We Will All Leave Our Mark on This World

What do Adolf Hitler, Gandhi, and Mother Theresa have in common with your local grocery store clerk, the homeless guy on your street corner, and you? The common thread that joins every person on Earth is that we will all help shape the world in which we live. Some will make changes that are felt throughout every society and culture on the planet, while the lives of others will only influence those closest to them or even a stranger passing on the street. Some will bring peace and freedom to millions, while others will leave millions dead. Whether the influence that we have is vast or small, positive or negative, we will all leave this world somehow different than it was when we came. It is this belief in our innate and unavoidable impact on the world and an awareness of those implications that shapes the actions that I take as a student, a friend, a family member, and someday will take as a professional.

In the last few years, I have grown and changed as a person. I have learned to examine the implications of my actions in relation to the consequences for all involved. In doing this, I became aware of the intricate web of effects that can be brought about by a single action. For example, the apparently simple decision to show up at work does not only effect my employment. Instead, the results of not showing up can be felt by every employee in my company who has to work late to pick up my slack, their families who, as a result, spend less time with them, and even the consumer who ultimately relies on the product being produced. By understanding how my actions are implicit to everyone around me, I am made more aware of my impact on the world.

It is because of this understanding that I strive daily to fulfill my obligations, and to do the best I can to improve my life and the lives of those around me. It is this firm belief in my importance and my influence on society that drives me to perform my duties to the best of my ability. It is this belief that gives me the inspiration to reach out to underserved youth through tutoring programs, to find words of encouragement for friends and relatives in the hard times of their lives, to work hard toward the goal of becoming a physician, and yes, even to show up at work every day. I have come to understand that even the smallest of my actions are changing the world, for better or worse. Therefore, I will work daily to improve my influence, and to ensure that my impact is a positive one.

In conclusion, we will all leave our stamp on the world. I have decided that mine will be a constructive one. I must work hard every day to ensure that the actions I take and the decisions that I make will, in some way, improve this world. Although I’m not always successful and some of my actions will have negative impacts, I hope that the legacy I leave is one dominated by morality, advancement, and positive influence. I might never find a cure for cancer or bring peace to the Middle East, but I will do my very best to make life more enjoyable for those who surround me. I will strive as a family member, a professional, and a citizen to leave this world better than I found it.