Ryan Burkett
December 3, 2008
SOC-101-02
Gail Spessert

My Socialization

My biological family history is something that would take a bit more work to find out about. Being adopted from Pusan, South Korea was one of the best things that could happen to me. I’ve been raised in a loving a giving family. I would never know the same bond as being a biological child, but I consider my adoptive parents my real parents as they have raised me to be who I am, making great strides towards bettering my future. As a child I was taught right from wrong, and I learned from my mistakes but was also given many privileges and toys. My parents played with me and kept me active almost spoiling me with their love.
My dad has provided for this family, he’s been a Dentist for as long as I can remember. When I was first born and growing up he was moving his office from the hall side opposite of where he currently works. My mom attended school with my dad and ended up stopping school to help work and pay for my dad’s schooling. My mom worked as a dental hygienist for some time and I found out that my uncle Bill in Florida was a dentist and his wife, my mom’s sister was also a hygienist. My mom had four sisters who grew up in a small house towards Keyser or Morgantown, West Virginia. I never did get to meet my grandfather on my mom’s side as he had died before I was born. My father’s side includes him and his sister Marge who lives in Keyser to this day.
When I was in elementary school I was enrolled in a private school. I had a strong involvement with the church but somehow was never good in any religion classes. Starting at the first school, Lisbon Christian Academy, I was a bully for the longest time, not necessarily a bad bully, but a bad leader because I had been rough with some of the kids. When I moved onto Full Gospel I had learned to just be myself, and not pick on anyone. Karma I guess really does come full circle because in middle school and early high school I was picked on by two “rednecks” who rode my bus. I was the center of all their racist jokes, but I had always learned to ignore it and just be myself. In terms of sports I had started at T-ball with my dad being one of the coaches, and I eventually worked my way to machine pitch. My parents wanted to me try something new, and as hard as I fought it I ended up playing soccer. Some of my best friend I ended up meeting through soccer. I continued with soccer and was always a better sprinter, and you could probably blame my short but muscular legs on that. I switched out during one winter to try basketball during middle school and ended up only making one 3-pointer shot the whole season, but then again who are we kidding, basketball is definitely not my sport. My parents also pushed for me to become involved in the Boy Scouts of America. I joined Cub Scouts Troop 460 during Webelos and ended up meeting Derek, Nate, Ricky, and a few others. On April 28, 1999 we started Boy Scout Troop 428, which has made a prominent name in Mt. Airy. Located out of Poplar Springs, and being close knit with Mt. Airy Middle School as well as St. Michael’s Church the troop slowly expanded. Our philosophy for accepting scouts was to only accept as many as we could handle so that they could get the same experience and have the chance to develop just as the rest of us. In the Boy Scouts, you can no longer be a scout once you turn 18, unless you are in a venture crew or are part of the scoutmasters etc. By the age of 18, Nate Simon, Ricky O’Steen, Derek Schmid, Derek Frantz, Cole Hasson, and myself, the original charter members had all earned our Eagle Scout awards. The number of Scouts from our troop to earn Eagle Scout was of a very high rate and caliber. Joining scouts was one of the best things I had ever done, teaching me life skills and how to rely on myself as well as others. I ended up networking and creating bonds that you can’t find anywhere else, with friends who will always back me up no matter what the issue is.
From a young age, I also developed a strong fascination with Star Wars and almost anything relating to science fiction and action. I grew into a passion of art through this as well. From as young as I can remember I would draw planes, trains, tanks, cars, and guys holding weapons with call signs using any combination of the number 6, 9, 0, or 1. My favorite number later became 8. It’s possible I developed a slight amount of symmetrical OCD from art and this could have influenced this. I liked 8 because of its balance, its ability to be represented in so many forms, from something technical to something elegant. 8 also can be turned onto its side to represent the sign of infinity. I’ve always been fascinated with religion and believed in angels and I feel that infinity can represent any and everything in life, from love, living, emotions, configurations, and God. The OCD comes into the picture after this because I have always had a love for art even when others criticize, I find beauty and freedom and history with it. I only started to realize within this past year I may have OCD from the way I align light switches, pens, desk space, remotes, and anything I design; there always has to be some sort of balance and flow. I started drawing basic things at a young age, and later developed even with lessons where I didn’t really learn but just experiment and do my own thing. My parents had been into some photography, or really just capturing moments of our lives. My dad was into trains as he had worked on steam engines before, and he also got me into skiing. My focus enveloped art and photography for the longest time, where I could just constantly shoot pictures or draw. When I got to high school I found myself taking most art classes and often visiting museums and art galleries. My sophomore year I was blessed with a Nikon D50 d-slr, and then my senior year I was blessed with a 5 on my AP Studio Art Portfolio. Alex Ehrensberger and I were not expected to receive the perfect score, but we managed to beat all 6 or 7 girls who were constantly giving us hell for being the only two guys. I was active in soccer, art, and Boy Scouts. I had started off high school a tiny 105 lbs. who was active as the freshman and sophomore class secretary. By my senior year I had found myself sporting a mohawk and weighing 135 lbs, and was still lost with what I wanted to do. I also learned who your real friends are and that the most important quote about work is, “Make sure you pick a job that you like, why would you want to go work everyday at a job you hate?”
My first year in college I placed myself at Catholic University of America with a decent scholarship and only 1 friend from home. Edward Dawson and myself had no clue we were even going to the same school and we had played soccer and hung out throughout high school with most of the same friends. I applied for the Residential College program which allowed me to live in a suite styled room with a roommate, in which we shared one bathroom with suitemates. I ended up growing my mohawk to a full 8 inches throughout the year, and stopped playing soccer as well as lifting. I landed myself on academic probation after my first semester so I worked hard and managed to pull a 1.6 up to a 2.3 by pulling a 2.7. I never got to meet with my advisor so I couldn’t register for my classes and I decided not to return to CUA if I couldn’t get into classes I wanted and needed, it would have been a waste of $40k. I ended up coming back to Carroll Community where I hung out with Kyle Muranaka who had come to visit me almost every weekend at CUA to hang out. I met Drew Phillips who attended South Carroll with me, and also I met Chris Brown. I had made a lot of friends at Catholic and I still keep in touch, but I also ended up becoming friends with people I hadn’t talked to in high school. I smoked Djarium Blacks (clove cigarettes) at CUA and when I came home to Carroll Community I started smoking lights and some menthol lights because you can only sit in the library for so long. I started lifting and playing soccer again when I started my first semester at Carroll, and managed to get very fit. I had been as low as 7% body fat during my senior year in high school, but after I got an inguinal hernia which prevented me from lifting and working for about a month or even two months. I worked hard and started to get the body I had always wanted, but I could never commit to the body building lifestyle because I enjoy partying. At my peak of my “drinking career” I managed to put down 25 beers in a night but since then have never tried to do that again. I drove drunk a few times, but I learned my lesson because I kept falling asleep and such so it was just a bad situation all together and I basically scared myself out of ever being that irresponsible.
When October 2007 finally came around my life changed once again. Emma, now 13 months was born and started the next generation for our family. I love my little niece to death and I am always willing to watch her and play with her. My sister and I have had our issues in the past, and because she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder I think more deviance and issues developed from it. My sister matured to a point where she was fit to take care of Emma, but she still hasn’t matured as a person which is important when you’re 23/24. I’ve always been brought up to be honest and responsible among such other positive qualities, but I still have resentment for the way my sister acts. She ended up going to NA meetings for her use of pills and such, but I have managed to stay clear of all drugs throughout my lifespan.
In terms of influence I feel my dad and I have always been positive. He taught me almost all the basic life skills I carry with me today. I actually influenced him and he started smoking cigars, listening to country music, and buying guns. He was never in favor of hunting, but I was always willing to give it a chance. Like stated before I’ve had a fascination with guns and anything with action since a young age; this carried over into the present day where I hope to pursue a criminal justice job as opposed to my original goal of dentistry. If school didn’t work out my last resort was to join the marines and I felt that I could learn so much but I could also bring a lot to the table as well. One problem was that my parents weren’t so happy with that idea, and when recruiters once came to my house my mom ended up drinking a lot of wine that night. My mom taught me how to respect women and how to be handy. I’ve been able to live on my own before and I know how to cook, clean, and do basically anything needed around a house. My role within my family was a workhorse to such a point. I was given an allowance for the chores I did at a younger age showing me the benefits of working and doing the job right the first time.
My God-father and sister’s God-father helped me better myself as well. My God-father is Conrad Grant and he has raised 4 boys of his own. He was always there for me and has shown me how to act like an adult and how to follow my faith. From simple things like standing and sitting in a proper position, to using manners in a professional situation, he also showed me the greatest kind of friendship and care. My sister’s God-father is ret. Col. Richard Schnell of the USA Army. He helped me in scouts, and was very important in my overall networking from the beginning of high school up to today, where he has always written very strong recommendations based on my character. I’ve always been able to call either of them for any advice and help I’ve needed.
St. Michael’s church was a very important foundation during middle school an high school where I had made a name for myself by always volunteering and being active in youth group, peer ministry, habitat for humanity and the boy scout troop. Once college came I started to lose interest even though at CUA I joined the Catholic brotherhood known as Esto Vir. I wish I had a stronger will to remain more faithful and church oriented when I haven’t been as committed. My family will always be one of my strongest influences for myself and my true friends will always be there. I’ve always lived by the thought that relationships between girls will come and go but friends will always be there for you. This past year my cousin said that “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life” so I’ve listened and followed my heart. Two quotes, have helped me shape my life; they include my own, “those who dare to dream will rule the world,” and a quote from the movie Greenstreet Hooligans, “"The best part is not knowing your friends have your back, but knowing you have theirs..."
I feel that society is complex, and it always will be. You can’t simply judge people and group them by “statistics” and “features” they have. Society has its perks and its faults; it’s an ever-evolving world where we hold the future and ability to decide the future in our hands. Stability can be found with the right crowd and right timing, but when in reality is anything ever perfect for anyone. Most of the time we find out more about ourselves when we’re in bad situations or when something doesn’t necessarily go our way. As dumb as it is, sometimes you think about life and death, and it doesn’t really seem like such a big deal. I’ve always felt that to die with honor and valor by saving another’s life would be the way I’d want to go. I believe in an afterlife but when you think hard about it, it can scare you because you’ll find yourself wondering if you should have done something different or not. Live life to the fullest without regrets, but when it comes time, what happens? Do we find ourselves floating in nothing but pitch black? Or is it like all the stories of white clouds, pearly gates, and golden streets? Life is a big question, and every individual in it has their own answer.