My father is an extremely wealthy man, and was long before I was born. I am now 23 years old. I was never given an allowance of more than $3, and I certainly wasn't given one after I was old enough to work. I bought by first car ( and every car since then) with money that I earned. I took out student loans to pay for college that my scholarship didn't cover, worked my way through undergrad to pay for my apartment & bills, and am currently working while I go to med achool. Most of my friends think that the way I was raised was too harsh, that my dad should have given me a break. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I have learned the value of a dollar ( and how far I can stretch it), and I also love the feeling of pride that I get from accomplishing something that I know I worked hard for. I used to hate it. It pissed me off to see my friends handed everything that they ever wanted. But now, I understand why my father did that. He could have given me everything and thensome, but he chose to make me work for it. I think that's a great gift that he's given me. (Hopefully, I'll feel the same in 2 years when I have over $680,000 in loans to repay...ouch.)

I believe too often that society confuses the heart with that of selfish emotion.When you grow up being constantly told what and how to think, instead of leading by example, you can get confused between the two.I believe that following your heart is ultimately a good thing and it develops you into the individual you want to become. If your heart is in the right place that will work out very well for you. People who think there "heart" wants possessions or cheats obviously do not have their heart in the right places. I am a firm believer that the true heart of life is good, people with heart make leaders. When you are rigid, over analytical,and see things will blinders on, no matter what your views, you will never accomplish more than the goodness of the human heart.