Vision

When I was eight years old, I wanted to be a tiger trainer. I loved tigers! In elementary school, I even started writing "Rachel A.J. Tigers" on my papers at school. I liked having "Tigers" for a last name. Well, until my teacher, who clearly lacked sensitivity and a heart, called home and told my mom she would fail me if I did not start writing my correct name. 

My love for tigers was not hindered in the slightest. I went to the zoo often to see them, I drew pictures of them, and I went to the library to check out books to research them. I quickly came to discover that the White Bengal tigers were close to extinction. Contact information (to one of China's prominent leaders) was located in one of the books I selected, encouraging people to take a stand. I decided to write a letter to China to inform the leaders of the terrible injustices that were occurring to the tigers there. I was trying to give a voice to a species that did not have one. 

For obvious reasons, I have not pursued this selected career. Since I was young, I have had a love for the world around me and a desire to give back. I have since chosen an entirely different career to do just that--teaching. By equipping my students with an education, I will enable them more opportunities to achieve their dreams. And hopefully, more voices will be heard.

(Gratefully, my love for people and other, more relative things, has since replaced my excessive love for tigers :))

I think the claim(WHY-WHAT-HOW mentioned below) is a great way to organize and prioritize the vision and mission. Sometimes we focus so much on the big ways of HOW to make something happen that the WHAT and especially the WHY gets lost. If one gets off track on the WHY, then what is the purpose of completing the BIG HOW. Similarly, oftentimes the WHY will fuel the motivation to continue working on the goals (HOW). 

We have to think about WHAT we want to accomplish first. Then we must reflect WHY we want to accomplish it. Followed by HOW we are going to get it done. WHY-WHAT-HOW

Example: 

1) I want to buy a bike=WHAT

2) I want to go on a cross country bike trip=WHY

               3) I need to identify a bike, earn $X, by the end of the month=HOW 

Thus Why=Vision, What=Mission/Purpose, How=Goals

I have many visions and missions for the year. 

An example includes:

Mission(WHAT): I want to become a loving and successful teacher and wife.

Vision(WHY): I want to make a difference in the world and my world.