William Sanderson is a person who has gone through different phases in his life, each with his own goals and profession. He was raised in an era when young people frequently had lofty aspirations for the future. He saw his friends pursuing careers in law and medicine because they thought these fields were honorable and could improve the world.
One pivotal event occurred while Sanderson was serving in the military, where he came across concepts that would influence his philosophy of life. He was impacted by reading a book by Adlai Stevenson. He became aware of the potential for legal work to have beneficial effects akin to saving lives through medical procedures after reading this author's words. At one point in his journey, Sanderson was moved and gave serious consideration to pursuing that honorable course for himself.
But Sanderson's perspective changed over time. He ultimately made the decision to finish his degree rather than pursue a career in law because of the financial rewards and sense of accomplishment that came with initiatives like the G.I. Bill, which helped veterans with their post-World War II education.
This shift in viewpoint is comparable to choosing to become a chef rather than a doctor after realizing that, although both careers can provide people with nourishment, one may provide more instant gratification or better fit with one's interests and abilities. Although many paths may appear honorable at first, it's crucial for people to discover what genuinely speaks to them on a personal level, as Sanderson's story illustrates.
Through his personal experiences, William Sanderson demonstrates how our perceptions of the world and ourselves can change over time, guiding us to make decisions that are best for us even when they don't exactly match our original goals or expectations from others.