Posted by Andrew Tang on October 15, 2009 at 8:30pm
September 15, 2006. The day, several Latin American nations celebrated their independence from Spain. The day, the television network UPN aired its final broadcast after 50 years. And the day, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. There are few instances in life that can dramatically change your outlook, thought process, and approach like a life threatening experience. By the time doctors were able to diagnose and treat my illness, my colon was already two-thirds deteriorated. Looking back, it’s surprising to see how much I have changed and grown from that moment. To be honest, before the incident, I didn’t care much for others. I was very self-centered and thought of myself as one of the best in everything I did. However, once I spent a significant amount of time in the hospital, I learned that time is fleeting. With the realization that life is truly short, I found the one thing that I couldn’t live without, my family. Maybe it was maturity or maybe crisis simply brings people together, but both the ill fortune of my sister’s and I’s health fortified my family’s love for one another. Without their support, I truly have no idea where I would be now. Frankly, losing them is more frightening than death as I fear a world without them. Family has taught me that everyone needs support and love in their lives. While it is ideal that all parents can share and provide this for their children, I understand this is not realistic. Thus, I believe I have found my true calling in life to help and support others. Much like how I cherish the feeling I receive when I know my family is behind me, so do I want to give to others. Whether it’s for comfort from life’s maladies or simply to converse about the day’s events, I wish to be the person that anyone can turn to. One day, I hope to parlay this motivation into an occupation where I can both aide others and provide a positive influence to people’s lives, but for today, I’ll be fine with plain old Andrew Tang.
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