Within a world of 7.1 billion people, there are countless opportunities and crossroads where we are forced to make decisions; decisions of who we are, what we represent, and who influences us. Everyone's decisions are different, which makes us all unique individuals whose journeys and paths of the past are one of a kind. One major determinate of the decisions we've made and the decisions we will be making is the type of people we encounter or are influenced by, Whether they're our friends, family, or someone we've never actually met, naturally, we all have someone we model ourselves after, or draw inspiration from, in order to groom ourselves into who we are today. For me personally, my childhood friends, my grandfather, and the Sedin twins have been inspirational characters that have shaped me into who I am today. Although three vastly different people, they all represent different attributes that inspire me.
1. Childhood Friends
When I was only 9 years old, my parents decided to send me to school in China. I had lived in Vancouver for all my life, and it was all I had known. In my mind, I was "forced" to leave all my friends and start a new life in China, which was "jail," from everything I had heard about the strict academic regime that existed. However, the three year and a half years I spent in China were 3 of the most influential years of my life for many different reasons. I lived amongst many families who were struggling and attended an elementary school which wasn't exactly highly regarded. However, everyone there seemed to enjoy life just as much; I will always remember the enthusiastic looks and bright smiles at seemingly every minute of the day. Even though to them, I was different, as a Canadian who spoke fluent English and acted in a different manner, they still accepted me in a way that I will forever remember. When I left China in 2010, all 48 of my classmates had prepared individual gifts just for me, and together, they had made a large yearbook-type book to document all our experiences together and their personal information, in case I would forget. Frankly, we live in such a privileged part of the world that sometimes we forget about the more pressing issues in the world, and are too focused in the small problems that we face. Looking back, the love, compassion, and acceptance I received during my tenure in China not only made my childhood unique and unforgettable, but it also opened my mind up to the many things we can do to help each other, even if we reside on opposite sides of the world. From this experience, I now frequently feel the urge to give back to the people who are less fortunate, and yet equally positive in their outlooks towards life.
2. Grandfather
Both my grandfathers have played instrumental parts in my life so far. Unfortunately, neither of them are here with us, but they've left a lasting impression on me for the rest of my life. My grandfather on my mom's side especially, however, has been perhaps the most inspirational person in my life. Just like many others living in rural China in the 1970s, he started from basically nothing. Throughout the years, he was able to build up a reputation, and soon became a well respected figure around the growing city we were living in. Through hard work and determination, he was able to become a highly regarded official in the city, and soon earned enough money to raise the family. He later built a hotel in Beijing in honour of the city he had come from, and it is still running successfully today. He is one of the major and only reasons I am able to live a fortunate life today. However, my grandfather furthermore holds more sentimental value to me than anyone else. He was an educator, and wanted the best for me in every single way possible; he wanted me to become a successful and ethical individual, and taught me many life lessons; he was hilarious, outgoing, loving, charismatic, and just about any positive word you can find in the dictionary. He also provided me with my name, which is cool too. Truthfully, my grandfather is one of my motivations to succeed in life's endeavours, I remember he always said to me, "If you get into Harvard, I'll buy you a Ferrari!" I'm probably not getting in to Harvard, but I'm sure as hell trying to make him proud.
3. The Sedin Twins
As a huge sports fan, there's always going to be someone I look up to in the sports world. For me, there is no one better than the Sedin twins, not only as athletes, but as people. Growing up for the most part in Vancouver, I have always followed Canucks hockey. My dad had always told me, "I've witnessed Trevor Linden and Markus Naslund throughout their whole careers after coming here in 1994!" For me, I grew up watching the Sedin twins, followed them through their ups and downs, and watched as they've matured and declined as players. From a hockey perspective, there's something about them that's just so admirable; perhaps their telepathic sense of where their brother is on the ice, or perhaps their insane skill that for 16 years now has carried the Vancouver Canucks team, or the fact that they've won many awards and so much respect throughout the league (even though they don't get enough). However, that's only from a hockey fan's perspective. As people, the twins are two of the most consummate professionals in sports, and carry themselves the way you want your leaders to carry themselves. They are the epitome of humbleness and humility, and have shown their massive hearts by donating 1.5 million dollars to the BC Children's Hospital. They are everything you want your role models to be, and personify the type of professional and individual I strive to become in the future.
1. Childhood Friends
When I was only 9 years old, my parents decided to send me to school in China. I had lived in Vancouver for all my life, and it was all I had known. In my mind, I was "forced" to leave all my friends and start a new life in China, which was "jail," from everything I had heard about the strict academic regime that existed. However, the three year and a half years I spent in China were 3 of the most influential years of my life for many different reasons. I lived amongst many families who were struggling and attended an elementary school which wasn't exactly highly regarded. However, everyone there seemed to enjoy life just as much; I will always remember the enthusiastic looks and bright smiles at seemingly every minute of the day. Even though to them, I was different, as a Canadian who spoke fluent English and acted in a different manner, they still accepted me in a way that I will forever remember. When I left China in 2010, all 48 of my classmates had prepared individual gifts just for me, and together, they had made a large yearbook-type book to document all our experiences together and their personal information, in case I would forget. Frankly, we live in such a privileged part of the world that sometimes we forget about the more pressing issues in the world, and are too focused in the small problems that we face. Looking back, the love, compassion, and acceptance I received during my tenure in China not only made my childhood unique and unforgettable, but it also opened my mind up to the many things we can do to help each other, even if we reside on opposite sides of the world. From this experience, I now frequently feel the urge to give back to the people who are less fortunate, and yet equally positive in their outlooks towards life.
2. Grandfather
Both my grandfathers have played instrumental parts in my life so far. Unfortunately, neither of them are here with us, but they've left a lasting impression on me for the rest of my life. My grandfather on my mom's side especially, however, has been perhaps the most inspirational person in my life. Just like many others living in rural China in the 1970s, he started from basically nothing. Throughout the years, he was able to build up a reputation, and soon became a well respected figure around the growing city we were living in. Through hard work and determination, he was able to become a highly regarded official in the city, and soon earned enough money to raise the family. He later built a hotel in Beijing in honour of the city he had come from, and it is still running successfully today. He is one of the major and only reasons I am able to live a fortunate life today. However, my grandfather furthermore holds more sentimental value to me than anyone else. He was an educator, and wanted the best for me in every single way possible; he wanted me to become a successful and ethical individual, and taught me many life lessons; he was hilarious, outgoing, loving, charismatic, and just about any positive word you can find in the dictionary. He also provided me with my name, which is cool too. Truthfully, my grandfather is one of my motivations to succeed in life's endeavours, I remember he always said to me, "If you get into Harvard, I'll buy you a Ferrari!" I'm probably not getting in to Harvard, but I'm sure as hell trying to make him proud.
3. The Sedin Twins
As a huge sports fan, there's always going to be someone I look up to in the sports world. For me, there is no one better than the Sedin twins, not only as athletes, but as people. Growing up for the most part in Vancouver, I have always followed Canucks hockey. My dad had always told me, "I've witnessed Trevor Linden and Markus Naslund throughout their whole careers after coming here in 1994!" For me, I grew up watching the Sedin twins, followed them through their ups and downs, and watched as they've matured and declined as players. From a hockey perspective, there's something about them that's just so admirable; perhaps their telepathic sense of where their brother is on the ice, or perhaps their insane skill that for 16 years now has carried the Vancouver Canucks team, or the fact that they've won many awards and so much respect throughout the league (even though they don't get enough). However, that's only from a hockey fan's perspective. As people, the twins are two of the most consummate professionals in sports, and carry themselves the way you want your leaders to carry themselves. They are the epitome of humbleness and humility, and have shown their massive hearts by donating 1.5 million dollars to the BC Children's Hospital. They are everything you want your role models to be, and personify the type of professional and individual I strive to become in the future.