Week
1: CheckPoint - Values and Socialization Experiences
My best friend for quite a while was Indian, and he was the first
generation born in the United States. His house was very
different from the smells to the very strong patriarchal dynamic.
I remember a very long road trip vacation with my family from Texas to
North Dakota for a family reunion. It emphasized the importance
of quality time with the family as we got to talk, sing, and play games
together on the very long ride.
There was an instance in elementary school where I was bullied by an
older child who was much bigger than me. The child was never
punished, and continued to get away with his harassment for quite a
while. This made an impression on me that later led me to a
strong sense of justice for the abused.
Value of hard work.
I always try very hard to do the best possible job I
can, and that has been rewarded at work with my quick advancement to
being the senior system administrator. From there I come home and
help with the kids and go to class. The education will make me
more marketable to future employers, which will allow me to better take
care of my family.
When I was young I remember my dad working at a
General Motors plant while attending school. After completing his
degree and starting his new career as a programmer, I remember him
working late into the night to ensure that the job was done to the best
of his abilities. This left a big impression on me that you need
to work hard, and give everything that you have.
Value of the loving family.
Each day I go to work and want to provide the best
for my family, especially by example. I do this by after getting home
from work making sure to spend plenty of time with my family, and
interact with all of them. This is especially important when
dealing with the extended family since none of them are local, and we
have to remain in contact through email, phone calls, and pictures.
Both of my parents worked very hard to spend lots of
quality time with us, and to do fun things with us. I have lots
of great memories of getting picked up early from school for some great
adventure with my dad. That left a permanent impression on me,
and is something I try hard to reproduce with my children.
Value of tolerance.
I try very hard to be fair in all of my dealings
with people, and not quickly jump to conclusions about someone because
of how they look or dress. At work I try very hard to be friends
with everyone, and not jump to premature conclusions. This will
also serve as a wonderful example to my children.
I remember once when my wife and I were shopping for
a car that there was someone else who had just purchased a huge
truck. The sales person told us that no one wanted to come and
talk to him because they thought he had no money. They made this
judgment because he had on "scruffy" clothes and was missing some
teeth. Obviously they were wrong since he had plenty of money, and
proceeded to pay cash for the truck. Also, as a child I was never
in the "in-crowd" and was labeled the geek and nerd. All of these
events made me aware that what is on the outside is not the defining
aspect of worth for a person.
© Erik Smith 2005
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Free Documentation License