What I've Learned About Me (So Far) - Harrison Kight

Believe it or not, I’ve actually learned a lot about myself since I first got here on September 6, 2013. First, I have found out just how well I can handle frustrating situation. Sure, I still have my moments. (Everyone does, after all!) However, they do not occur nearly as often as they used to; and when they do, I can recover from them much more efficiently than before. Second, I have discovered how many people I can relate to with the same “issues” that I have. I’ve made lots of close friends here, and I know I’m good at making friends. Despite this, I did not know that they are very similar to myself in terms of mindsets and interests. This is a very cool fact, and I am happy to have them as friends, especially since I am “stuck” with them for the year! Also, I have unlocked many exceptional communication skills. I always figured that I was very talented at this. But when I improvised a full speech for a presentation on the fly at the end of last semester, I knew that there was something special about my speaking skills! Most importantly, I’m starting to get a clear picture on what field I want to work in when I become an adult. I still want to start out as a worker at the Apple Store Genius Bar, and I still hope to work as a software designer at the Apple headquarters in California. But when I arrived at the Academy, I realized that I also want to work as a nonprofit youth minister at home. My friends back in Charlotte, NC have affected me so much over the past few years that I want to follow the same path as them. If I did not come here, I wouldn’t have [easily] discovered this, or thought about how much I am capable of performing these skills at such a high level.