Why I Am Me

Why I Am Me
Garcia R. Simpson
October 20, 2010

Abstract
There were many lessons and traditions I learned throughout my childhood.   Some have been very
influential and have had a huge effect on shaping me into the person I am today.   In everyday life I have
been so accustomed to possessing them and naturally I forget how essential they have become.   I
compile all these qualities into a word my mother and father called values.   Values are taught at an
early age and as we begin to understand and use them, they become our foundation.   My parents
always preached about core values when I was growing up and the important role they played life.  
There were many values I learned before striking out into the world on my own.   I believed that the
three most important values were responsibility, respect and spending time with my family.   The effect
of these values has been tremendous in molding me into the man I am today.    

My mother and father meticulously sculpted me into the person I am today.   They gave me
unconditional love, compassion and guidance throughout my childhood and I owe all that I am to them.
Growing up, family values were taught at a very young age and were instilled in me the moment I was
able to hear, understand and respond.   The three values that I feel had the strongest impact in my life
were family time, being respectful, and responsibility.   Everything else fell into place naturally.  
First, family time meant the world to my parents and it was evident by the time they spent with
us.   They were not able to take us to big theme parks but did their best to keep us well entertained.  
Every other weekend they would have some type of activity planned where we all could have fun and
really enjoy ourselves.   We visited our grandparents and cousins quite frequently and when we got
together it was by far better than some amusement park.   We often had barbeques too!   Sometimes,
they’d let me and my oldest brother... [continues]

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