I was not that serious. As such, the problem could have made me destroy
my future, and I could have regretted forever. As much as some incidents one finds themselves
in may seem to crush their souls, it is important to think critically before taking any steps. The
incident taught me the importance of not blowing things out of proportion because problems
always seem bigger than they really are. I also learned that it is important to rely on myself and
know that I do not need anyone else to live my life. The lesson has pushed me throughout the
time that I have been in school, and will guide me through my entire life even after school.