Achievements

This post is a reflection for a course I am taking at Renison University College at the University of Waterloo. The course is titled Positive Psychology and is taught by Professor Denise Marigold, currently the Chair of Social Development Studies.

The topic of the reflection is from the course, though the response is my own.

So, this blog post is going to be a bit harder to write because it is all about things I have achieved. I generally don't try to be too boastful, but this is for an assignment so what the heck.

Here is a list of all the achievements I can think of in the past 10 years (since I was 12):

• I ran a 5 km race in 23 minutes
• I had the highest score of a student outside a big city on the national biology competition.
• I self-studied AP Calculus BC and got a 5 (the highest score)
• I was Schulich leader scholarship nominee for my school
• I finished top of my class in Highschool, with the highest average across all the math and science courses
• I was accepted into Waterloo Engineering
• I finished in the top 10 in my class in my first term of university with a 94% average
• I finished top in my class in 4 of my 8 terms.
• I received Dean's honor's list every term
• I was awarded the Savaas Chamberlin Scholarship for academic excellence in the field of circuit design.
• I received an outstanding on 4 of my co-op terms, the highest rating
• I did an internship at Intel and Microsoft, and declined an offer to work at Apple
• I stayed good friends with an ex after we broke up

Some of the abilities, interests, and strengths that helped me achieve these things

• I was born with a well-educated mother who wanted me to do well
• I really enjoy learning and studying
• In particular, I really enjoy math and science and will learn about it on my free time
• I work hard to do well at things, especially school
• I am generally outgoing and kind to people

One achievement that stands out to me is getting my job at Intel. That was my first job at a well-known company, and it stands out to me because in a lot of ways it is a culmination of all the other achievements. I think it was heavily influenced by my academic achievements, and my work experience from previous jobs. It took all the preparation from these to have a good resume, and then it took all the preparation and my being outgoing to perform well in the interview. I am proud of this because it showed that my hard worked paid off, and that my achievements are not just academic but extend to the "real" world. Looking back, I think it changed my life less than I would have anticipated, as I have since acclimated to it and am thinking about the next thing to strive for. I think from that I have learned that if I put my mind to things, I can do really cool stuff, but that there is more to life than achievements and that I should remember to value the journey and not just the destination.