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Christopher Williams
Jizi
UWRT 1104 014
Due, 9/28/2016
My meaningful Life
In many instances it is hard for me to envision what my future holds. Oftentimes I find
myself dwelling on the past, wondering how I can learn from my mistakes rather than actually
setting goals. From reading about the PERMA model, taking surveys and everything else in the
composing a meaningful life section, I can say that I have a good idea of how to make my future
more meaningful.
In the Mindtools values exercise I noticed that Barbados kept coming up as an answer
(i.e. : times when I was the happiest, most fulfilled and satisfied etc.). Due to this I know I want
my future to be in Barbados. Both of my parents are from the island and I feel most at home
when I visit there. I recently went this summer after a few years of not going frequently and I fell
in love again. Life in Barbados is less stressful and the island is filled with the friendliest people.
Being there this summer really allowed me to sit back and appreciate the beauty of everything
around me, something I fail to do as frequent in America. I see all of my family that moved to
New York moving back to Barbados and we'll spend hours at the beach each day. Family is
something that also kept popping up throughout the various activities as something that would
make my life more meaningful. Coming from a close knit family has really made me all that I
am today which is why my future is going to consist of a family of my own. I love the thought of
family constantly building each other up and starting a family in Barbados surrounded by those I

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love is the perfect start to my meaningful future. Hopefully I can make the move within 5 years
after college.

In my future the relationships I surround myself with will make me most proud. I want to
keep in touch with the friends I have now but I do not want there to be a point in my life where I
ever stop making relationships and connections. I will have a trustworthy group of friends that
will watch my family grow and vice-versa. When I have children I am going to instill in them the
values that my family have instilled in me. Some things that I want my children's life to include
are family game nights and I also want to make sure that every weekend includes something fun
and/or family orientated. I've heard the saying "Happy wife, Happy life" thousands of times so I
also want to make sure I have date nights when I'm married. Also when I'm married I want to
make sure that any problem or argument I get into with my wife is one that I would go to any
lengths to resolve.
Leadership was one of my top character strengths. I have done multiple volunteering
services and I know I am most happy seeing others happy. My career in the future should
accurately reflect this. I am going to graduate from UNCC with a criminal Justice/Criminology
degree and find a job where I am helping my community by becoming a prominent leader. I'm
not quite sure exactly what job I want but I know that it has to impact more people than just
myself. I can see myself becoming a mentor to young black males because I had mentors
throughout my adolescence that have kept me on the right path, Mr. Parkins, Coach Fowler and
Mr. Reddig, to name a few. Through the right moves for youth program these mentors made sure
I stayed away from trouble and put me in activities when they recognized my potential.

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In order to truly make my life meaningful outside of just a career I want to make sure I
never give up my hobbies. Music is something that is in my culture and I never want to stop
learning about it. I see myself producing music for not only myself but for others. I want to be
advanced enough in producing that I can teach the skill to many. Another hobby my future is
going to hold is art. Since I was a kid drawing has been a way for me to express myself. It wasn't
until my artwork became really good that I thought I could make a career out of a passion. Even
with art, something that is so personal, I still see my future self wanting to use art somehow to
make those around me happy.
Through watching some of the real life inquiry projects in class I have learned more
things that will make my future meaningful. The minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan
Nicodemus, reminded me that I dont want to waste my life on the stereotypical idea of richness.
Having the newest shoes, biggest house or fanciest car without any self worth or meaning is not
how I want to be in the future. Another real life inquiry that spoke to me was that of Rich Roll.
Rich spoke about how admitting his defeat made him face his problems head on and over come
them. I want to live with this mindset to make sure I am the happiest I can be. I never realized
the power in admitting defeat until now!
When things get rough in my life I always find the meaning behind the hardships.
Hopefully this essay will allow me to avoid some of the rough times by letting me think about
finding meaning before I have to face them. Knowing that I find meaning in Family, Culture,
leadership, and compassion will help me get all I want out of life.

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Writer: Christopher Williams

Reader: Shaila Willis
Assignment: My meaningful life
Date: 10-5-16
1.

2.

3.

Three Step Response

Velcro Words and Phrases
My future to be in Barbados
Friendliest people
Family
Close knit
Keep in touch
Ever stop making relationships and connections
Trustworthy
Values
Instilled in me
Date nights
Family game nights
Lengths to resolve
Prominent leader
On the right path
Never give up my hobbies
Music
Those around me happy
Happiest I can be
Family, culture, leadership, and compassion
Feelings
Inspired
Happy
Vibrant
Moved
Tickled
Touched
Questions
When do you plan on moving
Do you want to bring your whole family
Ever want to leave and travel?
Ever come back to the U.S?
Have you ever considered opening a big brother organization?

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Writer: Christopher Williams

Reader: Megan Doyle
Assignment: Meaningful Life-Peer Review
Date: Oct. 5 2016
Three Step Response
1. Words and phrases:
at home I fell in love again friendliest building each other up
I am most happy seeing others happy never give up my hobbies
impact more people than just myself meaning behind the hardships
2. Feelings:
encouraged open passionate hopeful
3. Questions:
How have your past mentors influenced who you are today?

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Writer: Christopher Williams

Reader: Martay Mosley
Assignment:
Date: October 5, 2016
Three Step Response
1. Velcro Words and Phrases
Barbados
Life in Barbados is less stressful
Spend Hours at the beach all day
Helping my community by becoming a prominent leader
Music is something that is in my culture
Producing
I could make a career out of a passion
Culture
2. Feelings
Interested
Engaged
Calm
Warm
3. Questions
What made you fall in love with Barbados?
What makes Barbados less stressful?
What is it about your culture that you love so much?