During retired astronaut Jeff Ashby's discussion with the 2013 Bezos Scholars, he urged each of us to "share our gifts with the world as you write your signature on the Earth." This was the first instance during my life-changing week-long experience at the Aspen Ideas Festival where I was called to pay homage to the great privileges I have been granted for the benefit of humanity. The Bezos Scholars Program, designed to be a leadership development experience, provides students with the tools needed to turn their "passions into action." That week, numerous people called on Bezos scholars to lean into discomfort to effect change, not because we had the responsibility, but because we had the opportunity; the opportunity afforded to us in the form of a guaranteed education and all the other benefits that living in a first world country brings; the opportunity we were born into because of a single stroke of luck, which others were denied by a single stroke of bad luck. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay From the ages of four to eight, I aspired to become a doctor, amass a decent fortune with which I could comfortably retire, and travel the world. From the ages of nine to sixteen, I tried to become a doctor/biomedical engineer, amass a decent fortune with which I could comfortably retire and support my parents, and travel into space. Now, thanks in part to my experience as a Bezos scholar, I have only one goal, and that is to use the opportunities I have been given to benefit as many people as possible. While I would still like to design a 3D printer that can produce complex organs, and perhaps one day set foot on Mars, I can no longer bear the thought of living a convenient, selfish life. How could I, when women like Shabana Basij Rasikh risk life and limb to provide quality education to girls living under oppressive regimes? When men like Rye Barcott, who previously served his country as a Marine, serve their global community by empowering the youth of Kibera, Africa's largest urban slum? Hearing their stories awakened me to what it truly means to live a fulfilling life and challenged all my preconceived notions about philanthropy and fulfillment. I once believed I was accomplished: a straight A student, recipient of numerous awards, and a leader in my school. I got this by working every weekend at my parents' family-run Thai restaurant. I now realize that up until now I have simply used my talents and opportunities to serve myself and advance my life prospects. The real achievement is my friend and fellow Bezos Scholar, Carlos Flores, who faces the risk of injury and death five months a year by shedding light on the crippling poverty, inequality and violence that exists in his home country of Honduras, the all while studying. for his SATs. However, Carlos remains modest and refers to the citizens he interviews the well-deserved praise that others pay him.Shabana. Rye. Carlos. They are my heroes. They have unspeakably humbled, enlightened and inspired me. I stepped off the tarmac of Aspen Airport, shackled and blinded, able to see only fleeting shadows on the cave wall of my limited perspective. Now that I have been guided into the light, I feel an overwhelming courage to share my gifts with the world, without fear of the outcome. I started this process.