I have known many friends and family members who have endured tragedy. Some merely survive while others thrive despite their adversity. My observation of these friends and family led me to be fascinated with resiliency. My desire to better understanding factors of resiliency is what motivated me to the profession of social work. I have learned helping others feel empowered leads them to greater resiliency. For me, public service is the act of giving time and talents for the empowerment of a community, including those who live in that community. In my youth, I was given a few opportunities to give service to my community through cleaning up public spaces. What I gained from those experiences was a sense of empowerment to make a difference. …show more content…
Hearing that anyone has cancer is so shocking and difficult, but hearing my twelve year-old neighbor’s diagnosis struck me to my core. I am a nurturer by nature, I knew I needed do anything I could to ease this family’s stress at such a difficult time in their life. My daughter, who was only five at the time, asked me if we could do a barbecue to raise money for our neighbors. At that moment I knew we could at least raise money to help with their expenses. We asked our neighbors permission to move forward with a fundraiser, they agreed. I organized a group of friends to help with the fundraising. We successfully raised 20,000 dollars through a dinner, auction, and 5K run. It was a lot of work, which I was so incredibly grateful for. The father of the girl told me he was incredibly grateful that we were able to help them financially because it allowed him to put more energy into his daughter’s recovery and less energy in worrying how to pay their deductibles. The ability to empower this family helped me see empowerment as a factor of resiliency. I am overjoyed to report my neighbor won her battle and eight years later she is still cancer free. I loved seeing how our community rallied around our neighbors, adding to their ability to be resilient amid their hardship. I remember initially thinking if we could raise a few thousand dollars that would be wonderful. When I realized we had actually raised 20,000 dollars, I learned that action leads to achieving incredible
I have been a part of different activities for my community service. I have helped the TLC preschool afterschool with cleaning tables and toys once all the children have gone home. I have also been to the shelly baird school where they disabled kids go for schooling and helped out there with the students doing their work and played games .I am currently in “Dude Be Nice Club” and recently we participated in project night night where we would gather donated security blankets a book or stuffed animal and deliver them to children who have very little in homeless shelters. My community service in this case helped me realize that there are people out there who need some encouragement to help them get back on their feet and realize in life that
In tenth grade, my English teacher posed the class with a question: what are you going to do for your community? She emphasized the importance of making a positive impact, even if it meant simply smiling as you hold the door open for someone. She prompted us to go out of our comfort zone and do something for our community. While I had been volunteering at Church and at school, I had never really taken a step out of my comfort zone. Instead of just helping out in, say, a soup kitchen, I decided that it was time
In this regard, the most important part of service to me personally is giving back to the community. Volunteering is my way of providing service to others, it is not only effective, but it’s a good way to meet people, to learn, and to develop social skills. By helping or supporting others, I learned and used new skills in communicating with people and I have gained confidence in myself through different interactions. Providing aid to a family in need or helping out an elementary teacher is necessary, because as people it should be our natural tendencies to support one another, and bring aid when aid is due. For example, at Seven Lakes High school I created the Girls for Krause Club. It was given the name the Girls for Krause club after the Krause Center; a center in Katy that fosters girls who have been taken out of their homes due to sexual harassment, parental mistreatment or mental issues. My first visit to the Krause Center was with my youth group at church. I was so touched by all the girls at the center, and how open they were about their situation. I remember one of the girls telling me thank you, for treating her like “a regular person.” This interaction gave me the incentive to create the Krause club, because I wanted to allow other girls my age to interact with these girls and bring attention to a center that wasn’t well known in my community. Moreover, creating the Krause club has been rewarding and a way to showcase
What is the single greatest personal asset that will serve you in realizing these goals?
I volunteered taking care of children, at a recreation center, where parents couldn’t afford expensive day care. I spent time at feral cat clinics to help reduce the overpopulation of cats. I began volunteering at three square and placing applications to help hospitals and soon plan to spend time with soup kitchens and homeless shelters. Through my community service I learned to communicate better, take on leadership roles and earned life changing opportunities along the way. Through volunteering I grew as a person, I matured, learned responsibility, and realized what I wanted to do with my life.
From day one my mom taught me that you will get more satisfaction giving to and helping others than you ever will by just doing things for yourself. I truly believe this. Volunteering to teach swimming lessons, organizing recycled items, and visiting the nursing home are all things I have been involved in and doing each of those I have learned more and more about how important service is. Just recently my classmates and I helped an elderly woman move all of her belongings out of her home and into the 4H building for an auction. The 4H building is on the fairgrounds where I have volunteered to clean up every spring for the last 3 years. Service is very important but also very rewarding. I look toward to doing more service projects in the
Service in the school and community is an insight to your character and work ethic. I have over 20 hours of community service from many different experiences. Last summer I worked for Camp Barakel, a summer camp, in the kitchen. I assisted in serving food and cleaning. I learned discipline and teamwork through this valuable experience. Not only this I’ve worked with the Elderly in Rehabilitation centers and the patience and nurturing qualities is something that will forever be valuable in my life. Last but not least working as Big Sister or Buddy to a 4th grade girl has given me the chance to positively impact and influence her life as simply as having a friend is immense. All of these service opportunities as added to my character and prepared me for the responsibilities of
Growing up, I took every opportunity given to me to help those around me. I aided the homeless at the early age of 8 alongside my mom. Helping boost homeless women and children self-esteem by participating in clothing, food, and school supply giveaways. Beginning at the age of 13, during Sunday services I would watch the younger kids in the nursery changing their diapers, entertain, making sure that they were safe and well taken care of. I also have volunteered at the libraries in the Newton County area efficiently shelving books.
At a young age I discovered a passion for helping others and I have continued to be passionate about serving my community since then. At the age of eight years old I began the first year of what would soon be my ten year membership of 4-H. Through that program and my church’s youth group I truly began to understand what selfless service was all about. I first began helping others by walking dogs at the local shelter and helping my 4-H club clean the sides of the highways. I later was able to experience several mission trips that opened my eyes to the larger aspect of service. My love for helping people continued to grow as I got older and I continued to find ways to make a difference. One of my favorite experiences was getting to help cook and serve a meal at a homeless
From being active in my community I have learned that after giving, you receive the best feeling. My freshman year, my friends and I dressed up like Disney princesses and sang at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. I have gone back two more times because I am in love with cheering people up. Since this experience, I have made it a mission to always continue to participate in community service. From meals-on-wheels, to adopt-a-spot trash clean up I am always ready to help out the community.
Cancer runs through my family like crazy, and it’s a tough situation to deal with as a patient and for the family of the patient. Brighten A Kid’s Day 5k/Bike Ride raises money for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital’s Child Life Program where the
The community service that changed my outlook on life is my missions trip to Haiti. When I saw how the Haitians lived day by day, I realized that my life in America is extraordinary compared to theirs. My dream is to send musical instruments to anyone who wants to play in their church.
This crucial four years of Highschool is what shapes up a person. Things like friends, families, and new experiences are what teach life lessons and morality. I believe that through the service activities I have taken part of this few years, I learned new qualities about myself and new aspects in life. I have learned the role of a leader, all the charitable things service can offer, and I have built a character. What impacted me the most was the “Jessey J Mcray Elementary School” program, and the Service Day activity I did in freshman year. Volunteering is a great way to bring people together and it provides physical and mental rewards for whoever decides to do it.
I knew what helping the community looked like especially since I had to do community service to graduate high school. Most of my community service house came from going on a mission trip with my church to a different state. When on this trip we would build a church for a week, but the people that went on this trip were all people that I knew. The only people I didn’t know were the people that we would stay with. Since I have been on these trips since I was about eight, I have been able to take on more responsibilities and become more of a leader on the job site to the younger kids. This has transitioned over to my sports and classroom here at Bridgewater. I have been able to become a better leader both on and off the field in sports and also to organize study sessions for
I have had many turning points in my life, but the one that has impacted me most happened when I was seven years old. In 2008, my beloved grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer. My Papa was a good man who provided for everyone in our family. Being the little girl I was, I never understood the meaning of “cancer.”