The document is a personal reflection on the author's adolescence. It discusses the biological, emotional, and social changes they experienced during this period. Specifically, it notes the physical growth and changes in relationships with family members, the difficult emotional changes and need to learn to manage emotions, and how their way of thinking and decision making matured. The author highlights how their mother provided support to help them understand and cope with the changes, which strengthened their family relationships and helped mold them into the person they are.

1. Running head: PERSONAL REFLECTION PAPER
1
PERSONAL REFLECTION PAPER
4
Personal Reflection Paper
Lou Sorrells
February 28,2021
I was born in 1990 in Los Angeles, to share a cropper during the
winter season, my father being a serious farmer of the time, he
possessed large livestock that one could not estimate. My
mother was a business lady who knew every corner of the
Market opportunity that stimulated her effort. She could do
anything within her effort to ensure that we got everything that
we wanted from food to clothing. My mother was a God-fearing
lady and I can remember before her death in the early years, we
could attend church services. Besides, her sisters whom I call
my mom, had been caring during that whole time of sorrow and
treated us like one of their own with a warm reception, and total

2. care for us. I was the second child among our siblings, and my
father help raise family members that weren’t even his children.
Also, my father being the oldest in his family, his parents had
natured him in the best way possible and thereby could not
relent to the same to us too. I managed to acquire his character
in solving problems, behavior, actions, and everything about
him.
During our early life as siblings, we attended the same school,
though far, we managed to do it until standard eight, and
everybody could easily notice us because of similarity we had
in our facial appearance. (Stout, 2020). I joined a high school
where I did my best and secured a chance at Harvard University
where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Medicine. We
lived in a family full of unity and friendship that promoted
cohesion due to the closeness. The religion was not left aside as
we used to attend church services as a family, and my parents
being in the choir and us in the youth team, we enjoyed it as we
knew what God played in our life. My aunt's uncles were the
cutest and sweetest to have in addition to other family members
who could tell jokes and make you laugh.
I liked going for walks with my friends and as I can remember
very well the day we went for a hike several miles away from
home, it was fun and we enjoyed it all together. Being one of
the elder siblings, taking care of my younger ones had become a
challenge, we severally crossed each other’s line but due to the
family tie, we could solve everything out and be good. I’m sure
living in the nineties came up with several challenges for a
black family in the United States, but my father with his hard
work, was able to provide for every one of the family.
Availability for the farm produce and livestock he owned,
facilitated our education and in the provision of basic needs in
addition to paying for our school fees despite our number in the
family. His big home with high ceiling, big rooms, and his act
of spending time with the family during weekends and holidays,
made me admire him and even wanted to be like him in my life.
Several cultural practices, celebrations, and other norms made

3. us realize some important aspects of life. (Simatele, 2018).
Furthermore, due to the experience I got from my father and my
family as a whole, I was able to apply this in my daily life and
has helped me go through my daily life. After attaining my
degree, I got a well-paying job in line with my Medicine career,
which has helped me deal with my basic needs. Besides, I got
married to my beautiful wife who is God-fearing and respectful,
together we have been able to sire two children. With the
character of hard work, I got from my father, have been
triggered and currently working on my big house with big
rooms. I would like to give thanks to my family, especially my
father for his hard work and perseverance that has enabled me
to face life with a lot of courage.
Reference
Simatele, M. (2018). A cross-cultural experience of
microaggression in academia: A personal reflection. Education
as Change, 22(3), 1-23.
Stout, D. E. (2020). On the Value of Reading and Reading
More: A Personal Reflection and Educational Resource. The
Accounting Educators' Journal, 30.
Running head:
PERSONAL
REFLECTION PAPER

4. 1
Personal Reflection P
aper
L
o
u
S
o
r
r
e
l
l
s
F
e
b
r
u
a
r
y
2
8
,

5. 2
0
2
1
I was born in 1990 in Los Angeles,
to shar
e a cropper during the winter season
, my father
being a serious farmer of the time, he possessed large livestock
that one could not estimate. My
Running head: REFLECTION PAPER
1
REFLECTION PAPER
3

6. Reflection paper
Institution
Name
Date
My father was born in 1965 to share a cropper during the Jomo
Kenyatta times, my grandfather was among the serious farmer
of the time who had a large number of livestock you could not
count. My father was one of the 9 children and my grandparents
help raise family members that weren’t his children my
grandmother was jovial and every smile could be seen on her
face during my childhood and she was quite pleasant. My
grandmother was a business lady. My grandfather suffered from
a massive stroke and was bedridden for a year before dying
when I was just in elementary school. My father would always
go down the country as we called it which was only 32miles
away from where we lived. My father would go to help his
brothers and sisters care for my grandfather.
My father would tell us stories about how they walked also
everywhere they went or rode on the back of my grandfather’s
wagon since the invention of vehicles and other modern modes
of transport had not come. It was interesting listening to what
he always told us that he wanted more for his children to finish
school, go to college, and have their things not having to wait to
be given anything. Even though we didn't do like he wanted but
we accomplished the goals he set for us. I could not i magine
having to live in a world where I had to pick firewood, fetch
water for people, or couldn’t do what I wanted. My uncles and
aunties were the cutest and sweetest people you could meet also
by telling jokes and making you laugh. They were experienced
and had been schooled in the higher schools which were

7. available during that time. My father’s family all lived close to
each other within walking distance and this promoted cohesion
and unity among the family members at large.
It was fun to visit them over the weekends because there were a
lot of cousins down in the country. I liked going for walks with
them and in fact, I can remember very well the day we went to
watch a football tournament just a few miles. I'm sure living in
the sixties had its share of ups and downs for a black family,
but my grandfather was a true provider to care for his wife,
children, and other family members. The farm produce he could
sell and feed his family and besides, the livestock he owned
played an important role in our life and his generation as we
were able to be schooled through them and even provision of
basic needs after his demise. His home made me want to have a
home with big porch, big rooms, a high ceiling and always
having a family to share your time with especially on the
weekends.
I believe to this day that’s why I loved old big houses with
porches because that what I encountered from my father’s
family and now as an adult, I have an old big house that I’m
fixing up so it will look like the one my grandfather had. I have
been triggered by his character of being hardworking and caring
for my family as he did. I have managed to marry a beautiful
hardworking wife and we have sired beautiful children.
Otherwise if it were not for the life I saw from my father's
family I think things could have been that hard for me because I
could not have experience of the hard life. I thank my father and
his family at large for the experience I garnered during my
lifetime.

8. Running head: REFLECTION PAPER ON ADOLESCENCE
1
REFLECTION PAPER ON ADOLESCENCE 3
Personal reflection on adolescent
Name
Institution
Date
Personal reflection on adolescent
Adolescence is a stage in everybody’s life; it’s a stage where a
person experiences some changes in their body, emotionally and
physically. This development from childhood to adulthood is a
must in everybody’s life. During this period, a lot changes like
biological growth, emotional changes, relationship with our
parents, and our decisions making towards different aspects of
life. Having a reflection on this stage, this was my experience
during my adolescent development.
Biological growth is a must in every adolescent's development.
When I started experiencing this growth it seemed so shameful.

9. I could no longer go out and play with my peers freely as
before. I felt a feeling of uncertainty and guilt. I could hide my
enlarging breast by wearing baggy clothes. These changes were
so difficult to adjust to, I become distant and felt lonely. It was
so irritating to know that I was no longer a child, I couldn’t
play some games nor do things like before. Being a daddy’s
girl, this growth created a rift between us and I become more
close to my mother. The relationship between my mom and I
grew since she understood the changes better and made me
understand what I was experiencing.
Back in my adolescent period, emotional changes were the most
difficult changes to deal with especially during the menstrual
period. During my menstrual period, I could feel a lot of anger
on the slightest provocation. I lost control of my emotions; it
was so difficult to cope up with these changes. All I needed was
someone to help me through this confusing stage of my life and
all I could get was that it’s normal to feel that way. So during
my tough emotional changes, I could prefer being alone to avoid
being judged. This had an impact on my relationship with my
friends especially the male friends. I learned how to deal with
people going through emotional changes since I had gone
through the same. And with time I embraced those changes
because they were now part of me and worked on the ways to
manage them so as not to hurt people.
This stage changed my perception of a lot of things, and when it
came to making decisions I wasn’t the same person I used to be.
I could now reason more maturely and I saw life from a
different aspect. Most of my decision included a lot of thinking
and considerations unlike before. I made more meaningful
decisions that were positive and for this adolescence had put a
positive impact on my life. I could now understand my parents
better: for example during their financial problems. I felt like
an adult and my thinking too changed. I longed to understand
people better especially my parents and friends. The
relationship between my parents and me become tighter since I
could now share a lot with them and help in the reasoning. I

10. placed myself in people’s shoes before deciding on something
that will affect them. I now had answers to some questions and
could freely come up with a decision in case need be.
Adolescence helped strengthen the relationship between my
parents and me especially my mother. I was curious to learn
more things that come with the changes. My mother was a great
help during this period since she was there for me every step of
the way and this made me learn new things that I didn’t know.
She helped me understand myself better as a woman and how to
handle myself. I was no longer a child and the support I got
from my family members and friends was of great help which
moulded me into the woman I am today.