Motivation is what drives me to succeed.  It is the force which pushes me to circumstances that I was afraid to go into.  I have started venturing into roads that I never would have thought I would taken before.

How did I get here?  Looking to my past, I didn’t push myself at first.  I used to be easily satisfied.  I never questioned anything happening around me.  I never thought of improving life.  I was fine with maintaining status quo.

I didn’t see it before but a seed was planted in my mind.  As a young child, oblivious about the workings of the world, all I learned from were examples before me.  All I could learn from was really my family.  My parents did teach me foundations – the difference between right and wrong.  Besides them, I grew up learning from my sister, Ate.

As with most siblings, I always fought and bickered with her.  I tried my best to run the opposite direction from her path in life.  When she focused on her social life, I focused on my academic life.  When she focused on beauty, I focused on the unimportance of it.  As much as I treasured my unique identity, I couldn’t help but be influenced by her.  After all, I did spend about 60% of my life with her.

I realized that as my sister learned and repeated things she wanted to remember out loud over and over, I learned alongside her.  Pondering the source of my motivations, I realized that her motto that she used to repeat to herself had stuck to me as well – Never Settle For Mediocrity, Strive For Success.  Maybe it was in the back of my head all this time as I grew up.  Maybe this mentality pushed me to reaching for success in my academic life.  Whether it was the motto or just a coincidence, we both ended up go-getters later in life.

I cannot deny the role Ate played in being a positive influence in my life.  I witnessed her set her sights upon  reaching great achievements.  I know how much effort she puts into trying to attain the highest goals.  I see how her efforts do not go to waste and I commend her for her motivation.  I learned never to settle for mediocrity and strive for success.

Thank you, Ate, for being a good role model.  I hope you will continue to reach for the stars.

Happy Birthday, Ate!