For a 17 year old I think that I have grown a lot over the past couple of years. The societies that I have been living in, I consider to be the fertilizer for my maturity. Every stitch, every stick, every word, every person, everything that has come across my path has made me the person I am. It is quite hard for me to honestly say that there are just a couple of things that have shaped me so far. Everything that I have said, seen, felt, and heard has molded me. Therefore I am not a flat “character”, I am more rounded and complex.
However, I have deduced that my parents have played an important role in who I am. I have learnt to be respectful, trustworthy, conscious of my surroundings, happy, sad, organized, finance worthy, fretful, worrisome, and even a “walk-a-pickie” from my parents. I see myself as the puddle made when my parents left their footsteps in the mud. I have learnt that I must give respect in order to attain the respect I deserve. My mother always tells me that as a young lady I must have pride in myself. My parents have made me into this posh, yet relaxed girl. I can be very liberal about things and yet carry myself in the most conservative way possible. I remember that when I was smaller my parents never allowed me to use anything but a knife and fork when eating (exceptions include finger foods). My mom also taught me that I should never have a guy know me in entirety, “there must be some mystery, or else when you get older you will be considered stale.” This advice I keep dear to me; it has helped me keep my integrity as a young woman. My dad also taught me that as I get older I will not have my parents to protect me; I have made my personality my protector now. I think that I am extremely luck to have had the experiences that I have had. My parents have tried to be there for me when I needed them. Although they weren’t I think my life came out to be better. I know that as the only child, if I had gotten all the attention I would have probably been a spoilt brat. However, since my parents thought me to be contented, and were always on business trips, I have learnt to fend for myself. Therefore I can just be considered a brat.
Other than my parents, life is another influencer of my personality. The very essence of everything that surrounds me sends my mind to work and I shape myself so that I can deal with all that life may throw at me. I once read that life is “10% what has happened and 90% how I respond to it.” This has been one of the things that I have molded myself to. I try not to worry about what has happened, but how to deal with it. For everyday that passes I take a lesson from life about how to behave around others, how to work and so forth. I have also received some wicked spinners and I have sent them flying with a six (saying for only those who are knowledgeable of the game cricket).
So who am I? I’m Abeni Malaika Wickham; molded by parents, Sheranne Doorgasingh-Wickham and Claudius Wickham, and life. I have the tendency to be very happy everyday possible. On those days that I am not, I try not to show it because if I do I will make those around me uncomfortable. I hate making people uncomfortable, my problems are what they are, mine. I wouldn’t let it affect others. I am told that I can be very considerate, too considerate at times. I am what I am and I refuse to change, unless I am a hindrance. I love who I am at this age, and I know that I can only get better and I grow.
All of the adjectives are my feathers and they make my wings which helps me fly. I love everything that I am about, and I can’t wait to take it out into the world. They wouldn’t have a piece of me, but I’ll let them have a slide show.
