Hey everyone, I’d like to share a bit of my personal statement and get some feedback from you

“Don’t aspire to be considered important. Aspire to be someone others feel grateful for. Recognition follows good actions.”

These words from my mother, spoken years ago, became a turning point in my life. They shaped my values, guided my actions, and gave meaning to my path. She taught me that life makes the most sense when we use our skills to serve others — without expecting anything in return. Helping, teaching, being present for those in need — these are not just things I do. They define who I am. And, above all, they make me truly happy.

I’m a young Brazilian who, despite being restless about the inequalities in the world, has tried to honor his mission by turning learning into action and dreams into real impact.

Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by understanding why some countries are so developed while others face overwhelming challenges — especially in education. I strongly believe that access to quality education is the root cause of these differences. And I’ve found my purpose in sharing what I know to ignite hope in others.

Knowing I couldn’t change the whole world at once, I began with what was within my reach. I started by tutoring friends in math and English — classmates who couldn’t afford private lessons. With each of their small victories, I understood more clearly: my mission is to be someone whose presence brings impact, gratitude, and hope.

For three years, I’ve been dedicated to this purpose. It shaped not only my values but the person I’ve become. I learned resilience, empathy, initiative, active listening, and leadership — qualities that I now consider pillars of who I am.

But the most transformative experience of my youth happened when I crossed the ocean to volunteer in an isolated community in Uganda.

Africa — how many lessons you gave me in just two months. There, my mission found deeper meaning. Not because it began there, but because I finally understood the true reach of what I could become.

One afternoon, after a long day of teaching under the sun, a boy named Enock — no older than ten — looked at me and said:

“Pedro, I don’t know why you came all the way from Brazil to sleep with mosquitoes and live without electricity… but I do know that one day, I want to be like you — to cross oceans to help those in need.”

His words broke something in me — and rebuilt something stronger. In that moment, I realized that kindness and compassion don’t need complex words or framed diplomas. They live in our actions, our choices, and in the quiet moments when we remind others of their worth. Enock taught me that beyond transforming lives, perhaps our greatest role is to inspire others to become changemakers themselves.

Uganda taught me that serving others is a powerful act. That listening can be more important than speaking. That being present with authenticity is the greatest gift we can offer.

Today, I know with clarity and humility that my purpose is to help others transform their realities through education, compassion, and hope. As my mother taught me:

“Always strive to leave a feeling of gratitude in the heart of every person you meet.”