It's something unpredictable, but in the end it is right. I hope you had the time of your life.

A few weeks ago, I was in Indy and decided to drive around IUPUI, one last time. It might not be my last time (I am sure, in fact), but I think it will be the last time through this lens and frame of mind. I graduated on the 10th, moved out on the 11th, and I left the country on the 12th. It was hardly a practical way of moving on or letting go of four years.

Every few weeks I tried going back, pushed off taking responsibility, and clung on to what had defined me for so long. I cannot let my past define who I am today. It is true that the past gives context. It gives you the information and background and experience as to how to live one's life, but that brings me to my point. That brings me to my point that the past gives the tools that we need to work on our present and the future. It gives them to us, but it does not work on our present or future with us. It must stay in its place.

It is important to know your past. I love History, so I especially know the value of the past, but I also believe there is value in of keeping an open-minded and using a fresh slate at times. Back to my story. I drove around from place to place. Every image that my eyes gazed upon brought so many memories back. I went from place to place, thanked my fortune, and I said good-bye. I am closing this chapter of my life. I am not necessarily ready to move on, but that is life. You either grab onto it while you can, or drown.

There were a lot of characters that have shaped my story in the past few years. Characters that came and went within the chapter itself. There will be many characters whose parts end with the closing with this chapter, but there will be some also who continue their role as my story continues. Neither is more or less than the either. Each one played an integral part in my development, but I must focus on the next role that I play.

I was selfish for four years. My family needed me at home, but I stayed at school. It was not that I did not try to come home and be there for my family, but my Mom and Dad would simply not allow it. Maybe they did want it, but being the way that they were, they would never ask for it. I had an absolute blast at university, especially the latter half. I met friends that I hope I will keep for life, and I had amazing times with them.

While I was having a great time, I was also needed at home. I tried my best to come home every other weekend, so that I could help out whenever I could. While I was away, several people that were not even in my family stepped up to be there for my Mom and Dad. They had no blood allegiance to us, but their love and compassion, and in my opinion, true understanding of the meaning of life led them to this path. They may not technically be family, but they became closer to me than my actual family. They are brothers in the strongest sense.

I did not get into medical school for a reason. I know this. It was my time. It was my duty to return to home. I truly believe that I have to take my place in the scheme of things, take my place in my family. I am no longer a little boy anymore. I have to help run the house-hold, help run the business. I have to do my part, and I believe that is why I was destined to return home.

I am not ashamed like many people to return home. I know this is where my place is and where the next chapter of my life will begin to unfold. People ask me why I chose not to go to Grad. School at IUPUI. I had the options. I applied. I was accepted, but it was never an option. I was living life as an individual. In a previous blog, I mentioned that this is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does not coincide with my ideals. It is not my path. I love arguing with Brady about stuff like this. He is the exact opposite than me in many ways, but it is weird that I relate to him more than other people because we have the same goals and vision.

Somethings things just feel right. I am leaving behind a lot. It is by choice. I could have continued with it again, but there was no more room for growth. I would continue living on there for in my own selfishness, seeking material gain and happiness. I am very good at looking at the little things and details, but I also know when it is appropriate to look at the big picture.

I am a firm believer in karma. Though I think western culture sometimes butchers its true meaning and essence. Karma is not what goes around comes around necessarily. In this context, I look at it as a mechanism of paying forward and backward. When someone does something nice to me, it does not necessarily mean I am bound to do something nice back by the law of karma. It could mean that, but it could also mean that I pay that nice deed foward and give someone else that same benefit. When someone is a leader, you do not groom future leaders with the hopes they take care of you after that. You groom them with the hopes that they take what you taught them and teach it to the next group EVEN BETTER.

It is one's duty, one's obligation to take everything that one receives and give it back out ten-fold. I learned a lot about the world, myself, my values, and my goals in the past four years. I hope that I was able to impart what I learned on others around me. As I close this chapter, I WILL be even better. I will be even stronger, even better than anything anyone taught me at IUPUI, and I will take that attitude into these next two years whether personal or professional. I am becoming who I was born to be. I am stepping into my role. I will take hold of these next two years and establish myself even more. I have my memories and the tools from the past four years now, and I am beginning to take the first steps away.

I am grateful from all the love and blessings I have received, but a part of that love and blessings is that I do something with. Unrequited love and unfulfilled blessings is worse than a curse. I will make that love and those blessings proud. It is my duty.