I had it all planned out. I would have completed my first degree by the age of
27, my Master's by the age of 35 at the latest. I am from a family of intellectual people. However,
with my parent's separation, my life did not go exactly as planned. There were good times, as
as well as sad, but I see my life as a living example for others to learn from. By the end of this
paper, you would have learned about my accomplishments, failures, and goals for my future.
I was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. My hometown of Jamaica is one
of many islands in the Caribbean Sea; which is located 90 miles south of Cuba. Jamaica has
made a name for itself as being one of the major tourist getaways, worldwide. The culture of
Jamaica is wide and varying but of our main focus is family. The Jamaican family is a close knit
web of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. My family is the most important group to which
I belong. (Witt, G. A., & Mossler, R. A. 2010).
Family gatherings became something to look forward to as a child. Those
normally took place at Easter and Christmas. I remember the preparations that went into
planning a successful dinner. My mother, my aunts, and my uncles would each cook a dish
and take it to the home that was selected for the gathering. My cousins and I would enjoy the
meals prepared as we all took part of the festivities. The dishes prepared included Jerked
Chicken, Curry Goat, Jerked Pork, and many other festive dishes. Everything we cooked
was hot and spicy because that is part of our culture. These gatherings reminded us of the
meaning of family. The love and support showed at all times. I grew up adapting these traditions
and family gatherings became my number one tradition.
My friends were just as close to me as family. A number of them, would
become lifelong friends. There was those friendships made at school and those made in the
neighborhood. My friends ...