Professional Documents
Culture Documents
At first, I began writing this not to be read by others. It was supposed to be a personal
thing, just an exercise in an attempt to find out who I am as a person and to know where I am
headed. It was supposed to be a private reflection of my own thoughts and musings. It was
only for an academic purpose, a final requirement for a graduating student. Yet, here I am
ending it with this in mind: This is for others as well. I feel that I am meant to share these
words, as simple as they may be. We live in a world full of evil and corruption. We are in a
society where we find it hard to trust our very own government. We live in times of closed
doors and full pockets. We live a life of greed and excess while the poor members of society
cannot even simply live. This is a world where every little good thing is welcome and I hope
that this becomes one of those little good things. This is not an admonition nor am I trying to
put myself above others. I am not a hero nor am I saying that I will ever be one. This is just a
simple reminder that in this darkness covering our eyes, we have not yet lost sight of our
humanity, that it is still somewhere inside waiting for us to uncover it. It is high time we
begin to formulate our own mission statements, to find success not through our own eyes but
through the eyes of others. In this day and age success is no longer limited to becoming rich
or powerful. True success can be achieved by becoming the person our country needs, and
what it sorely needs now are men and women for others. These are the words of a flawed
man, a man of mistakes, a man of failures and shortcomings, a man caught in the spin of his
own world. But in the end, in this new chapter I am about to enter in life, I dont want to be
remembered by those things. I want to be remembered as a man who at this moment in his
life desired to became a man just like his father, a man for others. Join me.
From the darkness of ambition and self-absorption, I will move towards a life of
self-donation, a life lived for others, in service and commitment. I will walk this path Ive
chosen with resolute devotion lest I become a man who I am not. I will die a happy man,
knowing in my heart Ive left a legacy of love and compassion, all in the name of God. -
Palad, 2015