OMG! Thank you, sir! That truly did inspire me! Of course I wan't my essay to come from the heart. I had a huge discussion with my AP Lang teacher and she helped me put this together. I was able to add a whole new paragraph. Tell me what u think! ^^
If I were to delay going to college for a year, I would spend that year trying to make the world a better and brighter place. I have been active in community service for two years, and the satisfaction gained from each experience is both priceless and irreplaceable. I believe that helping others in the community, whether it is yours or someone else's, is very important to this world. It inspires morality, gratefulness, and it brings people together in a way that can never be forgotten.
Although there are many ways that one can contribute to the community, there is one thing I am good at: The Art of Encouragement. If I could do anything in a year without college, I would try my hardest to instill hope in others. I want to help those who are experiencing adversity and hardships to know that they are not alone in this world, and that they can gain the courage to live another day. Sure, I could donate my hair or my kidney to the American Cancer Society, but we tend to forget those who simply want someone to talk to, someone to say, "Don't worry, I've been there. We can get through this together." People who have experienced child abuse, abuse drugs, or even those innocent lives who are being forced into prostitution all need guidance, a place where they can seek refuge. That is my goal. I may not have the wealth to donate to the poor, but I have the time and patience to give a helping hand to those who have fallen and help them get back on their feet with the hope and encouragement that they require.
How I would go about offering my helping hand would be dictated by where I was living, how much money I had for transportation, and how many other responsibilities I would have at home. As the first born child in a family of five, with three children in all, I am responsible for taking care of my two siblings who were unexpectedly diagnosed with cerebral palsy. To this day, they lack the ability to walk, talk, use the restroom, or even feed themselves. Thus, I have had to assist them for the majority of my life while struggling to maintain my role as a student. I felt a great pressure and even some anger towards my situation, which gradually led to my feelings of hopelessness and uncertainty towards their futures and my own. Reading and listening to the success stories of other people and their lives' obstacles, I have realized that life is truly unpredictable, and not everything that takes place is guaranteed to be permanent. Seeing my brother and sister improve little by little each day with the simple words of motivation given by my family and me has taught me that they can be helped to succeed, and I am filled with much more hope, both for them and for the world. I see from first-hand experience that I can make a difference in the lives of others.
Charles Dickens once pointed out that "no one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." Therefore, I would like to make my existence a useful one by encouraging others, regardless of how I do it. Hope has played an extremely important role in my life, and I want those who need it the most to share it.
Catherine Siv
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