Destiny Copeland:
The Revelations of Reflection
September 2017
The summer is filled with internships, vacations, classes, and various situationships. And in this time, we experience a lot of growth that we don’t always realize. I suggest that before you get too far into this fall semester that you reflect on this summer. It seems that I learn something important each summer break. Sometimes it’s a new interest that effects my future career, sometimes it’s a better way to practice self-care, sometimes it’s learning a new skill, and most times I’m learning to let people go. Whatever the case may be, I advise you all to get out a journal and write down everything that happened these past few months. What did you do well? What did you screw up? What did you improve about yourself? What impacted you the most?
This scares some people because they’re too afraid to dig too deep and find skeletons they didn’t bury too well, and that’s okay. The purpose of reflection for me is to put my problems in perspective. It’s like I’m writing out my own story that needs to be revised. And on paper I can see clearly what needs to be fixed. It empowers me because it shows I have full control on how my life turns out. And although I can’t change the past, finding that clarity gives me control of my future. With reflection, we realize that our experiences are more than just a lot of stress or excitement, but instead they mold us into our true selves by revealing our strengths and weaknesses.
I’ll give a short example. I have a problem with being vulnerable with other people. I don’t like opening up, asking for help, or seeming like I need anyone. Reflection made me realize my problem when someone very important to me left my life. Although I probably couldn’t have prevented anything, I realized it would’ve been better for me and them to know how much I actually cared. It’s better that I know this now so that moving forward I don’t limit myself from making deeper connections with others. These people could end up being very important to me and I want to make the most of my time with them.
Reflection gives you personal goals to attain so we’re always aiming for the ultimate goal, growth. You may find some demons you need to tackle but in doing so you will find the spirit to defeat them. I say this to encourage you, to challenge you, and to inspire you to take some time to be this transparent with yourself. I’m going into the fall with a clearer vision of the woman I am and seeking the strength to become woman I aim to be.