During the Friday morning school-wide assembly at Oak Hill Academy, the school gathers to reflect on the past week and to prepare for the week ahead. Over the years, senior devotionals have come to be a cherished highlight of this time, as the 12th-grade students take turns sharing an inspirational thought. Interested students work with the campus minister, Rev. Turnmire, to prepare a thoughtful and uplifting message. By giving these devotionals in a community setting, students become more reflective and develop their voice while building confidence, articulating their values and encouraging the OHA community. A recent devotional that made an impact on students and faculty alike was given by Arthurline Mulbah from Liberia.
I can’t keep track of the amount of self-evaluation I have done, but I can for sure say that it all has shaped me into the woman I am becoming.
Self-evaluation is my way of getting to the root of struggles and is the way I interact with the people and the world around me. I first start by writing down all of the things I am struggling with, whether it be low self-esteem, following up on my school work, or the way I treat others.
After writing them down, I start to take action to fix my struggles. For example, if I notice I am not doing well in a certain class, I try to figure out why. In some cases, I learn that it was because I wasn’t focused in class or because I was not preparing well enough for the tests and quizzes. From there, I make a conscious decision to not repeat those actions.
For the scenario of me having low self-esteem, I remind myself that my worth is not based on what others think of me, but what God thinks of me, and I pray about it. I also meditate or listen to affirmations about self-worth. I am very mindful of how I view myself, because it affects my relationships and interactions with the world around me.
Self-evaluation is my way of showing that I care for myself, and that I am willing to take every step necessary toward improving myself. It may not be the easiest thing to do, as it requires you to stand up to yourself, question your motives, and to be brave enough to make a positive change in your life. However, through self-evaluation, I am able to erase the negative influences of life and create my own reality.
I would definitely encourage people to incorporate this practice in their life, because it helps you be the best version of yourself.