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My father left our family before I was three years old, leaving my mother with three small children in a small
apartment in North Chicago. Nothing in my mom's background prepared her for having to accept the
awesome responsibility of raising us by herself. She was raised in a loving home with two decent, God-
fearing parents who taught her that love and marriage were forever. The one thing she always said about
her abandonment was that she was grateful that her own parents did not live to see it.
Thanks to my mother's efforts, I somehow managed to grow up without knowing we were "disadvantaged."
She was always a sweet, fun-loving woman who enjoyed every minute she spent with us. She worked hard
as a legal secretary in Chicago, but always made it home by six o'clock to eat dinner and hear about our day.
It never occurred to me that by the time she began cooking pasta for us, she had already endured an
exhaustive sixteen-hour day. We just knew that she loved us and that we were very special to her. She
enjoyed all of the simple things in life, like ice cream and fresh-baked brownies, and taught us to do the
same.
Our favorite family activity came every Sunday morning after church, when we spent the afternoon
volunteering at the soup kitchen. My sisters and I wrapped large white aprons over our Sunday dresses and
chopped vegetables, competing to see who could chop the most celery. As an experienced volunteer, my
mother assumed an administrative role; she trained volunteers, monitored inventory and made sure that
everyone had enough to eat. Our regular patrons were my "second family," who let me know that I was a
special and talented young girl.
I never thought my life was unusual until I enrolled in the gifted program at St. Charles Academy. When I
was awarded a full scholarship, it fulfilled my mother's fondest dream; she wanted so much for me to have a
good education and make a better life for myself. Yet when I arrived for my first day of classes at St.
Charles, I knew automatically that I didn't fit in. I didn't wear the "right" clothes and was considered a nerd
because I took the bus. My peers, who took exotic vacations in places like Antigua and Vail, thought that my
"fun night" eating ice cream with my mother was the dumbest thing they had ever heard.
Thankfully, I didn't cave into the peer pressure of this group, because I already knew in my heart that they
were wrong. They had nice clothes and cars, but they weren't nice people. Rather than be intimidated, I
continued to seek out friends in my own neighborhood, who didn't have a lot of money, but cherished
everything they had. My "kindred spirits" were other kids who delighted in getting an extra scoop of ice
cream and who celebrated another's success as strongly as their own.
In hindsight, it was not my family that was disadvantaged, but those of my privileged tormentors at St.
Charles. Although they had a lot of money, they didn't have the sense to enjoy it. While chasing designer
goods, they failed to appreciate the small things in life, like a beautiful flower or a cool breeze, which didn't
cost a penny. By refusing to associate with anyone who had less than they did, they missed many wonderful
opportunities for true friendship.
Years later, I am proud of the person I have become, which I attribute exclusively to my mother's example.
Indeed, her simple life lessons continued to empower me throughout my successful academic career at
Stanford. Despite my frantic schedule, I volunteered at a health clinic and always made time to tutor
freshman science students. I sang in the church choir and didn't feel deprived living on my meager budget.
Like my mom, I have never lost sight of Gods' gifts and the beauty that surrounds me every day. By teaching
me the value of life's truest blessings, my mother has been the best teacher I ever had.
Personal Background
Some say I am a glutton for punishment; others say I am a risk taker. I say they are right through
an unusual series of personal experiences, I discovered that risk and sacrifice are prerequisites for success.
In hindsight, I wasn't always so bold and daring. As a teenager, I often felt defeated by the seemingly
insurmountable challenges of acne, shyness and doomed high school romances. Yet I always knew that life
had much to offer, if I was only brave enough to chase my dreams. The summer before college, I stunned
everyone by making a "now or never" decision; I decided to sell books door-to-door as an independent
contractor.
On the surface, company s proposition was insane: re-locate to Florida, establish a new sales
territory, and pay for my own living expenses while working 80 hours per week on a commission-only basis.
My friends and family thought I was nuts for even considering it. What a scam! But I looked past the 80
hour weeks; I saw an opportunity to break out of my shell, develop social skills, gain real life experience and
become financially independent.
I also recognized the risk of failure, which complicated the decision. While evaluating the
opportunity, I examined the company s product and realized it was actually very good the type of study
guide I wish I had when I was growing up. If given a chance, I knew that the product would sell itself. After
careful contemplation, I realized the decision was not about faith in the company, but about faith in myself.
Despite opposition from my friends and family, I took the risk.
Looking back, it was unquestionably the toughest experience of my life. After a full week, I had
door after door slammed in my face and had not sold a thing. Someone even called the police to investigate
me! No wonder each year nearly a third of new salespeople quit within two weeks. But I remained
undeterred and eventually prevailed by setting ambitious (but realistic) daily goals. I studied the target
market and tailored my pitch accordingly. As I began to better understand my customers needs, sales
picked up. I finished the summer with $15,000 in my pocket and ranked in the top 1% internationally among
3,100 independent contractors. I was promoted to Student Manager the next year.
The experience offered me far more than I ever envisioned. I learned key principles of time
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