Education is important to me because it has been my life's great equalizer. I come from humble beginnings; I was raised in a single-parent home by a mother who worked tirelessly to support my brothers and me. She dropped out of high school to help support her younger sibling and, unfortunately, never had the opportunity to pursue her professional and educational aspirations. She did ensure her sons understood we were not meant to follow her. Until her dying days, she encouraged me to continue building a legacy for myself and future generations of our family. As I look towards my future, with the pursuit of an MBA on the horizon, I can be proud knowing my mother's words were not in vain. The attainment of knowledge and education has brought me to all corners of the globe. I have connected with people from so many diverse levels of society. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to mature from so many of them. Through my formal studies, I also hope to bring to light the experiences I have been humbled by. One such encounter occurred during a port call to Subic Bay in the Philippines while I was serving in the United States Navy Submarine Force. It offered me insight into what it means to live a joyous life. While returning to my submarine following a meal out in the town, I encountered a group of young children who were accompanying their mothers while they washed clothes in the bay. The joy on the faces of the parents and their children belied what most people would consider deplorable living conditions. This shook me to my core and caused me to reflect on my own biases. I learned from this time of introspection that it is up to people, not circumstances, to foster goodwill and respect. As I continue to grow and advance in leadership roles, this lesson is what I hope to share with all the people and organizations I encounter. In closing, one of the most valuable lessons I have learned from being a lifelong learner is education brings people and communities together from vastly divergent backgrounds, often for a shared purpose. Whether formally or informally, my life's mission is to build meaningful connections with others that help to cultivate positive change, hopefully starting with me. I see the continued pursuit of education as a means of precisely doing that.