If I were to choose an object that represents

my whole 2023, it would be a mirror. 2023 has been

a tough yet rewarding year for me. Allow me to
explain why a mirror resonates with me and my
2023.

Throughout the year 2023, I experience a lot

of emotions, challenges, wins, and failures. These
experiences shape me and contribute to my personal
growth. Just as a mirror reflects our physical
appearance, it also allows me to reflect on myself.
Self-Reflection is important for everyone. It helps us recognize our strengths and weaknesses,
enabling us to make positive changes and grow as an individual. By reflecting on our own
experiences, we can learn from them and make a better choices in the future.

Another reason why I chose mirror is because it symbolizes self-embracement for me.
When I stand in front of a mirror in the past years and see my own physical appearance, I used to
be very insecure. I somehow don’t like the way I look. I hate my own reflection, but year 2023
was different. That year, I finally learned how to embrace myself and the look that I have
whenever I stand in front of a mirror. I no longer hate the reflection in front of me. I finally
learned to embrace her. There are still times where I feel down, but I can say that I am in a much
better place right now. That, I think, is the best thing that could ever happen to a very insecure
person.

Lastly, mirror also allows me to see my own achievements. I clearly remember how I
stand in front of our mirror the morning of our senior high school graduation last year, thinking
about the awards I am about to receive later for being the Class Top 1. It was one of the rare
times where I get to see a joy and pride in my eyes for all of my achievements. It was indeed a
hard work paid off.

Next is 2024. If I were to choose an object to

describe my year 2024, I would choose a compass. A
compass is a navigational tool that helps guide us in
the right direction. I chose this as an object to
represent my 2024 because this year, I want to be
directed in a right way of every path I am going to
take.

This year, just like a compass, I want to focus

on finding my true path and staying true to my own
self. Just as a compass point us towards our desired
destination, I want to use my internal compass to make wise decisions that will help me achieve
my goals and lead me towards personal growth and fulfillment. A compass also represents
exploration and adventure. In the year 2024, I want to embrace new experiences, step out of my
comfort zone, and discover things I haven’t seen yet. Like a compass guiding us through
uncharted places, I want to be open to new possibilities and take more risks that will expand my
knowledge and broaden my understanding on things from a different perspective. A compass
also symbolizes resilience and adaptability for me. It reminds us that even if we face setbacks or
obstacles along the way, we can always redirect and find our way back on track. This year, I
know I will face a lot of challenges and unexpected routes, but I want to face them with
resilience and a willingness to adapt. Just as a compass helps us navigate through change of
routes, I want to remain flexible and open-minded in the midst of difficulties.

It is really hard sometimes to be a responsible person, especially when you are going
through so much. The sudden urge to just sit, cry and do nothing is always there when you are
sad and down. Well, it is not wrong to lie low and rest for a while, we are all allowed of resting
without feeling bad. That’s why I think it is okay to not be okay and forget all your problems and
responsibilities for the mean time and once you gather and fix what needs to be fixed, there you
can start to work on areas of yourself that can lead you to your own betterment and be a
responsible human being. The following are some of they ways that I think can help to
strengthen our awareness as a responsible person.

First, you should practice self-reflection. Take time to reflect on your own thoughts,
emotions and actions. Understand how your current situation is affecting you and those around
you. According to Socrates, the human life is supposed to be for one to achieve both personal
and spiritual growth. An individual will be able to understand their true nature when they
examine and reflect on the life they are living. By having an examination on the life we live, we
will better understand our pattern of behavior. Another way is to learn how to seek for help or
support when needed. Asking for someone’s help doesn’t make you weak or less strong as a
person. Reaching out to trusted friends or family members who can provide support and
guidance can help you process things wisely and gain new information that help you understand
things from different perspective. Their help may give you different viewpoints and also help
you make a responsible decision. Next is we should know how to accept criticism, especially
when it is constructive because it allows us to know areas of ourself that needs improvement. We
should never look at someone who give us criticism as our competitor or someone who just
judge us. Instead, we should be thankful because they are concern enough to tell us areas of
ourself that needs improvement.

For me, practicing self-reflection, seeking for help, and learning how to accept criticism,
is the easy ways for us to strengthens our awareness as a responsible person. By adding all these
to your daily life, we can build a deeper understanding about different things, accountability and
responsibility, helping us to make more wise decisions and contribute not just to our own well-
being, but also for others in our communities.