DUE: Thur. 9/17/15 @ 7:00p
Please read back through the interview notes you’ve received from two to three (2-3) of your writing group members from exercise 2-1.
- What surprises you?
- Do you recognize the snapshot / portrait of yourself represented there?
- What new insights into your life can you glean from these interviews?
- What questions did you wish your interviewers had asked you? How would you have answered them?
A few guidelines and requirements for this exercise:
√ full sentences
√ correct spelling and grammar (yay!)
√ 300-400 words (±)
√ emailed to the classmates in your writing group (cc: jweinstein at vwc dot edu)
AND
√ submit via Web Form Here (to ensure course credit!)
After reviewing the interview notes that I took with my peer group, there were a few things that were quite surprising to me. The overall interview allowed me to open my eyes and learn more about myself. I was challenged with very deep questions that I have never been asked before. As a freshman in college, I am not often asked questions about my life that make me have to really think in depth about my life experiences. I was personally surprised about the questions that I was asked because it took me to a place that I’ve never really been before. I was asked a variety of different questions that were either very complex like “What am I most proudest of”, and I was also asked questions that were very simplistic, for example “What do I want to do when I grow up.” I believe that the overall complexity of the questions that was asked during the interview was the most surprising to me. Even though the interview questions that I was asked was surprising,they allowed me to open up and they gave me a new insight to my life. One of the biggest questions that I was asked was “What am I most proudest of.” This question helped open my eyes the most and think about what my purpose really is, and where I am going to be in the future. Growing up, I have always been one to not give myself a lot of credit. Answering this questions allowed me to realize that I have many accomplishments and I need to start giving myself more credit for my accolades. All of the questions that was asked in my interview were pretty straight forward, however, I wish I was asked more questions about my outlook of my childhood experiences and outlook on life. In my upcoming writing assignment, I think I will lean more towards a mini autobiography of my life and how it has led me to attending Virginia Wesleyan College.
After the interview, I took a part. I have learned a lot of things about myself, in the minds of my two partners. What information my partners got from me is very accurate about my life in every way. I was able to really understand what questions my partners answers to me and they were really nice and friendly when they asked me the questions during our interview. I wish that they both asked me more questions about my life and my experiences through my life. I really think that it help, with my partners understanding me better, and being able to help me out even more outside of class, with some things that i am worried about, like my grades, and how to start a relationship. Some other questions I wish they could have also answered me are questions about how my family impacted me in my life, I would have responded with that my father helped make me a strong individually, both physically and mentally. and i would have responded that my Mother helped be an important outlet for me, when I am having a hard time cooping with sadness, and anger, and as I left the house, I felt like I’m a better person when it comes to sad things happening to me in my life, like when my cat Preshie died last year, I was very sad to hear that she was going to be put down soon, I wanted to breakdown into sadness, but I remained strong and kept going with my life, I remained calm and i barely shed a tear when she passed away. And for my brothers I would’ve said, that my two brothers Colin and Ryan ( we are triplets), helped me out when I have a hard time finding solutions to my problems, and they were the first friends I have ever had that made me as social as I am today, and even though this might be off topic I really miss my brothers and I cannot thank them enough for helping me be who I am today. My family really did play a very special role in my life that made me as amazing as I am today, and the influence and lessons from my family will help me develop skills to help me raise my family after college, and make my future children be even better than I am, when that day comes.
After reading through the interview notes I had received back from my group members I had realized a couple new things about myself that surprised me as interesting questions were asked within my group. I have never been asked how I would personally like to be remembered by people after I leave this world and honestly I’ve never thought about that question until then. At first i thought the question was very deep but it was also very intriguing to think about. I answered by saying I want to be remembered by my success and hoping to have impacted some people in my life in a positive way. I also enjoyed the question I answered at the end of the interview which was “Do you wish you were raised differently when you were younger”. I had never sat down in my life and thought of this question as well as the other one. As I was figuring out whether to say yes or no I realized that my life would have been completely different if I was raised differently. I had answered yes for this question because I strongly wished that I was raised differently when I was younger and I wish I was able to be given more freedom as other people my age were given, but now reflecting back on the question I am very proud and thankful for the way I am today and the way I was raised. It was mainly those two questions that had me think of what I wished to have changed from when I was younger to what I plan to change before my time is up. I was surprised by these questions I was given to answer but I am glad I was given the opportunity to answer these questions about my life.
When going back to look at my interview I was surprised by the answers I gave. As I went through my answers I found that I would have changed most of them. I could definitely see myself in each question that was asked. The eating, sleeping, and playing volleyball answer was totally me that is just my world in a nutshell. Also the answer that I gave of where I want to be in ten years was without a doubt my dream. Who wouldn’t love to be children’s counselor and help out kids in need? My passion is within helping children and that’s what I want to pursue later on down the line. When looking at my interview I gained new insights to myself, I realized that my whole world is revolved around my family and children. I didn’t realize how passionate I was about it until I began to look at my answers. Each answer said at least one thing about my family or children. If I chose what questions were asked I would have wanted some questions about one single topic so it could be narrowed down? For instance, what do you want to be in life? Why? How much does that mean to you? And so on and so forth. I would have answered those questions with ease. I want to be a children’s counselor, because it is my passion to see kids happy and not going through pain. It means a lot to me to see a child with a smile on their face having a blast. My life isn’t all peaches and cream there is some greatness and some not so greatness. What I went through as a child I don’t want any other child going through. Even though I can’t help right at this moment there is still a chance I can ten years from now.
Rodrick Nicholson
English 105
2-2 Think It Over
Due September 17, 2015
2-2 Think It Over
After reading back through the interview notes I didn’t really find anything that surprised me really. Elena thought of me as a person who likes to be around his family and wants to start one eventually. She is one hundred percent right. You can kind of call it a “family man”. Also she mentioned that I like basketball and it is a great impact in my life. She was one hundred percent right with that too. I love basketball and throughout my life I have used it as a tool to have fun and take me places other things can’t. Elena did a great job describing what I do and summarizing my life from the interview questions.
I recognize the portrait that she made of me. I really thinks it describes me well and I’m proud of myself and my accomplishments. Also from the way it sounds she’s saying I’m not the typical average basketball player. I do other things like stay in the books and look out for my family members keeping them in my prayers and in my heart. Loving your family is an important thing and everyone should think like that.
Questions I wish she asked was who do I consider a role model other than my parents and what are some of your hobbies other that basketball. When people see me they automatically think I play basketball or some other sport. I want people to think of me by more than just that. I like music, I enjoy drawing, and like watching cartoons. Also when people ask me questions like who is your favorite role model other than my parents people automatically assume I’ll name a famous basketball player but a person I like to think of as a role model is Pharrell Williams. He is a great person from Hampton Roads and he gives back to the community.
In all honesty, nothing surprised me about the information my group gathered about me from the interview. Most of their inflections were accurate, when they attempted to fill in the blanks between my answers. It all paints a very clear portrait of myself. The thing is: I do not like that portrait. The answers that were so prevalent within the interview, the ones that stuck with my partners, were all about my father. It is true that he was the most influential person I knew. It is true he helped shape who I am today. It is true that him dying was not an event I had prepared for so early in life. That being said, I have begun to loathe how much it has held me back, but I also loathe the idea of letting go completely. However, the number of times I have talked or written something about my experiences after his death is uncountable. It is something that always comes up, accompanied with pitying sighs.
I do not want to receive condolences anymore, or quick apologies when the subject is approached. I do not want to be living in the shadow of my father’s death anymore. I do not want it to define me. I do not want someone to ask me how I pulled myself up after that again, and once again respond with a lie about how tough. In response, I wish I could yell about how I have not done so. I want to scream about how that is not the only thing going on in my life.
I want something new to be asked of me. I wish someone would ask me about what I plan on doing with my life. They could ask about the career I plan on having, or the career I wish I could have. Ask me about what I like to do in my free time! Ask me about my living family! Ask me about my favorite artist or my favorite author!
Just please, stop asking about my father.
Last week with our respective writing groups we interviewed one another as to create a snapshot of your persona. After carefully analyzing over the notes I have come to the conclusion that nothing that came up really blew my socks off and made me rethink myself entirely. When looking over the notes and analyzing them to the best of my ability I noticed that I am as cynical as I am constantly reminded. Another thing I was in a way was surprised to learn that my ideas on religion are quite opposite of the common belief around here (Norfolk) but that will be covered further in the prompt. As far as questions are concerned I wish I had been asked more on the subject of my family’s background as it is quite an interesting one. On my mom’s side my great grandpa and grandma came over around WW1 from Italy to Ellis island (I even saw their names on the wall). From my mother’s side I am Italian, and Irish, my Dads is where it gets complicated. We honestly have absolutely no idea how early they came over but it was before the civil war, they both came over from Germany or as it was known at the time Prussia, coming from a background that has been mapped to England, Ukraine, Poland, and also Russia. But we had only a sparse few minutes for me during my interview so I can’t really complain, the essential questions were asked so complaining or longing for them to have asked just one extra question wouldn’t be the best way to approach the situation. This activity at the end of the day did at the very least help me to see myself from an outside point of view, even if the outcome was quite predictable.
When reviewing the interview notes with my peers, there was nothing that really surprised me. One new insight that I was able to glean from this interview was how well my parents raised and invested in me. I spoke a little on my family and ethnic back round, however I wish that my peers asked my more about what it was like growing up, and what some of my best childhood memories were. I would have answered that when growing up, my life was always an adventure. My brother and I have huge imaginations so there was never a dull moment when we were little. My parents also had us get involved in almost everything such as different sports and activities. One of my favorite childhood memories involves me and my two closest cousins. When we were younger, the three of us would spend so much time at my Abuela’s and play dress up. We would also act out plays such as the wizard of OZ and Goldie locks and the three bears for the rest of our family. This interview helped me to reflect on how great of a childhood I has. There are so many memories that I have not taken the time to appreciate. I also wish my peers would have asked me what my hobbies are. I would have answered that I love painting, drawing, reading, writing, doing arts and crafts and singing. I can’t remember a time that I was not drawing or doing some form of art while growing up. Its a great part of who I am and it is how I am able to express myself. To this day I still continue to draw, paint, and carry out my other hobbies whenever I have time. Even if I never really have time, I try to make some. Besides not asking the questions that I wish they had asked, my peers conducted a good, thorough interview that accurately depicted me.
The only notes that I received were from Nicole Holmes, and they depicted me very well. None of her notes surprised me, (except that she spelled my best friends name Jared instead of Jarrett) and they were completely accurate based on the responses that I gave her. The notes themselves displayed a nice self-portrait of myself, as they portrayed me to be someone with family values, a few close friends, a love for the workplace, and to believe in doing everything to the best of my ability. I am a person who tends to have many friends, but I also like to have a circle of trust between a small group of people. This explains why I have a couple close friends that I keep in contact with, and it also explains why my brother and I are so close. Additionally, I have been able to look at the past experiences of my brother and use his life-lessons as an example of what decisions I should be making in life. Work is also a great pleasure for me. As a waiter I have had a great time, and I hope to use some of the skills that I have learned in this field to help me interact with others in my future professional career. One question that I would have liked for her to have asked would be who the kindest person in my life is. I would have replied that the kindest person in my life is my dad, since he has always been there for me when I’ve needed him most. My father is a minister, yet he doesn’t cast judgement on me when I make mistakes. Instead he usually picks up the pieces and tells me what I can do to fix things. He also usually says that he has made the same mistake in the past. He has been kindest to me as his helping hand has guided me far in life. Overall, the interview process went well and gave a great image of who I am.
Something that surprised me from looking over my interview notes was the fact that less than a week ago I was saying that I felt lonely at college, but this past week I joined a sorority and that has changed everything. I always have people asking me what I’m doing or coming to my room to see me and I’m constantly running into or meeting up with one of my sisters. It’s one of the best feelings, it made me forget about how alone I was feeling at the beginning of the semester.
One thing I noticed after looking over my interview notes was how important Catonsville is to me, and how it has impacted my life so much. Being in Virginia Beach so unlike Catonsville, and it makes me miss being home so much, and appreciate it so much more. Catonsville is where I grew up, its where I found myself, its where I became who I am today. Catonsville is where I met my best friends, my first relationships, first jobs, favorite memories, favorite places to eat, favorite spots to hangout. Catonsville is where I was able to learn my limits, see how far I can push myself, how to get out of comfort zone and how to control myself. Catonsville is where I gained more knowledge than any other place I’ve been to, it has had the most important experiences for me. Catonsville is my home. It is where I learned to be myself.
A question I wish they would have asked me was: Teachers who have made an impact on you?
In regards to the teacher question, my Spanish teacher from sophomore year of high school to my senior year of high school has made such an impact on me. She is one of my closest friends, she has taught me so much, given me the appreciation of language and she is one of my role models. She was always there to listen to my drama, and was always so intrigued to what I was doing over the weekend or during the week. She is one of the most intelligent people I know, and she is such a devoted mother, teacher and athlete. We have had some of the best experiences together, like going to Europe or participating in school events and I could not imagine my life without her. She has made much more than an impact of my life.
While answering the interview questions from my peers, there was only one thing that truly surprised me. When asked the question of “Do you believe in love at first sight?” I quickly said no. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a huge romantic. Whether it’s reading, writing a story, or watching a movie about two people falling in love. After thinking over the question a few times, I finally reached a conclusion. The reason why I don’t believe in love at first sight is because I personally think that two people have to get to know each other before developing true feelings. They have to know both the good and the bad about a person. When people claim that they have found love at first sight, I simply think it as being lust or infatuation, but never true love. In my opinion true love takes time, more than simply seeing someone and thinking there beautiful or handsome. I recognized the snapshot/portrait of myself because with each answer, I answered them according to me and honestly. After answering the questions I was able to see that all the answers contributed to the person I already am, so it was nice to be able to share that with my fellow peers. One insight into my life that I can glean from this interview is how important my family actually is to me. In several of the questions asked such as “Who are your favorite relatives?” or “If you could interview anyone from your life, living or dead, but not a celebrity, who would it be?” I spoke about my family. In the first question I talked about my older brother and sister who basically raised me throughout my entire life. In the second question I mentioned wanting to meet my grandpa, being that he passed away shortly after I was born. The mention of my family in both answers emphasized and gave me an insight on how much my family truly means to me. Two topics I wish my interviewers would have asked about are my religion and culture. Religion plays a very important part in my life and is essentially the outline of how I choose to live my life. My culture and background have also shaped the person who I have become today. I enjoyed this assignment because, I was able to learn more about myself and peers.
After conducting an interview between myself and my two fellow classmates, I was able to see how someone described me in their own words as well as how they portrayed me, as oppose to how I portray myself. As a whole though, looking back on the interview notes of my fellow classmates and how they described me, they both pretty much nailed it. I can clearly see a snapshot/portrait of myself being represented and displayed in their own words. I think the reason of this being was that when I was being interviewed and asked many questions, I thoroughly and clearly expressed myself. That way, when it came time for my classmates to write about me, they were able to talk about me in a factual way. Even though I expressed myself to the answers I was being asked very well, I did not think that everything my classmates said about me would be on point but it was a good feeling knowing that they were. Some questions I wish my classmates asked me would be more questions about my family life because I am a family girl and I do have a lot to say about my family. As for my essay that I will be writing in my English writing class, I definitely plan on talking about the one person who means the world to me and has changed my life forever which is my great Aunt Dianne. She will greatly be expressed a lot through out my essay because she is my role model and the one person who has always been and will still forever be there for me, even though she passed away last year. Because of her influence in my life growing up until now, I am able to say a lot about her and I can’t wait to talk about her again.