Personally, I believe that the choices a person makes are what shape who they are. Growing up in Southern Maryland provided me with many choices that gave me the opportunity to shape the person I hope to become. It also gave me the privilege to experience things and meet people that I might not have had if I grew up in a different place. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay In Southern Maryland, the diversity of people really gives you the opportunity to choose who you want to be. There are those who are religious - which is my family - and then you go to school and you meet people who question the values ​​and beliefs you've been taught your whole life. The experiences I have had with those who question what I believe have been the most enlightening experiences. I have learned to stand up for what I believe is right, even if I have to go against my peers. Southern Maryland also provided me with the things and people that have influenced me to this day. My two major influences are music and my older brother, Robbert. Music has been a big part of my life since I started playing guitar at the age of eight. Music taught me how and where to channel all my feelings. It also taught me how important it is to be who you are and not change yourself. Everyone has different musical tastes, just like everyone has their own personality and life goals. My brother influenced my life in a different way. He has become someone I admire more than anyone. I have seen him struggle with problems in his life, but no matter what, he never gives up. A perfect example is when he was denied a commission in the Air Force. He spent his entire life and education focused on getting into the Air Force, and during his senior year of college, he was told he wouldn't be able to achieve his dreams. What was amazing was how he handled the situation. Instead of being angry or depressed, he decided to look at the situation as if it happened for a reason. Robbert taught me how to deal with things that didn't go the way you wanted. He taught me that things happen – or don’t happen – for a reason and to find a way to make it a good thing. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay All of these things have helped shape who I am today and helped me learn things that will help me when I finally get to where I want to be in life. And where I want to be is in a hospital, helping people as much as I can. My plan is to one day become an emergency room doctor after the schooling I need. For a while, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I wanted to help people. I went back and forth between medicine and crime, but ultimately settled on the ER doctor's decision. In this way, I feel the excitement that attracted me to solve crimes while saving people's lives. I know there may be disappointments along my journey – that’s where my brother’s lessons come in. And I will have to make tough decisions and stick to my instincts, no matter what people say - and that's where my experiences come in. While nothing is certain, I know that experiences and people who influence me will lead me in the right direction - even if it doesn't happen exactly..