ncontemplatingtheinfluenceofmymanyexperiencesinlife.IfindthatnumerousthingshaveimpactedwhoIamtoday.Althoughmylifehashaditspositivepointsaswellasitsnegative.IknowthatthetrialsandtribulationsIhavefacedhavedrivenmetomakecertaindecisions.Thosedecisionshavehelpedshapemypersonality,motivations,andprinciples.Myexperienceshowever,aresimplyareflectionofsomethingthatwasinstilledinmefromthebeginning.EachdecisionImadehasbeenbaseduponthebasicandsimpleteachingsofrightfromwrong,fairfromunjust.Forthissimple,yetoftenoverlookedandignorededucation.

　　Iowemyparents.Ourrelationshipwasnotaplannedout,wellexecutedlesson,butatimeconsuming,trialanderror,lifetimeexperiencethatmyparentsdid,becausetheywereexactlythat;Parents.Withouttheminmylife,IdonotknowwhereIwouldbe,orwhoIwouldbetoday.Ineveryexperience,everychoiceImake,theimpactofourrelationshipandtheirparentingisevident.BothofmyparentstaughtmetostandstrongforwhatIbelieveinandhavethecouragetodowhatisright.Thepressuresstudentsfaceinhighschooltodaycancausemanykidstocrumble,anddothingsthatheorsheknowsarewrong.

　　Myparentstaughtmetorespectmyselfandmybodyandtounderstandtheimportanceofstayingdrugandalcoholfree.Iwastaughttheimportanceofdisciplineandperseverance.IknowthatwhenIbeginatask,Imustseeitthroughtotheendwithhonest,hardworktocompleteittothebestofmyability,evenifitisnotsomethingIoriginallydesiredtodo.Ilearnedtheimportanceoffamilyandfriends,andtheloveandsupporttheserelationshipsprovide.Myparents'teachingsarecarriedwithmeinmyexperiences.Attheveryyoungageoftwo,mymotherintroducedmetobaseball.Whilemydadwasatwork,shewouldteachmetohit,throwandeventherightwaytorunthebases.Aroundtheageoffive,mymotherstartedmeinaLittleLeagueBaseballProgram.Likemostmothersoflittleboys,shewasafraidtoletmeplayfootball,andyetshewantedmetolearntheimportanceofteamworkthatextracurricularactivitiesprovide.

　　Eventually,mydadbecamemycoachandencouragedmealongsidemymother.Togethertheyhelpedmerealizemydreamofplayingcollegebaseball,whichisadreamIamproudtosayIhavefulfilled.Inadditiontosports,Ienjoyanumberofotherhobbiesandactivities.Iracehomingpigeons,hunt,fishandboating.Duringmyfreshmanyearofcollege,Ivolunteeredinapeermentorprogramforyoungchildreninthearea.MyparentsencouragedmetoworksummerjobstoearnthethingsIneededorwantedonmyown.Betweenthedemandsofbaseball,football,whichmymothereventuallysuccumbedtolettingmeplay,workingandvolunteering.Ilearnedtimemanagement,attentiontodetails,teamworkandorganization.

　　Ilearnedtorespectandunderstandthevalueofadollar.Iworkedonranches,haulinghay,andIalsolearnedalotaboutrunningabusinesswhileworkingwithmyfatherinhismasonrybusiness.Becauseofmydesiretosucceed,Iwasnotsatisfiedworkingtheusualpan-timejobsmosthighschoolstudentswork.Iwantedmoreofachallenge,andajobthatwouldteachmeandgivemeinsightintoacareer.IwashiredinapositioninwhichIworkedoncellphonetowers,helpingintheirconstructionandmaintenance.Ihavealsostartedmyownlawncarebusinesswhichhasgowntothepointofhavingtohireanadditionalworkeralongwiththeresponsibi