What Matters Most to You, and Why? Essay Example

To define how I have become who I am today is extremely difficult. There are many different factors that have played a vital role in shaping why I am the way I am today.  It is challenging to conduct a deep self-examination and pick out the specific events that illustrate why I am the person I am today. Every insight, experience and lesson was a tool for shaping my perspective and has also played a vital role in what I have done and the accomplishments I have had thus far. I have made mistakes, but I took the experiences and learned from them to try to better myself as time evolved. I still am not where I want to be, but I feel I am headed in the right direction and feel confident that the future will hold amazing opportunities.

At the age of sixteen I was able to participate in activities that molded me at a young age. I still had the personal focus of hanging with my friends, getting my license, and playing video games. However, I had the opportunity to participate in a mission trip. The experience made me see that no matter how much more material things in life I wanted, I had far more than many others. This single experience changed me drastically and influenced my desire to help others today. I am now thirty years of age, and I have been blessed to have joined in many different mission trips around the world.

The mission trips had many different purposes but each with its own specific focus. We went into communities and built houses, hospitals, witnessed to people, served food, and did whatever we could to provide hope and direction to the individuals who were living with so little. Participating in these mission trips allowed me to be a part of changing the lives of many people, communities, and even countries. Seeing how a small sacrifice of time and effort can change the lives of individuals who need just a glimmer of hope is motivating. It provides purpose and direction for one to see that they can change lives through their own personal sacrifice and commitment to others.

To attribute a specific event or circumstance to why I am who I am is not possible, but there are landmarks which had more impact than others. One of the first situations I have even been faced with which showed the true meaning of humanity and selflessness was on the second mission trip I even participated in. We went to a third world country to take supplies and help repair a local school. A young boy perhaps eight came in with his little sister. We were just about out of supplies but he asked if there was anything that they could have that would serve as shoes for his sister. Her feet were cut and dirty from not being able to afford shoes. We found a pair that would work for her, but never once did he consider something for himself. When he sat down we saw that his feet were just as bad as his sister. We of course gathered some clothes a pair of shoes for both of them and some hygiene products that they needed. To imagine an eight year old boy and his concern for his sister, void of his own dire situation was definitely a moment that changed me forever.

From that moment forward, my thinking shifted and evolved. It was no longer what can I do to make myself better, it became how my contribution can help someone else. It took a while to find a way where I could help someone without really helping someone. For example, giving someone a pair of shoes was situational, in most cases handouts do pose a positive outcome. Either the recipient is too proud to accept or we are handing an individual a fish instead of teaching them to fish for themselves. It took a long time to find a way where I could follow my passions. Learning how to teach one to fish was a learning process. A big motivation for me is to be able to help others realize their full potential. It is empowering to be able to influence and shape people into not accepting their own personal situations but changing their future options.

Eight years ago I founded a clothing manufacturing company and have been able to establish a solid business over the years. As I have shifted my focus to owning a business and finding the necessary footing for evolving the business, I have also learned a lot more about how to work with others. All people are valuable in who they are and what they can bring to the table. People are far more important than any material things. We have worked together and mutually grown a successful business which allows us to do more positive things for our communities. Throughout the years I have been able to work in helping friends, business, family, accountancies to not only acknowledge their potential, but to aid a handing in guiding them. I feel that setting an example to others is just as important as any verbal aid that one can offer.