“Do more than belong:
participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more
than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.”
~ William Arthur
Ward
I was recently helping a friend search for and apply to
several different job opportunities. As I was helping her she asked why I am so
passionate about my job and being involved in the community and giving back. As
I was giving her my answer, I couldn't help but think of this story and all the
sacrifices my own parents made to afford my education in and out of the
classroom.
“A young man went to apply for a managerial position in a big
company. He passed the initial interview, and went on to meet the director for
the final interview. The director discovered from his resume that the youth's
academic achievements were excellent. He asked, ‘Did you obtain any
scholarships in school?’ the youth answered ‘no’. The director asked, ‘Was it
your father who paid for your school fees?’ The youth replied, ‘My father
passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school
fees.’ The director asked, ‘Where did your mother work?’ ‘My mother worked as
clothes cleaner’, he replied.
The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect. ‘Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?’, questioned the director. ‘Never’, replied the youth, ‘my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, my mother can wash clothes faster than me’.
The director said, ‘I have a request. When you go home today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me first thing tomorrow morning.’
The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high but was confused by the director’s request. When he went home, he asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.
The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. A tear fell as he did. It was the first time he noticed his mother's hands were so wrinkled and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother winced when he touched them.
This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay his school fees. The bruises on his mother's hands were the price she was willing to pay for his education, his school activities and his future. After cleaning his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother. That night, the mother and son talked for a very long time.
The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect. ‘Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?’, questioned the director. ‘Never’, replied the youth, ‘my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, my mother can wash clothes faster than me’.
The director said, ‘I have a request. When you go home today, go and clean your mother's hands, and then see me first thing tomorrow morning.’
The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high but was confused by the director’s request. When he went home, he asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to her son.
The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly. A tear fell as he did. It was the first time he noticed his mother's hands were so wrinkled and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother winced when he touched them.
This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay his school fees. The bruises on his mother's hands were the price she was willing to pay for his education, his school activities and his future. After cleaning his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother. That night, the mother and son talked for a very long time.
The next morning, the youth went to the director's
office. The director noticed the tears in the young man's eyes, when he asked: ‘Can
you tell me what have you done and learned in your house?’ The young man
answered,’ I cleaned my mother's hands and I also finished cleaning all the
remaining clothes for her.’ ‘I know now what appreciation is’, he continued, ‘Without
my mother, I would not be who I am today. By helping my mother, only now do I
realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done on your own. I have
come to appreciate the importance and value of helping one’s family.’
The director said, ‘This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life.’ ‘You are hired.’”
I too know what it is like to have parents to work hard with their hands to provide for their children’s future. I hope to be able to look back over my children’s lives one day and know that I did all I could to provide and give them every opportunity to succeed.
The director said, ‘This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life.’ ‘You are hired.’”
I too know what it is like to have parents to work hard with their hands to provide for their children’s future. I hope to be able to look back over my children’s lives one day and know that I did all I could to provide and give them every opportunity to succeed.
Many in our community are the same way. I see you
as you are dropping your kids off at school each morning. I see you as you
cheer your little ones on at the ball field and I see the numerous parents who
are setting examples for our next generations of leaders. I see
how involved you are in our community and how you involve your children too.
I want to encourage you to be involved in the
future of your kids, be involved in the betterment of all the kids in your
neighborhood and celebrate their successes. At the Chamber we celebrate a lot
of successes. We have a lot of ways to be involved in the future of our
community and I welcome you to join us as we work to provide a bright future
for the next generation! Let’s Celebrate all our community is and all we can be!
To all the students, parents, teachers and
administrators starting back to school, Good Luck! We’re proud of you! We want
to celebrate your success and hope you have a great year!
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* This article was originally printed in the Sunday, August 18, 2013 issue
of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.
of The Chronicle's "Planting Seeds" column.
