Importance of Life Experiences

Importance of Life Experiences
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The adage “experience is the best teacher” is a famous phrase that has been adopted and is regularly shared in many cultures and communities around the world. The statement is a reaffirmation of the fact that experiences constitute the most substantial part of a person’s personality and help to shape not only who they grow into but also how they relate with others and the environment. Life experiences are essential especially to young people as they help them make wise and informed decisions moving forward regarding what is right and wrong. Additionally, life experiences also help individuals to make fewer mistakes in their future endeavors and instill in others trustworthy attributes and strong leadership skills. It is also worth noting that these life experiences are not always positive and some can have negative and catastrophic ramifications such as the loss of a loved one because of one’s stupid mistakes. Nonetheless, the more experiences individuals encounter and go through in the course of their lives, the better prepared they become. Greater experience leads to greater wisdom because from birth we are molded by our environment.
Personal Life Experience and Its Significance on My Personality
I am an international student studying in the United States for the past one year now. My educational move into the US was the first time I had left my home town and country, and therefore, it was not very easy. The lack of adequate and quality learning facilities in my country necessitated my search for greener pastures in the US. Also, the vast array of educational opportunities in the US combined with the desire to see how life was in other parts of the world fueled my relocation. Nonetheless, the move was not only smooth emotionally to my parents who were scared of letting their only child venture out into the unknown, but it was also financially demanding on them considering our poor background. Financial support from family and friends and the constant assurances to my parents that all would be well, eventually saw me join the university for my first semester and academic year.
The first few weeks in the US were the hardest. Everything was different, and people were so busy and always on the move. There was a significant infrastructural difference in comparison to what we had in my country characterized by tall buildings, plenty of fancy shopping malls, hotels and restaurants, and well-tarmacked roads. There were also many learning and healthcare facilities all over the city. I was also able to notice that the town was filled with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. People of African, Asian and Latino descents flocked the various establishments around the city. Some were tourists and could be seen with maps and huge backpacks while others had established residency in the area and had acquired employment in the industries and factories around the city. The same cultural and ethnic diversity was also a significant element around campus which helped to ease my induction into the institution.
One of the major challenges that I initially faced was the language barrier considering that English which was the primary language used to communicate was not my strongest. However, I adapted fast enough and with time I was able to freely and adequately communicate with my classmates and teachers. I was also able to make friends, and I specifically formed a close relationship with Agu, an energetic Nigerian who continuously fascinated me with many stories from his home country. Through the interactions, I had with students from different parts of the world I was able to embrace the diverse cultures and beliefs. I was able to get a better understanding of how things are done by different people compared to our culture, and these experiences not only helped to shape my personality but also contributed to the mutual friendships I had with others.
When I moved into the US, I didn’t have any family or friends and therefore, I was forced to start life on my own. I managed to secure a place outside the campus for accommodation and unlike home where my mother would ensure she prepares food us; I was left to plan on what and when to eat. The many social amenities around the city in amusement parks and cinema’s also put a lot of pressure on me focusing on my studies, but I managed to overcome the temptations and put my education first. I used the experiences and challenges I encountered and faced to build and strengthen me to become a better person. By the end of my first semester, I had become fully accustomed to the life within and outside the campus. I learned to survive with the little that my parents would send me for upkeep and even managed to identify cheap areas where I would buy groceries and necessities. Early on in my second semester, I acquired a part-time job waiting tables in one of the city restaurants which offered substantial aid in easing my parent’s burden. The wages I received also helped me to purchase more household items and tour other parts of the city during the weekends. I have learned a lot in the short time that I have been in the US for my studies. I left home a young boy who was highly dependent on his parents and those around me, but I have since grown into a responsible man who is not only independent but very capable of coexisting with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
The Relevance of the Importance of Life Experiences
The significance of life experiences in the effective modeling of individuals has not only been focused on the community perspective, but the aspect has also been reiterated by various scholars and authors in their literary works. John Krakauer who is the author of the world acclaimed book Into the Wild describes the importance of individuals possessing an adventurous spirit which would enable them to take risks rationally. The book details a young man’s exploration by challenging the wilderness while fighting with deep family issues and discovering himself (Krakauer, 1997). John Krauker not only focused on the life experiences of the protagonist Chris, but he also gave vivid accounts of other explorers whose adventurous spirits transcended rationality and led to failure. In so doing, the author presents the impression and identifies with the fact that experiences differ and that not all journeys are smooth. The book repeatedly illustrates the plight of strangers in sympathy and indifference in challenging situations.
There are various themes that John Krauker portrays in the book. The first outright theme is that of adventure that has been fostered by the protagonist Chris who leaves his less harmonious home and upbringing in search of a better life. Chris’s journey resembles my relocation into the US to seek quality education, but in this case, it focuses on a broken individual who was tryin...