Learning Experience Essay

For the past years in college, I have faced situations that needed intelligent decisions. Though many times I have considered the possible consequences, nothing could prepare me when I faced them. In the end I always realize that I have made the wrong decisions, and I could not turn back time to change them. However, these experiences taught me lots of things that helped me to become a better decision maker. I admit that there is a part of me that always tries to avoid making the boldest decisions, despite the fact that they are the safest (Arsham, 1994), as it appears risky to me. Moreover, there were times when these decisions are nerve-racking and difficult and I was often left scared to deal with the outcome. At one point in my life, I experienced losing friends who have been with me for years. I did not notice that slowly they were pushing me down despite our friendship. And even if this one person who I just met for a few months warned me about how my ‘friends’ back-stabbed me, I did not believe her because I knew my friends better, or so I thought. It was hard for me to accept that they, out of envy, would tell bad things about me. I have confided in them, my life was an open book to them, and I trusted them with my whole life. Then one day, all of their hate words reached me. I was in shock, because my friends treated me well whenever I am around. I was in a state of denial for a few weeks. During those weeks, I was like another person. I was apathetic and unemotional (Messina, J, and C. Messina, 2007). It was like those years of friendship that we have built for almost three years were broken in just a few days. Later on I was angry at them. And then I realized that my anger was a reaction for being hurt and insulted (Richmond, 2008). The hardest part was turning my back on them because I knew I do not deserve to be friends with persons who would deliberately say bad things about me. It was really a difficult decision, because somehow I have treasured those moments when we were genuinely happy with each other’s company. What made it more difficult was seeing them in places where we have hang out before. Seeing them always reminded me how I was not careful in choosing people who would be a part of me and my life. Up to this day I am still hurt when I think about them. But the good thing is that I became better at choosing friends. I do not judge somebody easily, but since then I have found friends who are better than best. And that is enough for me. References Arsham, H. (1994). Leadership decision making. Retrieved December 15, 2008, from http://home. ubalt. edu/ntsbarsh/opre640/partXIII. htm Messina, J. J. , and C. Messina. (2007). Tools for handling loss. Coping. org. Retrieved December 15, 2008, from http://www. coping. org/grief/denial. htm