Hello my name is Karina Myles and I grew up in Pocatello, ID and surrounding area. The area I grew up and the people influenced me by giving me an appreciation for animals (life in general), outdoor activities and work ethic.
Honestly, I am not much of a reader. When I was in high school I read all of the required textbooks but I don’t remember what any of them would have been about. As I get older I have started reading more action novels and do enjoy reading about European history.
I grew up with a mother who religiously watched the morning and nightly news on NBC. I have since continued this tradition and every morning and evening I am watching NBC news. I do also browse Yahoo news and read articles if I find a subject to be interesting or just want more information.
My leisure time is spent outdoors running, hiking, fishing or some other outdoor activity depending on the season. I do feel that this is a big influence on my “lens” as I am a very healthy, fit and determined individual.
I am not a very religious or spiritual person but I do believe that everyone has a right to believe in whatever helps them navigate through this life.
My family did not come from different cultures so growing up with my family and living in a small town I did not get very much cultural diversity as a child.
When I was 18 years old I joined the Army. From the moment I landed in basic training it was complete culture shock. I was open minded enough that eventually things evened out for me and I went to many different states for training and then I got deployed to Iraq. Being deployed helped to aid my perspective on human behavior and changed my mind on the outlook I have on what the purpose of life is all about. I now find other cultures very interesting and I am open to see how others live and try and incorporate things into my life that I feel are important.
I do have people and experiences that I consider essential in shaping the person I am today. I honestly don’t think there is a single person out there who could say this question does not apply to them. For me there are to many people and events to name but I am glad that I have grown up and had the experience I have had because it has shaped me into a person who is open minded, caring, self sufficient and determined.
“Being deployed helped to aid my perspective on human behavior and changed my mind on the outlook I have on what the purpose of life is all about. I now find other cultures very interesting and I am open to see how others live and try and incorporate things into my life that I feel are important.”
I’ve met many student veterans who share this perspective. It gives me hope!
When I was 18, I chose to attend a college on the other side of the country. I kind of freaked out because while I had been exposed to diverse, multiethnic cultures in Southern California, I did not yet have the tools to deal with the (at the time) conservative, white, very religious culture of Virginia as represented at that college. Unlike you, I fled. Good for you for sticking it out and learning!
Well I will have to give the credit for sticking it out to the military, it is not a possibility to leave. Most of the time you have to figure out a way to make the best of whatever situation you are in and adapt.
I think it is great that at such a young age you decided to attend college on the other side of the country, It isn’t easy stepping out of your comfort zone.