Incentives — everyone has them. An incentive is a reason someone does what they do. It's what motivates them to get a job, go to college, or buy that dress. Whether it be money, peer satisfaction, or something that will just make them feel good, everyone has an incentive.

What's mine? It's the joy my family has when something is accomplished. For example, I'm double majoring in accounting and information systems management and believe me — it's not easy. But what keeps me going? Why am I going to be starting my fourth year in the fall? Because my family's faces light up when someone asks what I'm doing with my life. My parents proudly say what my majors are. Then, they continue to say how hard they are and that they are so proud I'm keeping at it. That's it. That's what keeps me motivated to keep going in school.

Another example of how much of an influence my family has on me — I am extremely socially awkward. I don't like being the center of attention. I don't like talking to people that I don't know (and even some that I do) — I just like being a wallflower. But what did I do? I sang a solo in my church a few months ago. I was the center of attention. Why did I do it? What motivated me? My family. They were all so proud of me for going out of my comfort zone. They motivated me by saying how proud they were of me. My motivation — the thing that kept me going — was how my mom's face lit up when I said I would do it, or the fact that my dad started to get teary-eyed at my (not so great) singing voice.

What is the main reason that I strive to better myself day in and day out? My family. They are all such strong, independent people. Seeing how they grab life by the horns is why I am a full-time student. It's why I work over the summer, why I spent a lot of free time cleaning, and why I am now working towards donating funds to a local group. My family motivates me to be a better person and I honestly couldn't be more blessed to have them.