What is your most "valuable" possession and why?

Growing up as a kid, I always thought that my father was too strict. He would never let me go play with my friends until I finished studying and reading. He also mandated that I get a job the day I turned sixteen and work throughout high school. When I left for college, I felt like I had been liberated from his command. But when I got to college, I soon realized the reason that he was so demanding of me as a child. He was making sure that I developed the same work ethic and determination that he possessed. The feelings I had before of resentment and frustration soon turned into gratitude and thankfulness.

My father was brought up in the same manner by his father. From the moment he was able to get a job, my father has worked. Starting at sixteen, he worked at a car dealership and as a waiter, bought his first car and began saving for college. After paying for college, he started his career as an entry-level accountant and has since worked his way up to become the CFO of a publicly traded company. Coming from a family that did not have as much as other families, he realized that the only way to succeed in life is to work hard, be honest, and never give up. As I have begun my career, I am now eternally grateful to him for showing me what it takes to be successful. Now I understand why he became frustrated with me when I did not want to help out around the house or finish my schoolwork. It was because he was trying his hardest to give me a good life, and he felt that the least I could do was study and help out.

My father is without a doubt the biggest role model in my life. The most valuable possession that I have is the opportunity to learn from him; I aspire to become as great a man as my dad. I have taken the principles that he has taught me and applied them to both my personal and professional life. Whenever I am faced with a tough situation or decision, I automatically think of what my dad might do in that situation. I think that these qualities will be useful in navigating the rigorous curriculum at the Jones School. The ability to stay focused and persevere when obstacles arise is something that successful business school students must possess. I hope to be able to share the lessons I learned from my father with my peers at the Jones School, while learning from them as well.