Who am I: A Reflection of My Evolution One day, a friend of mine asked me to describe myself in one word.

It took me a few days, but I got it. . . evolving. Evolving fits because it is an active word; it illustrates how I am constantly changing, adapting, and most importantly, developing. From identifying myself through my culture and then my personality, I have ultimately evolved into a multi-faceted person whose identity can merely be described through a verb. When I was younger, I distinguished myself by saying I was Polish. Even though I am first generation American, I still say Im Polish. I now know that the foundation for my identity was rooted in my culture; my traditions created the lens through which I perceived the world around me. It was through this lens that another aspect of my being developed, my personality. Throughout middle and high school I was creative, funny, crazy, weird, and fun to be around. At times, my peers also viewed me as immature and ignorant. Throughout those formative years, I embraced my positive characteristics, worked on my weaknesses, and blossomed as an outgoing and adaptable individual. It was not until college that I was able to utilize my self-awareness to progress as a student, a teacher, and an open-minded individual. Through student teaching, writing papers and constantly reflecting (in class and student teaching), I learned that I needed to focus on becoming more organized and unassuming. I also learned that I wanted to be an effective teacher that listened to, and learned from, her students. I wanted to be part of a community that shared the notion of togetherness, because I valued the notion that community included growing together. Another significant moment of awareness was when I was fortunate enough to experience two years in the Peace Corps. With an open mind, I was able to integrate and assimilate into a new culture. Through an ignorant and unassuming lens, I was able to learn a different language

to be able to function in a village that thrived on community and deep-rooted traditions. Although I struggled with understanding some traditions (such as female circumcision), I absorbed people-oriented customs (such as sharing food and greeting strangers). I saw the true meaning of community where a struggling neighbor was assisted with food and shelter. I experienced an unfortunate loss of a friend where, as a woman, I was not able to attend the funeral. As an adopted family member, I advised my host sister to balance education with responsibilities. As a stranger, a mere observer, a white woman in Gambian clothes, a teacher, a friend, and a community member, my worldview expanded from suburban Chicago to a village in West Africa. Through my life experiences, the recent being the most influential, I learned about my evolution as a person, a teacher, and a learner. I know that I need to keep an open mind to evolve. In order to be an effective teacher and member of society, I need to be active in listening and interacting. The world contains a myriad of cultures, societies, religions, and characters, and I am one amongst millions. But I know I am unique, and everyone around me is even more beautiful, interesting, and ever-developing. I believe that we learn about ourselves from each other.

Who am I? What kind of student do I want to be? What things are important to me? What do others expect of me? Where do I want to go with my life? How do other people perceive me?