This essay deals with a personal question of what one considers to be the best advice given and why. It continues with a definition of the advice in question and given examples of how it has affected the life of the person in question, making him become a more compassionate human being, who not only feels sorry for those who are in need of help, but actually endeavors to actively help them.
Keywords: advice, life, helping, suffering, fund raising
It is not often in life that one is asked such an important question, as the nature and importance of the best advice one ever received. Also, one does not delve much on what it was, rather, it follows the individual and leads him onto the right path. I was fortunate enough to have been told some valuable words of wisdom, that have become one with my inner being, according to which I mold my words, my actions and my entire life. I am also fortunate enough to claim that these words have not steered me wrong.
A long time ago, I was told that helping others, without any recognition and demanded compensation, is a reward in itself. Not until I really immersed myself in this kind of a lifestyle have I truly grasped the wisdom of these words. In his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, the author Dale Carnegie urges people to appeal to the nobler motives and to always try to look at the world from the other person’s perspective, because this leads to a fruitful cooperation. Trying to follow the example of these words, I attained the high school NJROTC leadership positions of Batallion Commander and Drill Commander. Afterwards, I decided to do volunteer service with Catholic charities, and continued with NJROTC community service participation, such as feeding the poor and the homeless, participating in various parade services, providing fund raiser assistance for local charities and different non-profit organizations. The emotions that followed after I undertook these altruistic assignments upon myself were overwhelming and I finally realized the truth behind the words that helping those who do not have the means to help themselves is a reward in itself. I learned to see and value the other person’s perspective, to understand that bad things happen to good people, and sometimes, a helping hand is something that can make all the difference in the world.
I believe that this advice I got a long time ago has made me a better human being, a more compassionate person in the sense that I have learned that not only courageousness and need for change, but also compassion and understanding make a true leader. A great leader knows when to fight for what he believes is right, but also when to put his weapon down and help, in order to make a global change. I have also become a person who is more in touch with the suffering of his fellow man, meaning that I not only passively feel sorry for those who are down on their luck, but am actively endeavoring to help them any way I can.
References:
Carnegie, D. (1998). How to Win Friends & Influence People. New Jersey: Pocket Books.
Turner, A. N., & others. (1982). Consulting is more than giving advice. Harvard business review, 60(5), 120–129.
