Ever since the first Christmas I can remember, I’ve loved giving things. I’d rather buy a gift I know my friend will love than receive one or buy something for myself. When I have a friend that is sick, I’ll make them a “care package” with their favorite snacks, movies, and juice. I try to do things like this often because I love the way people’s faces light up when I communicate how much I care about them and they realize they are special. My favorite part of serving others is seeing someone understand how remarkable they are in a world where it’s hard to find pride in themselves.
I have learned that a simple smile can be quite powerful. While I’ve always enjoyed making people happy and putting others before myself, I really fell in love with service when I went on a mission trip to Fort Worth, Texas to serve the homeless. It was an extremely humbling experience for me; I spoke with people who had been through hardships I’d never even imagined. I found that in the week I was in Fort Worth, even if I couldn’t personally make a long-term effect in most of the people I encountered, I could at least make them smile.
From talking with them, I gained advice and wisdom and they were grateful for a compassionate, listening ear. The advice they gave me has helped me lead others away from dangerous situations. One of the events on that trip was called Kids Club, where hundreds of children from the poverty stricken areas of town came to our host church for a day of fun. I played with kids, helped them with their lunches, sang, acted out Bible stories, painted faces, and participated in skits.
Watching their happiness over simple things like bubbles, piggyback rides, snow cones, hugs, or even a smile brought a great feeling of fulfillment over me. I knew that it was something I wanted to continue. When I came home from the trip, I took every opportunity to become active in serving people, especially on an individual basis. If I knew someone was having problems paying for a babysitter, I’d babysit for free. I spent time every possible weekend at the local no kill animal shelter.
I worked hard to make sure that I balanced my life of school, work, and band so that I could include serving the people around me with the free time I had left. I hope to continue my love of serving people in the future by working in a field which will allow me to have direct communication with people and to help people in need. Using this passion for service and my aptness for the medical sciences, I plan to attend the nursing school at USM and work the rest of my life to help heal people. One day after I get my degree, I hope to join the navy and use my skills to give more of those smiles around the world.
