Autobio

One of my recent assignments entailed writing an autobiography. The prof provided examples by Abraham Lincoln and Sir Arthur Lewis to stimulate our thinking. I hope it's not narcissistic of me to presume the story is actually interesting; I've decided to post it just for fun. Enjoy, and be encouraged. :)

I was born on October 11, 19xx at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. At the time, my father was an active-duty officer in the United States Air Force. Both my parents are children of military members—my paternal grandparents were an Air Force officer and an Army nurse, respectively, while my maternal grandfather served in the Air Force. Being part of families that have served our country has shaped my parents into who they are today, and it has influenced their personal character as well as their parenting. This impact has flowed down to me. Because of this background of military service, I have inherited a strong sense of honor, a thankful spirit toward the privileges we enjoy in America, and a desire to contribute to the well-being of others.

In their child-rearing, my parents followed in the strong Christian heritage established by their predecessors: my great-grandparents were missionaries to China, and my great-uncle was a missionary in the Philippines, while my grandmother prays by name for each of her siblings, children, and grandchildren on a daily basis, often beginning each day with a reading from the “Daily Light” Bible devotional. While they were not perfect, for no one is, my parents strove to instill in their children a sense of right and wrong, as well as a love for God and others. They displayed a committed partnership in their marriage and invested themselves in my life by spending time with me, encouraging me in my pursuits, and correcting me for my own good.

A strong educational foundation was established while I attended a Christian school for the elementary portion of my education. Here I was taught values as well as academic subjects, which supplemented the training my parents provided at home. When I was in the sixth grade, my teacher assigned an essay project for our school-wide “Famous Americans Day” celebration. My school designated a special day annually for students to dress up as famous historical figures and present projects they had completed, addressing some facet of American history. My essay was selected as the top entry in my grade, and I was asked to read it at the concluding assembly at which all grades would gather to display their best projects. This experience was the first step in realizing I enjoyed public speaking. Perhaps I did not enjoy it at that point, for I remember feeling very nervous, but it provided exposure in an area I would later come to enjoy, and in which I would gain significant experience.

When my family transitioned to home schooling in 1997, I developed self-discipline. This was invaluable preparation for my future learning at college, which I completed in three years, followed by graduate school as I pursued a graduate degree in Education. Throughout my life, I have discovered that each step serves as preparation for something in the future, whether I can anticipate it or not. I may not know which skills will come in handy, or which experiences will provide confidence for a later endeavor, but I can know that each step builds on the next. I will complete my graduate degree soon, and have been able to persevere in part because I had already begun to learn self-motivation as a high school student.

In a sense, I am following in my grandparents’ footsteps by pursuing a civilian career with the US Air Force. I find great satisfaction in contributing to a worthy mission, supporting active-duty members in their front-line responsibilities. The Air Force’s three core values—Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do— also correspond with my own personal core values. While the future is hard to predict, I am confident that the training I have received will enable me to continue to learn, contribute, and serve.