My Role Model

Throughout my life there are a few exceptional figures who have served as a role model for me offering guidance and direction through their words of wisdom. However none has such inspiration as Mother Teresa who has formed the very core and fundamental attributes which makes me a person that I am today. I believe in a life of giving and not taking through the teachings of Mother Theresa. For any of you who do not know her, Mother Theresa was a recipient of several honours including the coveted Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. She was beatified in late 2003 which was the third possible steps towards sainthood which gives her the title "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta". She also came up top in ranking in Gallup's List of Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century. Needless to say she was loved and admired by people from all over the world regardless of skin colour. The main reason behind my admiration for her is due to her altruistic nature and her undying hope for humanity. She believed in a better world if people could just free themselves from greed and violence and embrace peace and love. Her dedication to world peace and helping those who are truly in need has not only greatly touched me but also shaped the very foundation of my beliefs today. Through her charitable work I have learnt that wealth does not mean anything if it is not put towards good use. The world would have been a better place if wealth could be more evenly distributed and this would have alleviated famine issues in many parts of the world. Her selfless devotion to a life of pilgrimage, bringing help to those in need, and providing comfort and aid to those in pain has given me the inspiration to live my life trying my best to help others. Mother Teresa famously quoted " By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus". Her words were clearly reflected in her actions as she provided assistance to people who are in need regardless of religion, race and skin colour. In other words, she is truly colour blind. In 1982, Mother Teresa rescued 37 children trapped in a frontline hospital by securing a temporary cease fire between the Israeli army and Palestinian guerrillas putting herself in the forefront of a warzone. Mother Teresa also travelled extensively to provide assistance and food to the starving children of Ethiopia, radiation victims at Chernobyl and earthquake victims in Armenia. She also expanded her efforts to Eastern Europe in the late 1980s, particularly in Communist countries which had previously rejected Missionaries of Charity. She was undeterred by the fierce criticism that she faced in those countries with an unyielding faith in providing help to those who are suffering.