Positive Attributes Paper

My Positive Attributes Paper

            Upon asking family and friends about what they think my perspective strengths, abilities and skills are and their insights into them, I can now formulate a distinctive set of my strengths, abilities and skills. This set will lead me to the understanding and recognition of my ultimate “hedgehog,” or what I am the best in the world at. There were a few strengths and stories that came up multiple times to lead to me formulate a sense of my true being and the areas in life I excel in or that stand out most often. They are: my public speaking abilities or communication skills, my personality, and my drive for success or determination. In each of these three there are numerous variables that contribute to the understanding of my strengths, abilities and skills. Because of this there is more than one side or layer to each aspect of the given set.   

            In regards to my public speaking abilities and communication skills, it is something that people seem to notice right off the bat. I was told that my communication skills give me the ability to meet and greet new people and ultimately inspire them. I have the ability to hold an “adult” conversation without having to truly try. My friend recalled a time when I met an Old Ag while waiting in line for the restroom and he happened to be one of the executives for Balfour, who makes our Aggie Rings. I was so intrigued with his occupation and the fact I was about to get my Aggie Ring, our conversation revolved mainly around his occupation and the business aspects of Balfour. By the end of the conversation I received his business card and a great deal of insight into one of our Universities oldest traditions. This was a great example to show my ability to communicate with others on a more mature, business level.

            While growing up my parents raised me to engage my brain before I engage my mouth because it is ultimately about knowing what to say before you say it. I believe I am excellent at doing this in most situations. It is also those who listen well who get the most out of any conversation. They say that the best conversation that one will ever have is one when they are asking all the questions. It is then that they will ultimately learn the most and something more might come from the conversation (i.e. network building).

            When referring to my communication skills I am someone who does not have a problem with speaking my mind when need be. One person stated, “Shelby is able to express her opinions without feeling insecure about what she has to say, even if it sounds dumb.” She also recalled the first time she had me in class and remembered thinking, “dang that girl speaks her mind.” It is something that is ingrained in me and allows me to be openly honest and upfront with those I am around but it can be one of my largest downfalls as well. I try to be open like a book because without honesty there cannot be friendships or relationships.

            Public speaking was a reoccurring strength that was noted with many of my family and friends. A friend stated that she admired how great of a job I always do because of my enthusiasm and execution of a presentation no matter the topic. She also stated that I am always prepared to speak by knowing the material very well and being able to handle rebuttals with ease because of my preparedness. This quality I have worked on all my life and is something that I am always trying to improve upon. I believe it is one of my most important strengths and abilities that I am able to bring to the table.

            In respects to my personality, many people referred to me as being lively, enthusiastic, confident and also assertive. I try to bring something fresh and new to the table when working with a team, whether it is lightening the mood with a joke or simply being understanding of others. By trying to be positive despite the pressures in our lives I can help our team move along with our projects or make a bad situation turn into a learning experience.

            My personality can be intimidating to some because I am very strong-willed like my father, thus, leading me to be a bit assertive. I have an aggressive approach to a lot of tasks. Those who know me well say that it is something I have indeed obtained from my father because he is a businessman who likes things done his way or the “right” way. I am simply a product of my creation and inherited some personality traits that can be perceived either positively or negatively, given the extent to which someone knows or understands me. I was told that some people might think I am being cocky when I am simply being assertive. This is true because I am very confident and do not like to be looked down upon. This attribute flows over into my third strength, ability or skill, which is my drive for success.

            A friend noted in one of my responses something that pretty much sums everything up. She said, “Shelby adds value by being very driven. I honestly don't believe that a lot of people have this characteristic but Shelby is fortunate to have it. When I was put one a team with Shelby, there was an instant work ethic, ‘we need to do this, and we need to do that.’ She kept us on task in order to get everything finished throughout the duration of our meetings. There was no waiting or fooling around. Being driven is definitely an important asset in life, and it allows Shelby to bring hope and order for type B people who need a little pushing around every once in a while.” Clear as day, she shows what most people do see or experience being around me. I am a person who is persistent and motivated through success.

            It is in my nature to be a natural born leader and I am determined. I do what needs to be done when it needs to be done and I hold everyone I work with to these expectations. Someone noted that, “when doing class projects I always want to take the lead to ensure that the project gets done in the best manner possible.” With my determination I am someone who does not throw the towel in easy whatsoever. I work hard, no excuses. A team member noted that I was going through a rough time with a sick family member and it was putting a lot of stress on me but I did not let it hinder my work because I knew how important the project was to our team. I do this because ultimately it is not just about me but also about all of us. I was driven to be a team player regardless of my life stresses. It is a fact of life and everyone has to deal with them in their own way and I deal with them by working hard and succeeding with the task at hand. I would not be where I am today without this very important aspect.  

            With all of these personal attributes combined it is safe to say that I am someone who will do well in or with anything that involves public speaking and interacting with others because of my drive and motivation for success. All three of these work together so well but one sticks out more than any of the others. I believe my “hedgehog” is my speaking ability because it empowers me, motivates me and more importantly shows my personality in different situations. Since two of my main strengths from Strengths Quest, communication and woo, are associated to my speaking ability it brings extra emphasis to this skill of mine. My friends and family would also clearly agree to this conclusion and it would be an understatement to say that I see a very bright future using my speaking ability.

            This “hedgehog” will help me in my future and current endeavors such as law school and Page Parkes Acting and Modeling School that I was recently accepted into. Either way it is a win win situation that I am sure to excel at if I put my mind to it. Speaking is something that I do everyday. I would not be the same person without this gift that I have been given and it is my job to use it to the fullest extent in the best way possible.

Power of Positive Thinking

I wait on the side of the road glancing down the path that I have traveled so many times. Pondering the live I have lived so far and what journey I am soon to take. What lies ahead is unknown and will soon become my life. A new road is to be traveled and only God knows where and how far it will take me. - Shelby Cooper

In life one thing is for sure, the way you think dictates your life. I spent time with a chiropractor, yes a chiropractor who specialized in helping change peoples mentality to help them overcome illnesses and numerous different life hinderances, if you will. I learned so much in such a little time, like phrases such as, "I believe I can be perfectly well," when said over and over until your subconscious believes it. Yes this simple phrase will ultimately make you feel better and increase your quality of life if you open your mind and allow it to. My point is that they way you think is the way you live, it encompasses every aspect of your being. 

I use to be a very crude and judgemental person with some seriously big blinders on. I never wanted to think about what others were thinking or how they felt because it was all about me. But, during my time in college my eyes have been opened and my point of view has changed so dramatically, because the world DOES NOT revolve around me. I'm just one person, 1 star in the entire galaxy. 

I have had the chance to travel the world and meet different people with very firm views on Americans in general and even to the extent of bashing former President George Bush. It was crazy the things that people said and the way they thought, but, they have never heard or learned anything different than the norm. They don't want to hear something different than what they believe to be true. It's almost sad that that is how society is today, close minded. 

But, there were those who were indeed the exception. I got to interview people from six different countries and numerous cities within them and get their perspective and most envied our freedom and our right to express our opinions without repercussions. It was an  eye opener, a glance into a different way of life and in some ways I want to live and be like the Europeans but in other ways I do not. 

We are so very blessed in America and sometimes do not realize the many simple things we do everyday others dream or wish they had or could do in foreign countries. We have to give of ourselves both mind, body and spirit and be able to think in a way that helps ourself and others along the way. 

Your mind is your roadmap and if you deviate, your life with go with it. Always stay in control and make sure that you can turn a negative experience into a positive life experience. Using the simple phrase, "Grateful for the experience because I learned_______________." You fill in the rest. You can see things in a different light and let go of some baggage that you have been carrying for quite some time. It's simple, but not very easy to do, but, If you can think this way then you can go a lot farther in life, more so than you have ever dreamed of. 

  

Opportunities=Chances

In life you are dealt many opportunities to succeed, fail, sink, swim or make your dreams come true.

We can't wash away what our inner thoughts and conscious tells us to do because that is what keeps us on our toes, preparing us for what is ahead. You expect a perfect life, where everything unfolds and falls right into place. This is only a fathom, a magical fairytale, per say, that only happens to those who are extremely lucky.

Chasing after ones dreams is sometimes just simply a dream. We don't always act on our intentions or visions. I was always told that in life there are talkers and there are doers. Which one are you? Each and every day before I place my feet on the floor I remind myself that in order to succeed in life I must do what others do not want to do. Sometimes you must sit in the back seat and be okay with it until you are finally given or see a chance to jump the gun and shine. 

I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime and I have one thing that is standing in my way. This one thing has been haunting me all my life and I can't seem to sometimes get a grip on reality and "just do it" like Nike. 

With so many things going on in my life I know one thing is the most important, above all no matter what and that is my health. If I do not have my health then I do not have anything. I would not have a chance to take life by the horns, live life fully, adventurously, and with an open heart. NOTE: This is the main and only thing that matters when you are my age and have the world at your fingertips. 

Of course my family and my friends are of the up most importance to me but sometimes you have to make a choice and choose what is best for yourself. If you are not well you cannot take care of others nor will you be your normal true self. It's a trade off that one must be willing to take and know that the decision that they make they stand behind it and believe in it, whole heartily. Once you make your mind up that you can succeed in all your endeavors then you will be able to grow as an adult and a human being. 

The world is a big place, waiting for you to explore it. Don't let the small things turn into the big things. Take time to reflect and learn from your previous mistakes, but know your only HUMAN and that people have been in your shoes before. 

So, in the end it's simple, MIND over MATTER...and it's Your life and Your dreams.....don't lose sight of that fact.  

Something I wrote a while back that I would like to share:

I closed the book that had my past strewn upon the pages.

It was no longer bound.

My past life came crashing down and was scattered all over the floor unto which I stood.

No longer were my memories in order.

No longer did I feel the need to rekindle my lost works, for they were no longer welcomed in my present story.

So, I set them aside and moved onto a new novel…my own.

I searched a room filled with marvelous story books in a quest for my own blank manuscript.

I sought out a new story, a new beginning, middle, and end.

It would be written the way I have always dreamed my own story would be.

I dreamed of a life of happiness, understanding, and bliss.

Finally, on the furthest shelf hidden amongst dust and cobwebs, I found my future masterpiece.

I held an empty book in my eager hands, a book that was bound strong and sturdy, one that could withstand the constant rummaging through its pages.

I opened the new book and turned to a clear and crisp page.

It felt as if this book was calling my name to lay a sea of ink upon the many parchment pages.

I committed to the pages and a stream of words flowed onto them.

My heart was emptied, and all that I loved was tattooed upon them.

My book was permanent and always there for me to confine it.

Reading my words kept my heart beating, filling an emptiness that had risen inside me.

I found what I had always been missing and wrote what my heart told me.

My own book not only brought me back to life but let my life live on.

It was through my words and these pages, I told my story, a story that I found satisfaction with, for it was truly my own.

I placed it back onto the wooden shelf to sit in peace amongst the others.

I know it will be there forever for anyone to read and ponder, wondering how their life could be changed with just the will to write it.  

Wouldn't it be amazing to see life through someone else's eyes? Well, I hope I can give you an insight to what it is that makes me tick. Before, I can be my funny and sometimes embarrassing self, I have to be serious and seriously tell my story. 

In life we have these moments where we realize the path we are on is not the right one. The light at the end of the tunnel is fading and we are somewhere in-between lost and confused. This has been my life for the past I don't know how many years. Some judge me and see only the external cues such as the smile on my face or the shoes I wear. But, what lies beneath the surface is something no one has ever really dared to encounter or question. Yes, I am confident and am independent, but, I am also vulnerable and slowly healing and dealing with things out of my control. 


I have been told that if the world was to put their problems all in a pile and see how much other people are truly hurting and suffering we would gladly accept our difficulties and face them with dignity and persistence, knowing we are lucky just to be alive and healthy. This is true and I know that it's not right to judge anyone when I have no idea what they are facing or going through. I just wish the people that I thought were close to me could understand this simple heuristic.


I am nothing compared to who I was in High School. I will be 21 in less than 2 weeks and am more mature than people three or four years older than myself. I make mistakes quite often, but, I know how to fix them and get the help or advice I need when I need it. We are all human and you are not living life to the fullest extent unless you make mistakes and have a past to reflect upon. One piece of advice: really listen to your parents because 100% of the time my Mom was absolutely right about someone or something. It's really scary but true!


I do not want sympathy, but hopefully, I can provide some insight and understanding for what I have been going through so others can understand how and why I do not do as much or go out as much as I use to. 


So here comes the heavy stuff, the things that I have been facing and what has been dictating my life for the past year. After months of tests and being stuck with needles sometimes more than 15 times in one week, I finally went to this gastrointestinal genius of a doctor, Dr. Mathias. He first listened to my insides with his stethoscope and then made me listen to them and they sounded like rice crispies that just had milk poured over them, popping and crackling. This meant that something was for sure going on in my gastrointestinal tract. He ran a test on me and found that I have a neuromuscular disease in my digestion tract, where my intestinal tract and colon has seizures and causes severe, almost stab like pains. Because I had this disease and how severe it was, Dr. Mathias was absolutely sure that I would have to go see another doctor, Dr. Mangel, an infertility specialist. I would soon be diagnosed with endometriosis, which is a female disorder where cells from the lining of the womb grow in different areas of the body and is affected by insulin and glucose absorption. Almost all women have some endometriosis in their system but it does not react or cause symptoms and pain such as mine did. Between these two diseases I was affected everyday in the way I felt, slept, ate and perceived myself. It was depressing and took me off my tough girl petalstool after taking multiple stabs at my dignity. I had surgery in December to remove my endometriosis and it went well but still to this day I encounter problems and bumps along the road to recovery.


I am on a strict diet of what I can and cannot eat. I have not had a medium rare steak since last September and that is my all time favorite meal. It's almost hard to believe that after all this time I do not even think about red meat when I start considering what I will cook for dinner or even lunch. I take medicine 4 times a day with each meal and before I go to bed to try to subside the seizures that still persist.  


It's not easy to admit you were your own worst enemy and part of the reason I had these diseases was because of what I put into my body. How we rise after falling is what truly dictates one's true self and intentions in life.
My hope is that I can conquer and control these diseases with a healthy lifestyle full of exercise and healthy eating. I wish none of these things upon another and pray for the guidance needed to succeed at the journey ahead of me.


SSC