Uncle Jay’s Guiding wisdom

My uncle Jay has always been an inspiration to me. He's worn many hats, from being a dentist to serving as an Air Force officer, and even opening his own business. These accomplishments captured my young imagination, especially because I was close to his kids, which allowed me to spend a lot of time with him and his wonderful wife, Darnell, who is one of my favorite aunts.

However, it was his wisdom that truly left a profound impact on me once I became an adult. I vividly recall a time when I was struggling during my undergraduate years, and he posed a thought-provoking question: "What do you call the student who graduates last in their medical school class?" I was initially puzzled but unsure of how to respond. He then gave me the answer: "Doctor." He stressed the importance of focusing on achieving one's goals because, once achieved, no one cares about your GPA as long as you excel in your field.

I carried this philosophy with me through undergrad, graduate school, and even law school. At every academic level, when I doubted my abilities, I remembered his words about completing the goal, and everything else falling into place.

What always struck me was his willingness to share wisdom. Even as Alzheimer's began to affect him, he continued imparting his knowledge about business ownership. He repeatedly emphasized the importance of keeping my doors open as the measure of success, with the rest to worry about later.

His daughter, my cousin, often spoke about how comforting I was to him during his early Alzheimer's years. What she didn't know was how deeply moved I was that, despite the ravages of this devastating disease slowly robbing him of his mind, he still had the clarity to share knowledge with me. The lessons he shared are the ones I continue to hold dear to this day.

I can confidently say that without his wisdom, I might have retreated into myself. Yet, he always offered words of encouragement, urging me to step forward, and for that, I will forever be grateful.

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