Who I Want To Be

"Become what you are not yet" - Saint Augustine. When you daydream, who do you hope to become in the future?

Fast cars, large houses, and exotic vacations. For some reason, that is not what I want in my future. When I think about who I want to become in the future, my uncle always comes to mind. He represents the values that continue to be important to me. Values I learned from my time at St. Michael's College in Toronto and come from the Psalm 118 verse: Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.

To me, my uncle is the definition of success. He is a Periodontist and Eagle Colonel in the United States Army. One thing that I admire about him is his commitment and loyalty to his family. Throughout his life I know that he sacrificed a lot for his wife and two children, which is important to me. My uncle is also a very humble man of few words. Throughout his life he has won many awards but he never broadcasts these accomplishments. We normally learn about them through his family. In my life it is very important to me that I do not brag about myself. One of the most humbling experiences is being an offensive lineman because the work I do is not recognized but it is both necessary and contributes to the good of the team. Additionally, I admire his commitment to both his local community and church. As I transition into young adulthood, I want to continue my regular attendance at my church and get further involved in my local community by volunteering at my local Ronald McDonald house and mentoring underserved youth.

For me success is not all about money or fame. However, it is what my uncle exemplifies in his life. The basic principle of having a career that does good for others, having family and friends, and fulfilling God’s will on earth would be enough for me.