Introspection (or, "Quiet. We're thinking.")

To know yourself you must know your mind and personality as well as your motivations and desires. It can be hard to gain self-knowledge, as anyone who has had to write an introspective piece before knows. However, with self-knowledge comes a greater understanding of "what makes you tick", which can make it easier to think through decisions and ensure that you decide that which is best for you.

My two biggest weaknesses (which are often intertwined) are my stubbornness and my pride. Because of them I've avoided and put off things for years -- both small, silly things like drinking orange juice (which I'm sure I don't really "not like") and more important things such as peer trips and programs. I don't like to admit that I'm wrong; I feel that once I've stated an opinion about something I have to stick by it or else I'm giving in -- it doesn't matter who to, I sometimes even feel this way about giving in to myself. This trait probably started out as an intrinsic part of my personality, but having two brothers and a stubborn family has helped it develop into its present ridiculous state. Often when I'm in the middle of an argument and refusing to budge I'll realize how absurd I'm being, but it won't make a difference -- if I admit it I'll lose, and in my stubbornness and pride I don't want to. I've made some progress, though -- just last night I admitted to my brother that Dilbert is funny (but only some of it). Small concessions like this can help me prepare to make bigger ones. It still won't be easy to give ground, but at least I'm working on it.

My best quality is my desire to learn about the things that interest me. This doesn't always help with schoolwork, but it's led my to become an authority on all things avian (and the works of Douglas Adams). I can spend hours reading about a bird's feeding technique or courtship rituals (some of my favorites are the male Kakapo's "booming" in his bowl on a mountain or hilltop and the Palm Cockatoo's habit of beating his nest log with a stick to attract a female's attention -- that's tool use!). My enthusiasm for learning about the things I love has given me a lot of pleasure over the years, and soon it'll help me build a career -- I'll be studying ornithology in college.

I always feel uncomfortable when I'm asked to write about my own qualities. Therefore, when I saw this asignment I appreached it somewhat guardedly. What if I don't pick up on something important, or don't judge myself severely enough, or come off sounding as if I'm singing my own praises? I'm usually pretty modest, so writing about my strengths is the hardest of these for me. Also, introspection is never easy. It can be hard to take a good, hard look at yourself, especially if you're disappointed with what you see. However, assignments such as this are a good place to start in your road to self-knowledge, so in the long run they do more good than harm.