The Gift of Giving Back
Getting accepted into a university will always be one of my most significant accomplishments. Although the challenge of learning English in four years and securing a high enough GPA to grant me entrance required much sacrifice, the joy of seeing the hard work pay off was incredibly rewarding. I entered the University of California Irvine as a pre-med student, hoping to become a doctor (a pediatrician, to be more specific). As my dreams seemed to be within reach, my awareness of the heavy competition for medical school entrance and the possibility of not getting accepted grew stronger. My fears came true as I received rejection letters from every institution I applied to. I was devastated when I received my last letter from the University of San Diego Medical School.
When I shared the news with my best friend at university, he told me to ask his dad for help. He believed I could petition to fight their decision by sharing my story. So I did. Mr. Ruby (my friend's dad) took the time to help me write a letter and articulate my case for them to reconsider their denial. Weeks later, I got the news that the committee had changed their decision, allowing me to continue the process and granting me an entrance interview. I will never forget how this generous act from Mr. Ruby made me feel. His willingness to share his time and expertise allowed me to keep my hopes of achieving my goals alive when I felt there was nothing else I could do. Incidents like this would eventually fuel my desire to give back to others, allowing me to walk in Mr. Ruby's shoes and share my time and expertise with others in need. I wonder if Mr.Ruby knew then that his generosity would have a ripple effect that would continue to impact others for years to come.
A few years back, when I came to a fork in the road in my career, I chose the opportunity to be in a position to give back. I could not have written the purpose of my life story better as I embarked on a new journey with colleagues who found the act of giving a part of their DNA. I have to pause here and thank God for bringing my business partners into my life and for the perfect alignment in values that glued us together. Many folks have always asked me why I did not start my organization before or what took me so long. I always responded that I was waiting for God's timing and the right partners who believe in building something different and impactful. Deep inside, I knew I wanted to collaborate with purpose-driven, like-minded individuals with a mission to help meet the needs of teenagers from low-income families or those facing disadvantages.
On February 22nd, our company conducted our Third Annual Samueli Academy Portfolio Review Night. During this event, we enlisted the support of our local human resources leaders to come together and edit over 100 student portfolios containing cover letters, resumes, and projects. The students use these portfolios to interview for their "first paid corporate internship" before the summer of their senior year as part of their work base program. As a side note, the Samueli Academy is an extraordinary charter school in Santa Ana, with 75% of their student population coming from the foster care system. As the night progressed, we heard from three young ladies who completed their internship last year and are now en route to three great universities. Their message was of gratitude towards our volunteers as they expressed how the edits and encouraging comments from the group last year impacted their future. They spoke about having minimal self-confidence while trying to obtain their first corporate role and how having a well-written resume and a portfolio that effectively represented their achievements and aspirations was massive in building their self-confidence! They also could not believe how someone who did not know them took the time out of their busy schedule to meet up after work, make edits, and add suggestions to their resumes, serving as a huge source of encouragement. Hearing these three young adults pierced my heart with happiness. I understood at that moment the tremendous gift that comes from giving back and living life with a purpose.
Giving back to others often requires sacrifice, but the blessings far outweigh what it costs, as those we help usually choose to pay it forward and continue to impact others positively. What Mr. Ruby did for me twenty-seven years ago continues to ignite my purpose today.
JC
Husband | Father | Founder at myTOD