Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?
The only sleepovers I have ever had were with my little cousins. Throughout most of my life, I always seem to find myself surrounded by children. I spent my youthful days playing silly outdoor games with other kids and a great deal of my adolescence babysitting my younger relatives. Quite frankly, I enjoy all the moments I have had with these children more than with individuals my age. There is nothing more amusing than a child's liveliness, sanguine mentality, and sheer innocence.
In my adolescent years, I gravitated towards various youth-related organizations. Two summers ago, I volunteered at Operation Gratitude where I had the pleasure of helping other workers send care packages to military troops and their families. We carried out quite a few workloads, primarily parceling sanitary supplies for the troops, packing canned goods, and carrying hefty boxes back and forth, but my favorite everyday duty was reading the endearing letters that preschool kids had written for the soldiers. Reading a simple "thank you for your service" or even an "I love you" from these children never failed to make me smile; every aspect of their messages were simply genuine and selfless.
During the course of my high school career, I was determined to heighten my involvement with high school events. I joined an array of charity clubs such as A HOPE for Children, which fundraises for African children suffering with HIV, and the American Red Cross, which provides compassionate care to those in need. These school organizations allowed me to further contribute to the community and, at the same time, interact with fellow students.
However, I wanted to partake in community services beyond school grounds. So, I began volunteering at the Mid Valley YMCA, a non-profit organization committed to helping families live a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Personally, the most rewarding facet of this experience is being directly involved with the youth. As a tutor, I have been grateful to supervise elementary and middle school kids and provide them the educational assistance that they seek; not only is this task accommodating but also enjoyable. Being part of the YMCA family truly taught me the worth of responsibility, patience, and leadership.
From babysitting my little cousins to engaging in steady volunteer work, I have established a profound adoration for my younger peers. With these noteworthy experiences, I have acquired a sense of prudence, obligation, compassion and- above all- altruism, which gave my whole high school experience sincere meaning.
