Eric Hui
This is MY Life.
“Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.”
-Charles
Dickens, in David Copperfield
I
have always been a strong believer in the human ability to rationalize. It is
the results of our choices that directly or indirectly affect the outcome of events.
My outlook on life is that man’s existence is defined by his or her interaction
with society, whether positive or negative. I believe humans are genuinely good
and moral people, but negative pressures that stem from competition and greed
impair these rational decision-making functions. These social pressures corrupt
individuals and explain the presence of the suffering and evil that exist in
the world today.
This
being said, I hope to lead a life of compassion geared to decreasing suffering
and encouraging others to make rational choices. Regardless of where I am in my
pilgrimage, I intend for every step of my life journey to be rooted in my
conviction to make society better. Every individual makes their own rational
choices, and together our individual choices have the power to change the lives
of each other. If we all channel our energy and effort to promote human rights
equality and subsistence, we can create a world without unnecessary suffering
and death. My goals is to serve as a beacon by living a life devoted to
empowering citizens of the world with the responsibility to give the world’s
poor the basics necessary for life. For me, employing my love for business is
the only way I can achieve this goal.
Before
I discovered this passion, I was solely interested in business with the intent
on making money. I enjoy all things business, from planning events in high
school to communicating with corporate executives with the Undergraduate
Business Council. Throughout high school, I knew I wanted to be a businessman,
but I had not yet developed my life goals or discovered my passion in life.
When I graduated from high school, I easily choose to attend The University of
Texas at
With
my realization, I know that showing compassion to others is extremely rewarding
because of the human connection that stimulates a concept of unity. My passion
for compassion developed as a result of my experiences in life thus far. From
the time I was small and heard my mother’s childhood stories about the
suffering and poverty she faced in Hong Kong to the time I worked with the less
fortunate when I built a Habitat for Humanity house, I have always hoped to
dedicate my life to ridding the world of suffering because of the rich-poor
gap. I know that my life will be fulfilling if I choose to apply my interest in
business to my passion for humanity. I “[realize] whatever [I] take joy in doesn’t
make [me] feel tired. [I] can carry on much longer with an activity that is
satisfying and gives [me] joy.”[2] As
I explored my career options, I knew I found both joy in helping others and
dealing with business. I soon discovered my similarities with Bill Gates. As
the wealthiest man in the world, Bill Gates has dedicated himself and his
fortune to providing healthcare in underdeveloped countries and to increasing
literacy and equality globally. As my role model, Bill Gates has demonstrated
the power one can have to significantly change people’s lives by simply making
rational choices. Gates has channeled his power and money to encourage others
in the business industry to dedicate their lives to eradicate poverty, and I
want to continue in his foot steps in initiating compassion from the business
world. By choosing to devote my life to giving the underprivileged access to
food, healthcare, and education, I hope to leave a legacy and spur others to
join me in the revolution to combat poverty.
Everyone
has the ability to make their own choices, and often times, individuals choose
the easier route and pursue life goals that only help themselves. Some people
hope to become lawyers, doctors, CEOs, or celebrities with only one thing in
mind—money. However, I differ from the masses because I want to dedicate my
life to help others by ridding the world of unnecessary poverty. Everyday,
thousands of voiceless humans die of preventable disease because of the lack of
healthcare. By denying these people the basic 
human
right to life, we are tacitly denying their rationality and in effect, denying
their humanity. In choosing to dedicate myself to such a cause, I feel my life
would be both satisfying and rewarding. The feeling of complete joy and
inspiration that comes from helping improve the lives of others cannot be
bought by any dollar amount. For me, I embrace my passion and hope to improve
society. “The modern individual who dares to heed the call…, cannot, indeed
must not, wait for his community to cast off its slough of pride, fear,
rationalized avarice, and sanctified misunderstanding… It is not society that
is to guide and save the creative hero, but precisely the reverse.”[3] It
is not my goal to be the poster child for saving the world, but I hope to be a
leader in improving access to healthcare and medicines in lesser developed
countries. Passively waiting for governmental leaders and society to take
action will do nothing to save people from dying from preventable diseases. I
hope to apply the skills I learn at the McCombs School of Business to negotiate
with business leaders and urge others to take action against the injustices the
poor face because of economic inequality. I ultimately hope that my actions
while I am alive will turn into a legacy that will spur others to action. My
goal is to go to bed each day knowing I’ve made rational choices that have
helped improve the lives of others.
My
view for the future of humanity is optimistic. In promoting access to vaccines,
life-saving drugs, sanitation, and basic nutrition, I feel that society will be
a better place. With hard work, I will be able to accomplish my goals in
championing equality. I know that 
some
day, some how, I will begin to change the world, one person at a time. Whether
through grassroots awareness campaigns as an undergraduate to doing consulting
for nonprofits such as OxFam or UnitedWay, I hope to play an influential role
in moving the course of humanity in the right direction. In a society that
lives off instant gratification, I know the fight against social and economic
injustice will be slow and hard going, but I believe that once enough people
join the campaign against poverty, a snowball effect is imminent. It is my
vision to be a catalyst for a world revolution against economic inequality. In
combining my love for business with my passion for compassion, I know I have
made the right decision to follow in the footsteps of Bill Gates and strive to
create a society based on equality. I hope that even after I die, my vision for
a more perfect and peaceful world will live on.
Though I cannot force others to join
me in my fight against suffering, I can hope to use my life as an example for
others. As I plan to combine my passion for compassion with my passion for
business, I am committed to leaving a positive legacy to reduce the rich-poor
gap. As I mature and better understand my purpose, I know I will be able to
follow my passion and help others discover their passion. Each person has the
potential to change the world, and I feel through our rational choices, we can
elect to be compassionate individuals and create a society that gives all
individuals equal rights to life. For me, regardless of how I end up using my
degrees after I graduate, I know this is my life to live and it is my job to
make the most out of it.
Word Count: 1,451
Quotes Count: 100
Count without Quotes: 1,351
DB Word Count: 4,383
Photo
Citations
1. Rationality- www.annekaringlass.com/04468%20Decision%20copy%203.jpg
2. Globe- employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/Images/Ambassadors/globe.jpg
3. Business men- www.rbws4me.com/images/business-man-sitting.jpg
4. Bill Gates- www.smh.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1064082924871_2003/09/22/bill_gates_malaria,0.jpg
5. Healthcare- www.gkbassociates.com/images/healthcare.jpg
6. Healthcare in
7. Hands lifting Globe- mitsloan.mit.edu/imgs/newsroom/netimpact05.jpg
8. Celebrating Success- www.winemark.com/charity%20launch1.jpg
9. Small Child- www.uspg.org.uk/give/g_lib/legac.jpg