The man who left his home country to create a better future for his wife and kids, my father. Though I know there are many like my father, I remain in awe when I think about the sacrifices he made for my siblings and me. My father never had much when he was a child, therefore, he made it his life’s goal to make sure we would have everything he was never able to have. He’d work a multitude of minimum-wage jobs just to make ends meet. No matter how tired or overworked he was, my father would never let us feel his sorrows or hardships. He managed to always keep his arms open with a wide smile on his face. And because of him, I have learned life’s greatest lesson: to be eternally grateful while paying it forward. My dad was an only child and very close to his parents. Yet, he still made the heart-wrenching decision to leave home and come to the United States at the age of 19. When my father left his friends and family, he was thinking of the future of his kids who weren't even born yet. Additionally, my father has always emphasized the importance of being the most selfless version of myself possible, and he is always first in line to help if he knows someone needs it. My dad has always told us, “You can never lose by giving”, and these words have stuck with me by my side forever. Whether it’s as simple as giving someone a ride or donating items to those in need, I adore having a role model like my father for his kind heart and eagerness to always find ways to help others. By watching him, I've learned that nothing is lost by trying to be the light in someone else's life. Because I had a role model like my father, I've always had a warm spot in my heart for others. Whether someone is being harsh or even outright mean to me, I've always found myself giving them the benefit of the doubt because I don't know what they may be going through. My dad taught me that we are in control of who we are, and that simple kindness can go so far. Truly, my father taught me not only the importance of selflessness, but he taught me how far compassion can go. My father is my main source of motivation to do well in school. Though he never had a chance to finish his own schooling, my father has always emphasized the importance of a good education. Because he made a plethora of sacrifices for me, I owe it to my father to pursue a college degree because he paved the way for me to have the opportunity. I want to give him the chance to be proud of me and prove his sacrifices to be worthwhile. I aspire to follow in his footsteps and pave the way for my future children the way he did for my siblings and me. Lastly, I want to enter this world following in his footsteps; going out of my way to constantly help others the way my dad always did.