Who I Am Matters
Who I Am Matters
Where I come from is a combination of two cities and two distinct ways of life. I was born in Carmel, Indiana, a small suburb outside of Indianapolis. Carmel was home for me until the summer before my junior year in high school, when my family and I moved to New York City. I had a great childhood in the calm, sheltered suburbs. While in Indiana I lived in one house and attended a single school from the age of three onwards. Our move to New York was life-changing to say the least, and it was a huge adjustment for me to become accustomed to the people of the city and the fast-paced environment that is New York. New York is where I matured, and both cities contribute to who I am today.
I know where I am going in the near future, however, it is difficult to know where that might lead. I am going back to New York after graduation to work in Mergers & Acquisitions at an investment bank. This should be a great foundation for me to then explore different areas of business and finance, and could potentially lead to me creating something myself, which has long been a goal of mine.
Distinct characteristics of each of my parents are evident in who I am. My dad and I are skeptical in similar ways, while my mom and I share a sense of empathy for others and tend to agree on family debates more often than not.
Contrarily, I think I value time alone and peace and quiet more than my parents and siblings alike.
I believe that at this point in my life, my parents expectations for me and those of my own have become very similar. I expect to graduate school on time, earn a secure and promising job, and work hard while balancing relationships and spending as much time with my family as possible. However, for me, enjoying what I do is of the upmost importance. If I feel that banking is not for me, I would not hesitate to find something better suited for me.
My travel soccer coach, Tony James, has been a huge inspiration for me. He was my coach for years when I was around 10-15 and he cared enough not only be a great coach, but to connect and mentor my teammates and me. The passion and enjoyment he had for coaching is something I will always remember and will try to emulate in whatever I do.
I feel a connection with elephants. Elephants care for their heard and stand up for themselves if necessary. Besides that, they mind their own business. I value those truly close to me and would do anything for them, but for the most part try to avoid any outside controversy.
In Carmel, we have a beautiful weeping willow tree near our pond, which my mom planted for her father. Having never met him, I always cared for and felt a connection with the tree.
Hey Sam,
ReplyDeleteI can understand how the transition to New York was difficult for you. My mom is from Long Island, New York and she always tells me how the lifestyle there is very difficult. Not only is the weather very cold, but the residents in NY can be very obnoxious. Also, I love the fact that the weeping willow tree gives you a sense of connection to your grandfather, whom you have never met.
I really enjoyed reading your post. I think it gives great insight into what contributes to who you are today. This is especially true in discussing the two places you grew up, considering they are fairly opposite environments. I can only imagine how a move to NYC at that age could have forced you to mature at a quicker pace. I also appreciated the meaning behind the connection to the weeping willow. This demonstrates how important family seems to be to you.
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