Time does fly because I still remember my first introduction to the class, one hour later the official beginning since I had to attend my law class from my International Business and Management studies.
For that last article, we had been told to enumerate our learning objectives in relation with Bildung, those from last time announced in front of the class, at the moment of the very first evaluation; and keep track of them.
First, let me remind you the complex definition of "Bildung". That germanic term has been introduced to us as such: the research of our inner self and the introduction of that latter to society.
As usual, let me be honest. As I said to the entire class previously, I do not have any particular learning objectives. Please, do not see any sign of laziness or cockiness in that last statement (even if I won't blame if you do anyway, "fair enough"). But I was in Spain, it is true that I already had that kind spiritual awareness about myself, my particular place in society and my legacy.
I know that last exercice was aimed to help us to "take care" of our weaknesses but I have simply stopped focusing on them. Instead, I would rather strengthen my natural abilities, skills and gifts.
Because indeed, as I read today on social media, "You are good enough, smart enough, beautiful enough and strong enough. Believe it and never let your insecurity run your life." Thema Davis.
Please do not get me wrong, I may be French but I am not perfect (could not help it).
More seriously, since my first Erasmus in Enschede to my year-long stay in Spain through my studies at Saxion University of Applied Sciences as an international student in Deventer; I have not changed much, I grew up.
I have learned to finally accept myself as I am by taking advantage of my strengths and through my awareness of my weaknesses.
I have been incredibly lucky to have met beautiful women from Norway, France, Germany, Greece, Spain and Italy who taught me how to truly love myself and take care tenderly of someone else.
But since I am asked to talk about my "learning objectives", I will share with you what I am currently trying to improve:
1- My communication skills: my ultimate dream is to give speeches as my old man does. For those who have never witnessed it, my father is our Martin Luther King Jr or Barack Obama (at least). When he decides to speak seriously, the entire World stops. His face expression, his choice of words, his rhythm, his intonation, voice, body language mingle with his natural charisma. However, I have unfortunately inherited one of the main inconveniences of African culture: the lack of communication. It is simply not normal to express our feelings back home. That is the reason why, I tend to communicate openly with, first myself, and people around me so that it can benefit everyone and free my mind and heal my heart.
2- My discipline. As some of my friends know; I am an early bird who wakes up every single day at 5:55 in the morning (even sooner now). Why? You could fairly ask yourself. I am secretly in love with the silence of the morning and beauty of the creation of new day; we tend to forget cause it is happening while we are still sleeping. I used to take a long breath and focus on that particular moment. Later on, I can think of my day ahead, analyse what I did correctly or not the day before and finally work out. By working out each morning (except on Sunday, let's chill a little bit), I want to make sure I got the mental toughness I need to face my next challenges. Because, I expect a lot from life and I need to be prepared to its obstacles.
Currently, my biggest challenge is to be a second-third-and-fourth-year student at the same time. But guess what? I truly believe life sends you challenges only YOU can overcome. I almost feel honoured to be the only student in that position, probably because I might be the only one to be able to make it through. That is the reason why I wrote my own X commandments, posted on my door:
3- My personal development at large. I want to live in harmony with my time, keep on learning about myself through meeting similar and different people, by learning more languages, traveling to places I have never been before and more importantly, through my own happiness and love.
That is all for the moment. Writing my own thoughts and open myself in the Internet have been something to me but it remains an enriching experiment. I might go back at it in a near future but first things first.. Let's get that diploma! Other challenges are waiting for me.
