When I was ten and they asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up, I said I didn’t know. A doctor? A surgeon? A lawyer? A teacher? The possibilities were endless, and my imagination went wild. I could be anything I wanted to be.

So I chose to be myself.

Now that I’m all grown up, people still ask me what I want to be. And although I still haven’t quite figured it out yet, I don’t think it’s all that important. Really. At the end of the day, a PhD won’t matter if I’m not proud of who I am.

So I’ll tell you what I want to be. What I aspire to be. And what I think we all should try to be.

Be the kind of person who inspires others to do their best.

Be the kind of person who listens (and I mean truly listens) when others are talking.

Be the kind of person who speaks their mind. The kind that isn’t afraid to tell the truth even if it’s not what the other person wants to hear.

Be the type of person who’s not afraid to laugh until you cry.

Be the type of person who’s not afraid to fall, and fall hard.

Be the type of person whose happiness shines through your eyes.

Be the kind of person who always has a shoulder to lean on, but isn’t afraid of leaning on someone else for a change.

Be the type of person who’s so passionate about what you love that you’d do anything to show it off to the world.

Be the type of person whose kindness is so radiant that when others say bad things about you, it’s impossible to believe.

Be the kind of person who truly feels.

In a world where we are taught to hide our flaws and only showcase “perfection,” be the kind of person who stands tall and accepts themselves for who they are.

At the end of it all, when I’ve completed my life’s journey, I want to look back and see that I’ve accomplished all that I’ve aspired to be. You truly get what you put into this universe. So let’s try to live a good life.