Inspiration, Personal Statement Example

We believe in America that an individual’s destiny is in his/her own hand but one cannot overestimate the importance of positive role models in life. I have been helped and guided by many people in my life but no one has inspired me more than my first swimming mentor, Coach Shuck. Coach Shuck would treat each student as if he/she were the most promised student because he understood that the key to winning one’s admiration and trust is to make them feel valuable as an individual.

Coach Shuck taught me that we should not strive to be like someone else but instead to be the best we are capable of and we never know what we are capable of until we try. He would often say that hard work is as important as talent because a diamond needs polishing before it demonstrates its true beauty. I always had confidence in my abilities but Coach Shuck helped me discover the other part of the equation to realize one’s potential. I would never have built work ethics to this extent were it not for Coach Shuck and as I analyze my progress over the years, it is clear that hard work has proven to be a more reliable friend than talent.

Coach Shuck also helped me learn the importance of being a team player and helping others in their difficult times. Coach Shuck believed that we are part of the communities in which we live and as such we have obligations towards the society as well. He would provide free coaching to children from poor economic background or troubled homes because he wanted everyone to have equal opportunities in life. Coach Shuck exemplified American principles of equal access to opportunities through personal examples. He would say that we do not control where we are born but we can control how we decide to live. Those of us who have been fortunate to have loving families and stable homes should reach out to less-fortunate ones. Coach Shuck motivated me to do my best but he also emphasized the importance of being a team player. Teams thrive when members trust and respect each other and put team’s collective benefits over personal benefits. Coach Shuck would say that the most successful people in an organization are often not the most capable ones but the ones with the most support among their peers and subordinates. We can achieve a lot by combining our strengths and skills which is why teams work best when members understand their interdependency upon each other.

But the most important lesson Coach Shuck taught me was that failure is not about falling short of expectations or goals but to give up. He used to say that disappointments enable us to test our mental strength and personal courage. Without disappointments, we may not enjoy our successes as much as otherwise. Our life is defined by not one or two exams but our performance in a series of exams. This is why we should keep going ahead no matter what obstacles or disappointments come our way.

I have spent more time with many other people than I did with Coach Shuck but Coach Shuck taught me more about life in few months than what most people can teach you in years. To the world, Coach Shuck may be an anonymous person but his legacy will continue to live through his students. I want to realize my potential because it would make me happy but I also want to realize my potential because I do not want to let Coach Shuck’s hard work go in vain.