Knowing Your Why: Self-Assessment And Historical Context

Knowing Your “Why” - Self-Assessment and Historical Context

Understanding one’s “Why” is a fundamental aspect of personal motivation and goal setting, particularly when pursuing advanced education and meaningful change within a community. This self-assessment articulates my personal journey, strengths, weaknesses, and strategies for overcoming challenges, intertwined with the historical significance of the Cherokee Nation and their resilience through periods of upheaval and adaptation.

My pursuit of earning a doctorate degree originated from humble beginnings, growing up poor as one of five children in a household where my mother dropped out of middle school and my father only earned a high school diploma. Achieving my master’s and now my doctoral degree symbolizes a testament to perseverance and the belief that where one comes from does not determine future success. My core motivation is to demonstrate that determination can surmount obstacles, inspiring others from similar backgrounds to strive toward their goals regardless of societal constraints.

In conducting a Personal SWOT analysis, I identified key aspects of my personal and professional life. My strengths include flexibility in my schedule, allowing me to prioritize and meet deadlines; a minimum of 20 hours weekly dedicated to my academic pursuits; and a passion for learning. Conversely, my weaknesses encompass difficulty in asking for help, overcommitment, and tendencies toward procrastination. Recognizing these vulnerabilities has prompted me to develop strategies for improvement, such as seeking support when necessary, managing my workload through structured scheduling, and maintaining a detailed calendar to track progress.

Opportunities prevalent in my environment include the robust support network of mentors, family, and colleagues who motivate and assist me through my academic journey. Nevertheless, I face threats such as competing demands on my time from family, friends, and professional obligations. These distractions threaten to impede my focus, but I recognize the importance of balancing relationships with my personal development goals.

My overarching goals are to transition into the finance sector from education, complete my DBA within three years, and assume leadership roles that benefit my community, specifically aimed at aiding immigrants. My strengths—time management, perseverance, and attention to detail—are instrumental in pursuing these objectives. However, challenges such as avoiding overextension, managing external stresses, and reducing procrastination remain critical. To address these, I plan to implement work-life balance schedules, focus on controllable factors, and utilize organizational tools like calendars to stay on track.

This self-assessment is not merely an internal reflection but also echoes the resilience demonstrated by the Cherokee Nation, who faced displacement and cultural suppression yet persisted through adaptation and reinvention. The Cherokee’s survival strategies—such as developing a written language, establishing a constitution, and embracing a form of Western education—offer valuable lessons in resilience and strategic transformation.

Historically, the Cherokee experienced forced removal through the infamous Trail of Tears, an event that exemplifies perseverance amidst hardship. The Cherokee’s efforts to assimilate—adopting Christianity, creating bilingual newspapers like the Cherokee Phoenix, and establishing towns—demonstrate proactive resilience. Their legal struggles, including Chief Justice John Marshall’s decision in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, highlight ongoing battles for sovereignty and recognition within the American legal framework (Marshall, 1831). These historical instances mirror my own journey of overcoming obstacles and striving for recognition and impact within my community.

In essence, understanding my “Why” through both personal reflection and historical context reaffirms my commitment to continuous growth and societal contribution. The Cherokee’s history of resilience and adaptation serves as an inspiring backdrop, reinforcing the importance of perseverance, strategic planning, and community support in achieving meaningful change. My goal remains to leverage my education and experiences to empower others, especially immigrants facing adversity, thus creating a ripple effect of positive social change rooted in resilience and purpose.

Paper For Above instruction

The pursuit of advanced education and community impact is deeply personal and historically resonant. My own journey, motivated by humble beginnings and a desire to demonstrate that perseverance can overcome societal barriers, aligns with the resilience demonstrated by the Cherokee Nation. This self-assessment explores my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, goals, and strategies to overcome challenges, intertwined with the Cherokee’s historical narrative of adaptation and endurance.

Growing up in an environment characterized by economic hardship, I learned early that determination and purpose could transcend circumstances. Achieving my master’s and striving for a doctoral degree are milestones that symbolize personal perseverance and serve as inspiration for others from similar backgrounds. My core motivation is rooted in wanting to show that success is attainable regardless of one’s starting point, aligning with the broader narrative of resilience demonstrated throughout history.

The SWOT analysis revealed key attributes: my flexibility and dedicated work hours as strengths, and the difficulty in asking for help, overcommitment, and procrastination as weaknesses. Recognizing these facets has allowed me to develop targeted strategies—such as seeking support from mentors, utilizing structured work schedules, and maintaining organized calendars—to enhance my personal effectiveness. These tactics are essential in balancing academic pursuits with personal and professional responsibilities.

The opportunities available to me include a strong support network of mentors, family, and colleagues who foster my growth. However, threats such as competing demands for my time threaten my focus. To navigate these, I plan to prioritize tasks, focus on controllable factors, and seek assistance when necessary. My goals include a career shift to finance, completing my DBA within three years, and assuming leadership roles that resonate with my desire to give back to my community, particularly to immigrants facing hardship.

Strengths like perseverance, attention to detail, and time management are facilitating these goals. Yet, challenges such as overextension, external stresses, and procrastination still need addressing. To address overextension, I will implement effective work-life balance schedules. To mitigate stress, I will focus on controllable aspects and seek support. To combat procrastination, I will integrate organizational tools like calendars and task lists to maintain accountability.

This personal journey parallels the historical resilience of the Cherokee Nation, who faced forced removal via the Trail of Tears—a profound example of endurance and strategic adaptation. Their efforts to assimilate—through education, legal battles, and cultural preservation—mirror my own efforts to adapt, learn, and contribute meaningfully. The Cherokee’s legal struggles, notably Chief Justice Marshall’s decision in Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, underscored the tribe’s fight for sovereignty, reflecting an ongoing quest for recognition and respect within a complex legal and political landscape (Marshall, 1831).

By embracing their resilience and strategic adaptation, the Cherokee narrative demonstrates that perseverance amidst adversity can lead to survival and even thriving. Their story underscores the importance of purpose, community, and resilience—values that underpin my own mission. My “Why” is to leverage my education and experiences to empower others, especially marginalized communities like immigrants, fostering social change rooted in resilience and strategic action.

References

• Marshall, J. (1831). Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, 30 U.S. (5 Pet.) 1 (1831). U.S. Supreme Court.
• National Park Service. (n.d.). Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. https://www.nps.gov/trte/index.htm
• Films on Demand. (n.d.). Cherokee Assimilation as Survival. In The Story We Tell – The Power of an Illusion. https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=151823&xtid=49735
• Pulley, A. F. (n.d.). Cherokee Phoenix. New Georgia Encyclopedia. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/cherokee-phoenix/
• The Museum of the Cherokee Indian. (n.d.). The Story of the Cherokee Exhibit. https://www.cherokeemuseum.org
• National Archives. (n.d.). Baker Roll. https://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/cherokee
• Digital History. (n.d.). Indian Removal. https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/indian_removal
• Ancient History Encyclopedia. (2018). Cherokee. https://www.ancient.eu/Cherokee/
• Southern Cultures. (2008). Remembering Cherokee Removal in Civil Rights-Era Georgia. Andrew Denson. https://southerncultures.org
• U.S. Department of State. (2023). Native American Sovereignty and Legal Battles. https://state.gov/native-american-issues