A 1 Business Leadership

Leadership subject at AGSB is an Ateneo advantage. It emphasizes leadership from within, authentic leadership. One of its pillars is love. This is odd in a cold steely corporate world. The others are heroism, ingenuity and self awareness. The goal of leadership is not only to develop oneself but to clone other leaders. Everybody has potential to be leader. What we do, even if we do not have followers influences/affects others. It is time to define Filipino leadership too

Friday, December 18, 2015

Regis Cebu Leadership: Leader Izumi G. Yamashita, Movie Synopsis of From Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story, JCampbell Monomyth and My Life Story - REVISED

Hi Prof.,

Thank you very much for all your generosity in allowing us to level our papers up. As discussed, please see below my revised paper on JCampbell to reflect my Life Story in each of the Monomyth stage.

Regis Cebu Leadership

Leader Izumi G. Yamashita

Movie synopsis of From Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story, JCampbell Monomyth and My Life Story - REVISED

FROM HOMELESS TO HARVARD: THE LIZ MURRAY STORY SYNOPSIS

Liz Murray was born on September 23, 1980 to a poor and extremely dysfunctional family in Bronx, New York. Her mother was a desperate drug addict, schizophrenic, legally blind, and an alcoholic. Her father on the other hand was also a drug addict – a highly intelligent drug addict with a love for reading books.

Being legally blind, Liz's mother was a qualified recipient of a monthly welfare check. However, the money they receive was all spent on drugs and alcohol by their parents leaving Liz and her sister to starve. They often found themselves feeding off garbage cans, and to an extreme, resorted to eating ice cubes as, according to the, it was as a close a feeling to eating; splitting a tube of toothpaste – even eating a stick of ChapStick lip balm to soothe their hunger.

As a student, Liz was often the target of bullies as she always came in smelly, dirty, and itching from her lice-filled hair. Because of this, she barely went to class and only showed up during exam days. Despite rarely going to class, Liz still often got high grades, which she credits to her dad giving him books which he stole from bookstores. He instilled in her a love for reading, which eventually paid off.

Being the favorite target of bullies, Liz became overly self-conscious and an introvert until such time that she quit attending school altogether. At the age of 11, her mom was diagnosed with AIDS which she contracted from sharing needles throughout her drug addiction. By this time, her mom decided to live with Liz's godfather where her sister also currently stays. At age 13, Liz has the option to stay with her father in their old filthy apartment or in an assisted living shelter where she would be given proper care and education. Liz, hoping her parents would eventually get back together, stayed with his father. However, in order for her to be allowed to stay with her father, the social workers gave the condition that she would have to go to school, which she did not. One day, social workers took Liz away from her father and brought her to a shelter home for children. Her life in the shelter home was as horrible as her life outside with all the bullying and physical, emotional, and psychological violence other children brought upon other girls including her.

Eventually, the shelter decided to bring her back to live with her mother. Liz started junior high school where she met Chris, who had similar problems at home. Together, they avoided school and hung out with other gang of shirkers.

Chris was sexually abused by her father so Liz told her she can stay with her. However, Liz's godfather found Chris hiding in her room and told her to get out, so she together with Liz packed their bags, dropped out of school, and ran away. At age 15, Liz Murray was homeless.

She and Chris spent nights sleeping on subway stations, trains, benches, parks, begging for food, and shoplifting. One day, news got to her that her mother had passed away. She was 16.

Her mother's death was a slap in Liz's face. The funeral had no priest. The lot was only donated by a charitable group. Her mother was placed in a donated wooden box with her misspelled name written on it and on one end of the box, was written "Head" to identify which way to place the body on the ground. Her mother's funeral had no dignity to say the least.

Suddenly she realized her life has completely fallen apart. Her mother is not coming back anymore. Her father was kicked out of their apartment after failing to pay the rent and moved to a homeless shelter. Liz on the other hand, stayed out on the street alone as her friend Chris decided to go back to the shelter home.

Her mother's death gave her an epiphany. Her mom's mantra was that one day, life is going to be better. Liz realized that like her mother, she always told herself the same – that one day she's going to fix her life and life is going to be better. However, when she saw her mom die without fulfilling her dreams, she told herself that fixing her life was now or maybe never thus, vowing to go back and finish school.

Indeed she eventually entered a public high school. She doubled her load and finished top of her class of what was supposed to be a 4-year high school program in 2 years. All this she did while living in a homeless shelter, caring for her father who was discovered to also have AIDS, working as a dishwasher with her school notes stuck on the wall, and doing her school work in subways. The whole time, she hid these things from school as she was afraid that if they found out she was homeless, she would be taken to a shelter again considering she was a minor.

One of her professors recognized Liz's intelligence and hard work, thus eventually mentoring her. They sent the top 10 students on a school trip to Boston and there was Liz's defining moment as she told herself, that while it is quite a reach, getting admitted to an Ivy-league school is possible.

Liz got her hands on every scholarship possible until one day, she came across a New York Times scholarship offer worth $12,000 to needy students. Out of the 3,000 applicants, Liz eventually became one of the five scholars to be sent to Harvard as she poured her heart out in the essay answering the question "Were there any obstacles you had to overcome?" Since then, her life has never been the same.

LIZ MURRAY AND J. CAMPBELL'S MONOMYTH

1. THE ORDINARY WORLD. The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma. The hero is shown against a background of environment, heredity, and personal history. Some kind of polarity in the hero's life is pulling in different directions and causing stress.

· The movie introduced Liz Murray in a dysfunctional and filthy home setting. She and her sister, Liza were raised by parents who had desperate drug addiction problems. Their family's welfare allowance was only used to buy food for the first week of each month in preparation for a surprise visit from the welfare group. Come the rest of the month, Liz and her sister would starve to death as their parents use all the money to feed their addiction.

· Liz grew up without parents to take care of her. In fact, she took it on herself to care for her parents. At 8, she had to work as a grocery bagger in order to have money to buy food for the family. Because of this, she had to skip classes for the most part and when she did, she would come in stinking and itching from all the lice in her head, dirty clothes down to her underwear, and sore inner thighs from her unhygienic ways and environment. She clearly lacked the care a child needed during those formative years of her life.

· Liz would only show up in class during exams, and despite her many absences or barely going to school, she would still get high marks. Liz was one intelligent girl who adopted her father's love for reading.

2. THE CALL TO ADVENTURE. Something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change.

· When Liz was 11, her mother announced that she was HIV positive and that she had AIDS. From here, her mom decided to live with her godfather where her sister also stays. Liz, hoping her parents would reconcile, decided to stay with her father.

· At 13, Liz had the option to either stay with her father or to stay in a welfare shelter. However, her living situation with her father, the filthy home and her failure to go to school caught the welfare group's attention thus forcing them to take her.

· In the shelter, she witnessed and experienced herself physical, emotional, and psychological battery from other older children. With no one coming to get her, she felt like she's running out of options, thus eventually deciding to live with her mother and sister in their godfather's place. As she was reunited with her mother, Liz Murray started junior high school again.

3. REFUSAL OF THE CALL. The hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from the adventure, however briefly. Alternately, another character may express the uncertainty and danger ahead.

· As Liz entered junior high school, she met Chris, a girl who had the same family problems, with whom she found great friendship with. Together they would skip class and wander around with other rebels.

· Chris was sexually and physically abused by her father so Liz would let her stay in her place hidden from everyone just so Chris' father wouldn't get a hold of her. One day, Liz's godfather found Chris and threw her out of the house. Together with Chris, Liz packed her things, dropped out of school, and wandered all over the city. They slept in subways, parks, begged for food, and shoplifted in order to survive.

4. THE ORDEAL. Near the middle of the story, the hero enters a central space in the Special World and confronts death or faces his or her greatest fear. Out of the moment of death comes a new life.

· As I have read a lot about J. Campbell's Hero Has a Thousand Faces, it has been said that movies or hero stories need not be the exact order as with the 12 steps. Indeed, because in Liza Murray's story, the ordeal unveiled her first influential mentor and the key to her crossing the threshold – her mother.

· Unfortunately, this was recognized upon her death. As Liza was wandering the streets of New York, news got to her that her mother had passes away. She and Chris came to the cemetery where she found her mother in a donated pine box with her misspelled name on it and a word that says "Head" to identify which way to place the body. Upon her mother's death, she realized that her mother kept telling her that one day she will fix her life and that everything is going to be okay – that life was going to get better, but there she was, standing by her mother's grave, seeing her mother being buried without being able to fix her life. She told her self that if she was going to fix her life, it could be now or never.

· She realized her mother was never coming back, her father was thrown out in the streets and is living in a homeless shelter, her only friend Chris went back to the shelter, while she was left alone in the streets. She was at the lowest point in her life. In her very own words, "I realized that my self-image as an independent woman of the streets was a delusion. I was 16, with an eighth-grade education, and I was homeless. I had learned to get by and had done well under the circumstances. Who would blame me, right? I had every excuse in the book to give up and become another statistic. But I also knew I was capable of something more."

· Liz started to reframe her life by asking as simple question, "What if I made the most of every day? What if even a single action was guiding me to a greater goal? What could be possible?" Armed with only her faith in what could be, she looked at the problem-her entire life up to this point-and decided to come up with a plan to change it. (Kersey, 2015)

5. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD. At the end of Act One, the hero commits to leaving the Ordinary World and entering a new region or condition with unfamiliar rules and values.

· Bent on changing her life, she first had to get a job. She worked as a door-to-door person soliciting donations in support for political initiatives. Determined to turn her life around, she reaped the benefits and broke all sales records.

· The next thing she did was to get an education. Her mother always made her promise to study well and to finish school so she vowed to do just that. Liz took a chance on every interview she could get for high school. She did not want to enter an enormous public high school, as she was afraid the education wouldn't be good enough. She hid the fact that she was homeless and has to use a friend's address and contact number in her fear that if they found out, she will be taken to a shelter again as a minor. Fortunately, she was accepted in a Manhattan alternative school, the Humanities Preparatory Academy.

6. MEETING WITH THE MENTOR. The hero comes across a seasoned traveler of the worlds who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice that will help on the journey. Or the hero reaches within to a source of courage and wisdom.

· Fortunately, she was accepted in a Manhattan alternative school, the Humanities Alternative Academy where she met her mentor. He was the one who gave Liz a shot in school and admitted her to the program just after he saw how determined Liz was and how much she has gone through life. He also recognized Liz's intelligence thus mentoring her further and helped her get straight A's. Along with the school's top 10 students, he sent Liz to a school trip in Boston where Liz became determined to secure an ivy-league degree.

7. TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES. The hero is tested and sorts out allegiances in the Special World.

· One day, Liz saw Chris again and she's never been happier to reunite with her. Liz brought her along to the Academy hoping to give her the same shot in life which she was blessed with. However, Chris discouraged her and told her she was foolish enough to believe that such things are meant for people like them. Liz was not faltered by Chris' words. Instead, she focused on the positive things in her life and continued to work towards what she aims to achieve.

· While all these things were happening, Liz was still a homeless teenager who lived in a homeless shelter, and studied in subway stations and even while at work. Liz defied all odds in her determination to succeed in life.

· As they would say it, Liz was not seen in her school as the homeless daughter of drug addicts. Rather, she was the school star who was determined to turn her life around, thus they were all behind her to back and support her every which way possible.

8. APPROACH. The hero and newfound allies prepare for the major challenge in the Special world.

· Liz was more than determined to finish high school as quick as possible and as a straight-A student. She doubled her load, worked and studied at the same time, day and night, whether in subway stations, in the kitchen while doing the dishes, or in school until late in the wee hours of the morning. She actively participated in student bodies and other activities, while at the same time getting ate least 96 in class.

9. THE REWARD. The hero takes possession of the treasure won by facing death. There may be celebration, but there is also danger of losing the treasure again.

· In a span of two years, Liz completed what was supposedly a four-year program and she did so as the top of her class. As one of the top 10 students in the Academy, she was one of those who were given an all-expense paid school trip to Boston. Liz fell in love with the place and told herself that while it was quite a reach, it is not impossible for her to secure an Ivy League education, but before anything else, she had to figure out how to afford such Ivy League rate education.

10. THE ROAD BACK. About three-fourths of the way through the story, the hero is driven to complete the adventure, leaving the Special World to be sure the treasure is brought home. Often a chase scene signals the urgency and danger of the mission.

· The cost of an Ivy League education is about tens of thousands of dollars annually, which means there's no way she could afford it. Liz got a hold of every scholarship application possible and one of which being the New York Times $12,000 scholarship program offered to needy students. Grades weren't the focus of the application evaluation but rather, on obstacles applicants had to overcome. With everything she had to endure her entire life, she sure did move not just the panel's hearts, but also a lot of people's.

· Just as when Liz thought everything was going okay, she and her sister signed an apartment lease, but not long after, her sister lost her job. They were at the verge of getting evicted so she had to go the welfare office to get money in order for them to keep the apartment. However, it was on the same day that she had to go to New York Times for an interview as a semi-finalist for the scholarship.

· As time passed, she was close to missing her interview with New York Times, but was torn, as she knew they needed the money to keep the apartment. She begged the welfare worker and explained the situation, but to no avail. On a leap of faith, she walked out of the welfare office and put her and her sister's future on the line for her scholarship interview.

11. THE RESURRECTION. At the climax, the hero is severely tested once more on the threshold of home. He or she is purified by a last sacrifice, another moment of death and rebirth, but on a higher and more complete level. By the hero's action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved.

· Liz eventually received the news that she was one of the five students chosen as Harvard scholars. The panelists were moved by her courage and resiliency. Her life story, now out in the open, from being a daughter of drug addicts, to being homeless, to her striving through high school despite all odds, has also moved a lot of people that they donated more than $200,000 to the New York Times to fund more scholarships.

12. RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR. The hero returns home or continues the journey, bearing some element of the treasure that has the power to transform the world as the hero has been transformed.

· Liz Murray can be described as a resilient woman who, even at a very young age, was able to conquer and defy all the odds which life handed her. From being a homeless teen, she was able to turn her life around and earned an Ivy-league degree from none other than the Harvard University.

· To date, Liz works as an active motivational speaker who aims to inspire people to overcome whatever obstacles life hands them. She talks to teenagers about resisting the temptations of drugs, and not letting hardship hold you back. She has given speeches alongside Tony Blair, Mikhail Gorbachev and the Dalai Lama.

· Since then, she has received numerous accolades, including The White House Project Role Model Award, a Christopher Award, and Oprah Winfrey's first-ever Chutzpah Award. Currently, Liz Murray is the Founder and Director of Manifest Living, a company based in New York that aims to empower anyone who has the desire to change their life.

MY LIFE STORY

· In one part of the movie, Liz Murray asked, "Do we ever get to bargain for the life we get to have? Or do we just have deal with what life hands us?"

I was born in a broken family. My father left us when I was one. My mother left me when I was only four only to be taken care of by my grandparents.

I was a lolo's girl but by grandpa died just when I was six. My grandmother took charge of taking care of me and my aunt – two kids of the same age. Having to experience living with 100 pesos a day, sometimes even less up to the time we graduated college, our life was nowhere near comfortable. This is probably why my grandmother often resorted to verbal or physical abuse out of the stress having to care for us and survive us.

Because of my grandmother's abusiveness, I felt resentment towards her. I also resented my mom because I felt it was her fault that I am experiencing what I was experiencing.

2. THE CALL TO ADVENTURE. Something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change.

· As I was growing, my grandmother's abusive behavior only got worse; perhaps because my rebellious behavior was starting to show too.

When I entered high school, I discovered a new world – one that's far from my primary school; one that's not sheltered. I met a lot of new friends. Because of my situation at home, I often found comfort in the company of friends, outside of my home. I'd leave the house early, attend school from 8am to 3pm then off to somewhere with my friends, then get home at around 10 or 11. My grandmother hated this. She threw baseless accusations at me and became even more verbally and physically abusive than ever. I wasn't really doing anything to harm myself. I just couldn't stand being at home. That's it.

When my grandmother couldn't get me to follow what she wants, she started talking around. Next thing I know, I was the favorite topic of my relatives. There's the "walang mararating yang batang yan", "hindi yan makakatapos ng pag-aaral", and the worst, "patapon palibhasa iniwanan ng magulang".

This struck a particular chord, which made me so furious bad enough that I so badly wanted to prove them wrong. From then on, all I ever wanted, everything I undertook was meant to see the day I'd be making them eat every cruel word they've ever said about me.

· I wanted to prove them wrong but I also didn't want them to think I was giving in and was doing what wanted me to do. I told myself that since it's what they think of me, might as well prove them right and give them the worst days of their lives.

So I went on with my old ways, even worse. I spent a lot more time with friends. I barely went to class and sometimes I don't even go home. I learned how to smoke, drink, and even do drugs. Eventually, my world revolved around my friends and my relationship.

· I went on with my ways until I was already working. One day, I found out my boyfriend of four years was cheating on me with my best friend. To make things worse, they manage to justify their inconceivable act of betrayal by turning everyone against me. All I had then were my friends so when this happened, I was left with nothing. Suddenly I was alone. Those whom I considered as my family were all gone.

At the same time all these things were happening, I was also having problems with my career and a worsening relationship with my family. Having been told so many times in the past that I wouldn't amount to anything, I grabbed the first job I was offered regardless of the task on hand, the career path, and the pay because I so badly wanted to show off and prove those people who judged me once that I can succeed. I was unhappy, but I had to stick up to it because I could not afford to show people how miserable I was. However, the more I was trying to swim in the miserable career situation I was in all the more I felt I was being sucked deep into the ground. I was imploding and it was resonating with my personal relationships, with my performance at work, and worst with myself.

I eventually did quit the job. Being the proud person that I was, I was confident enough with my skills and ability to get a new job in a snap. I was wrong. I was jobless for over half a year.

Among the things that I had to endure with all these, I think the most difficult reality I had to deal with at that time was the fact that the image I built for myself all those years was all gone. All of a sudden, I had nothing. All of a sudden, I had no one. All of a sudden I was no one. I was stripped off of everything. I was stripped off of my pride. I have never felt so small.

For months I couldn't sleep, eat, or do anything at all. Lost and devastated would not even begin to describe how I felt during those times. I was depressed to the point of turning suicidal. Those were the darkest days of my young life – my rock bottom.

From this experience, I learned that nobody is responsible for my happiness and my life but me alone. I didn't need anyone to make me look good nor did I have to depend on anyone to have a good life. Growing up, a lot of people often told me I wouldn't amount to anything and that I wouldn't get anywhere, but it was in my rock bottom, just as it was in Liz Murray's, that I realized I had to make a choice; that I could submit to everything, continue living playing victim and a life full of excuses, and throwing my life away in my attempt to punish my family, or I could push myself and make my life good.

You know when they say, when you're down, there's nowhere else to go but up? So I started to pick up the pieces and started to appreciate the small things. I guess that' the good thing when everyone thinks you don't amount to much, if anything, at all. You are freed from social pressure and no matter how you screw up, it really won't matter because it's not as if I can screw my life any more.

And so I decided to start all over again.

5. MEETING WITH THE MENTOR. The hero comes across a seasoned traveler of the worlds who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice that will help on the journey. Or the hero reaches within to a source of courage and wisdom.

In the middle of all that was happening, I came across a new group of people in my life. They were successful, well-bred, and beautiful people.

In my world, everyone was always in survival mode thus making almost everyone I know nasty, conniving and "wise". It was they who showed me politeness, gentleness, and care – things that do not exist in my world. They made me want to become a better person and they made me want to be deserving of their friendship.

I admired them for everything that they are – their humility, generosity, politeness, intelligence, success, and work ethic. I looked up to them and I learned a lot from them.

They are much older people so they guided me a lot. They gave me advices for my career, for my personal relationships, and even for being a better person as a whole. They showed me my potentials. They made me realize what I can achieve and what I can become if I only strived for it. They guided me on how to start, how to survive, and how to succeed. They showed me a whole new world which I never knew existed.

They made me realize that I am so much more than what I think I am. They taught me how to pick my battles, to always take the high road. They made me realize I can do so much more. They made me want to become more.

6. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD. At the end of Act One, the hero commits to leaving the Ordinary World and entering a new region or condition with unfamiliar rules and values.

After taking a hard look at my life, I decided I just wanted to start all over again. I wanted to disappear from everyone's radar and come back only when I know how to treat people better and only when I've turned out to be someone people who have relations with can be proud. I wanted a clean slate and this time, I wanted to do it right.

I moved to Cebu to start a new life. I cut off all ties from my world. I changed my mobile number and deactivated all my social media accounts.

I got a job as a trader in the country's leading investment house. I knew nothing about the job, but was determined to learn everything and excel in my newly chosen career. All I had with me was sheer guts, confidence, and determination to learn and succeed.

7. TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES. The hero is tested and sorts out allegiances in the Special World.

Before First Metro could deploy me to Cebu, I had to undergo training for seven months. While in our Manila office, I was bullied during my first few months. I was often the target of embarrassment and humiliation because I was a newbie for one and I didn't know anything about the industry, the field, and the work itself. I was often told that I'd never make it through the third month and that I'd never learn what I have to learn in time for my revalidas, licensure exam, and certification exams which are the deciding factors whether I'd get regularized or not. I often came home crying especially during my first month.

I have to admit I really struggled to hit the ground running, but I refused to go down without putting up a good fight. I brushed off every nasty comment a lot of the seniors had about me and took each of them as a challenge. I sought help from the kinder ones and asked a lot of questions. They oriented me about the culture on the trading floor which made it easier for me to take the cruel world I found myself in. They were also the ones who patiently taught me about the ins and outs of the business.

8. APPROACH. The hero and newfound allies prepare for the major challenge in the Special world.

I was given 3 months to learn everything on my own. I stayed late nights and studied like I've never had before. My new found friends on the floor taught me everything I need to learn. They helped me prepare for my revalida and exposed me to a lot of transactions which helped me understand the business faster.

9. THE REWARD. The hero takes possession of the treasure won by facing death. There may be celebration, but there is also danger of losing the treasure again.

After all the hard-work, the discouragement from seniors, and help from new friends, I eventually did pass all my revalidas, my licensure exam, and certification exam. I was able to surpass all expectations and even got promoted on the sixth month. This got me thinking and telling myself, "Wow. Kaya ko pala." And so that motivated me to strive more knowing I am more capable of doing so much more, achieving and being a whole lot more.

After my training, I was deployed to Cebu. At 23, I was tasked to head and pioneer our first ever regional satellite. I took a couple more licensure exams and passed each on the first take – a feat especially for an unexperienced person like.

I was able to run the office for two years and even made a profit despite the project being in its launching phase.

Wanting to achieve more, I eventually took a shot at taking the Ateneo Graduate School of Business MBA Program entrance exam. Luckily, I made it.

I was doing great both in school and at work but eventually, I realized that if I wanted to achieve more, Cebu was not the place to be in. If I wanted my career to soar, I have to be where the action is. If I wanted to prove myself that I can compete with the best, then I have to be where the best and most competitive people are.

I spoke with our President telling him what I wanted. Luckily, rather than letting go, he offered me a post in our company's investment banking group. When I heard of this, I immediately said yes because investment banking was my dream job. In less than two months after we spoke, I was back in Manila.

In Manila, I was basically back in the learning stage again given my new assignment. It was tough – even tougher than when I was learning back when I was new. A lot of times I felt so incompetent that I had the tendency to be too eager which often worked against me. I got frustrated a lot which often got me demotivated, but then again, I always knew how to talk to myself and tell myself to just focus on my job and do my best.

Having achieved everything I have so far, I was blessed with the means to help people out. I told myself that I wanted my generation to be the last in our line to experience difficulty in life. Being capable of providing my relatives in need and my future children with good education, I was convinced that I was going to be the one to plant the seeds of a better future generation in our clan.

Ever since I came back from Cebu, everyone was surprised to see how I turned out to be and how much I've accomplished. It was like a rebirth of some sort. True to my Enneagram results, I have been fixated on getting external validation. I've always tried, consciously and unconsciously, to embody the image of success. I wanted them to forget the old me and just saw me as how I was now which is why I was so careful with my every action. Everything I did was to make everyone proud of me especially my family. However, as years go by, I felt like I was losing my identity beyond making people proud. I didn't know exactly who I was and why I do what I do. I get frustrated over the smallest things and felt I had no real purpose. It's as if, "so I become really successful, now what?"

I knew wanted people to get a hold of education so they could have the same shot as I had and eventually live a good life, but I didn't know how. I just knew I wanted it.

I've been giving myself too much credit for wanting to be the "hero" of our future generation; the one who will plant the seeds of our future generation; the one who got our line out of a difficult life.

My leadership class was my resurrection.

I felt everything I was feeling was because of my repressed issues which I never got the chance to deal with. At times I felt really angry with my family, especially my mother for all her decisions which affected me. I resented the fact that I grew up without a mother. I resented the fact that I've come so far, achieved what I've achieved, became what I became without her even knowing anything about me, but what I resented the most was that those were 26 years of my life we both can never get back. Even prior to taking this class, I still could not comprehend most of her decisions which I never got to have a say on nor was I given the chance to process what felt about them. Sometimes I feel really angry, I feel really sad, and sometimes just really lost for no reason at all which is why I was seriously considering getting help through psychotherapy just so I could finally deal with it. However, after all the reflection papers, after plotting my whole life line, I was able to understand everything that has happened to me. I was able to understand my family's decision, especially my mom's. She had to leave so she could send me to a good school, get good education, and eventually have a good life. We hear this excuse a lot, but trust me it's something that's not easy to understand.

It dawned on me that everything that I am now is a sum of all the sacrifices of everyone around me. I am living a good life now because my mom risked herself being a stranger to her own child and this sacrifice and love is beyond what I can comprehend.

I also realized my life isn't as bad as I thought it was. It may not be anywhere as good as the people around me, but it's definitely not as bad as a lot of people in this world. Whatever life I lived and will live, and whatever life my future children will live, and our future generations as well, is because of my mother's sacrifice to make a change for us. She was the one who planted the seeds for us and for that our future line will forever be grateful. As I've said, her sacrifices go beyond me. They go down to my future children, the children of my children, and even the children of the children of my children.

12. RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR. The hero returns home or continues the journey, bearing some element of the treasure that has the power to transform the world as the hero has been transformed.

I am lucky to have my mother start everything for us. She didn't let us go through what they went through. We didn't have to start from scratch.

I realized I had to go through the entire journey in order to truly find my passion, my purpose, my elixir and that is to help people get out of the cycle of poverty through education. It has been so deeply ingrained that moving forward, everything I undertake will be geared towards this direction for the purpose of fulfilling my purpose.

What is the new learning?

1. The decisions we make have a resounding effect on other people, one way or another.

· We all know how difficult it is to make the right decisions when it is very convenient to submit to what is in front of us. I learned that as a leader, we have to consider the welfare of the majority, not just ourselves, when it comes to making decisions because no matter how we think it is our life and it is ours to decide how to live it, we have to be conscious that our actions and decisions do affect other people, much more resounding and impactful than we actually realize. We have to think beyond ourselves and aim to make the world a better place.

2. There's always someone who is in a worse situation than you. Always be thankful.

· While I was watching the movie, I felt pretty ashamed of myself for the way I acted with my life. I failed to realize that there are a lot more people who are in a more difficult situation, just like Liz Murray. Now, I never look at street children the same way again. I often tell myself now how lucky I am to be where I am now and to have enough support, means, and knowledge, which enabled me to steer my life towards a different direction. Compared to Liz Murray and these street children's lives, mine wasn't so bad after all.

3. Our lives are unique stories and we are the authors. Don't let circumstances and situations dictate how your life story goes. We have the power to change it in order to achieve the happy ending that we dream of. We are all leaders; make sure your story turns out to be inspiring.

· When Liz Murray's mother died, I wondered how she must have felt just right before she died. Did she regret living a wasted life? We can all wallow in sorrow and anger for the life we have been dealt with, but then at the end of the day, we should ask ourselves, what now? Do we keep playing victim, let the world see us as one, and make everyone around us pay for our miserable lives? Or we can choose to change the course of our lives, be thankful for being luckier than other one way or another, and choose to make an impact by striving to be better persons and inspiring people to do the same, because our eagerness alone to have a better life can serve as an inspiration to all the less fortunate ones.

What is the relation to what I already know?

· By acknowledging everything that has happened in my life, I was able to identify my strengths, weaknesses, and the values I truly put much importance on.

This allows me to become an authentic leader – one who has truthful self-concepts and one who promotes openness, and because of this, I have the advantage of getting all my followers on the same page by building trust and honest relationships.

What have I done, am doing, will be doing for this topic?

· Looking back from where I stand now, I did everything to get out of my then situation not for anyone, but rather for myself.

From my story, I also want to influence other children how to deal with life's struggles and enlighten them with the value of education. I full well understand how easy it is to give in to life and throw their years away as they resent the situations given to them, so in my own little way, just like Liz Murray, I would also want to share my story to other children, and hopefully be able to induce hope in their lives that everything is possible, and everything is reachable if only they would want it and strive for it.