Reflection Paper on Life Goals Essay Example

Reflection Paper on Life Goals Paper More and more Americans are struggling to stay healthy. People are finding it harder to fit exercise into their lives, develop healthy eating habits, maintain their weight, and to manage stress. It is not that people aren’t trying, but the American way of life has become a roadblock to the pursuit of health. In order to improve our health; we must shift our focus on improving our lifestyle behavior. Over the course of this semester, this class has taught me to analyze my overall well-being, stress level, and what to expect from my future. To begin I’ll start by introducing myself, goals, aspirations, education, and what life is like for me on a day to day basis. My name is Loretta; this is my final semester at Mercy College. I will obtain my Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies with a specialization in Paralegal Studies. In addition, I have obtained my certification to practice as a Mediator in the state of New York. Presently, I am employed full time as a Paralegal; I also hold a certification as a Sports Nutritionist. My academic goal is to successfully complete Law School; my career goal is to become an Attorney. We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection Paper on Life Goals specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection Paper on Life Goals specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection Paper on Life Goals specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer I prefer roles where I work independently; after being employed as a paralegal for the last 3 years I have come to realize my ability to work alone and complete multiple tasks are more efficient than working with a team. This is because when working on a case it is difficult to share the workload, not knowing where someone made an error, or if a motion was not filed correctly; it is too time consuming to fix the mistake of someone else. Therefore, if I made a mistake I’ll know exactly how to rectify the situation. Unfortunately, by working alone I haven’t had the privilege of making friends. This puts a damper on my social life and possibly my social skills. In addition, I noticed my stress level is pretty high due to taking 6 classes/ semester, work Full Time and cohabitate with my boyfriend. My diet could also be better; there are never enough hours in the day. I hardly have time to cook, eat or sleep. My doctor even prescribed my sleeping pills (which I try not to take). This about sums up my life in a nutshell, as you can tell it’s nothing particularly exciting. However, this course has taught me to reevaluate my life goals and how to balance the obstacles life has thrown at me. First, I noticed when students (like myself) study at College, we face difficult problems such as higher expectations from our parents, financial problems, exams or assignments. These examples can cause mental and physical stress to any student. Stress can be defined as the body’s reaction from any situation. Sometimes appropriate stress is good for students, it can push them to work better. (www. wattpad. com) However, stress brings more harm than benefits. When students live under pressure, they may always feel angry and argue with their friends or loved one by little provocation or no reason at all. Stress also can make students feel lonely or isolated, they may trigger crying jags, sometimes without warning, or they may cry for little things unrelated to their stress. (www. wattpad. com) Methods of stress management involve controlling and reducing the tension that occurs in stressful situations by making emotional and physical changes. A person’s attitude can influence whether a situation is emotional or not. A poor diet also puts the body in a state of physical stress and weakens the immune system. Someone with no outside interests, hobbies or other ways to relax may be less able to handle stressful situations. Some things we can do to take control of our stress level is by eating foods that improve your health and well-being. Such as increasing the amounts of fruits and vegetables we consume daily. Also, make an effort to socialize. Certain individuals under stress choose to be isolated and this can cause a feeling of loneliness. In addition to stress, health issues can also determine my future. If I go to the doctor one day and he finds something wrong with me, if I get cancer or a live threatening disease. This will hold me back from achieving my goals because my body will not be as strong as it should be to handle the pressure of school, and work. All these conditions can help prevent me from being who I want and getting the job I want. Health can be maintained by eating good nutritious food. This includes eggs, milk, pulses, fruits, etc. I supplement my diet with vitamins and do my best to avoid medication. I exercise regularly; this keeps me healthy not only physically but mentally too. I try to avoid eating at comers of the streets where street hawkers sell unhygienic and often stale food. I like to eat food cooked at home. Fresh fruit juices and salads keep me healthy too. Maintaining happiness is equally good. I keep my temper low and try to stay as happy as possible so that my health does not get affected. I have made these habits a part of my life and I find myself feeling very happy and contended with myself most of the time as I have a peaceful mind housed in a healthy body. Furthermore, besides maintaining a healthy diet and exercise we should also consider a Primary Care Physician. As most of us know, long term relationships can be hard. This is why it’s important to find the physician who gives you what you’re looking for. Just like dating, PCP’s vary in personality and practice style. (Lamberts 2009) When searching for an ideal doctor, you’ll want to ask yourself: Do you want a young doctor with recent/modern training or an older doctor with experience? Does it matter if your doctor is on time efficient or would you rather have one who takes their time to talk but generally runs late? Do you want a well-established popular doctor with few appointments available, or a less known doctor with more openings? What about a doctor who sets rules and tells you what to do versus a doctor who negotiates and explains? Would you rather a specialized doctor (Ex: pediatrician, internal medicine) or a family doctor? Overall, different people have different preference. (Lamberts 2009) The most important thing for us is that the doctor is always on time, people will often compromise on the other things to ensure they don’t have to spend a long time in the waiting room. Finally, five years from now I would like to achieve most of my lifetime goals. Hopefully one day I will be married and maybe have children. I wouldn’t mind remaining in Westchester County; however my home is in Florida. Unfortunately, the pay ratio is substantially low and I would not be able to financially accommodate myself or my family. My professional goal in life is to become a lawyer. In the last decade, careers in the field of law have become more important due to the increasing number of lawsuits. I can see myself walking into a court room with my suit and briefcase. It is a goal that I must strive to achieve. If you have dreams you have something to look forward to; something to focus on; even something to live for. To accomplish any dream, you must first face adversity in the eye and conquer your fears. For me personally, training to be a lawyer will take time and commitment. I must constantly look at where I am now and evaluate where I need to go from here. There will never be a time in your life where you are at the top. You must keep climbing the ladder of success. My happiness in what I do is also a goal. There is no way anyone can find self-fulfillment if they are not happy with what they are doing. Aside from professional goals, I hope to maintain a healthy lifestyle and occupy my free time with outdoor activities. My current academic/employment situation does not allow time for any extracurricular activities. I see my goals as tangible, and they are well within my reach. I work hard for these things not only to make a good life for myself, but to make a wonderful life for my future children. Setting goals prevents me from becoming sidetracked, and it allows me to push harder and further for my aspirations. If I maintain my focus, nothing will ever defer my dreams. Works Cited http://www.wattpad.com/7155646-stress-for-college-students-essay-on-stress http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/prevention/how-find-good-primary-care-doctor?page=all