My Experience Of My Life

I have been a member of the Olivet Boys and Girls Club for nine years; starting at nine. Throughout those years, they have taught me the many things that I put into play today. Spending most, if not all of my time at the Olivet’s, I tend to call it my second home. My mother used to always yell at me for not being home all the time. I just loved being there all the time. Through all the support of the Olivet family, I have been able to overcome many obstacles. For example, many may think that because of my height I would have picked basketball as my go to sport; however, that was not the case at all. Luckily, I had a unit director who would not take no for an answer and kept pushing me.

As mentioned before, being on the volleyball team helped in the social aspect of this transition. In addition, I was also fortunate enough to be involved in my youth group, which had made it easier for me to make decisions. Confident in the support I received from both these social groups, challenged my interpersonal skills, as well as allowed me to develop leadership skills. Through these skills, I have been able to help others overcome the same obstacles that I experienced. Through iBelieve’s Summer Camp I will begin to accomplish the goal of becoming a stronger leader, which supports my desire to be an iBelieve

In middle school I was that one girl who read in the bathroom instead of eating or going outside to play. As the years flew by and I went to high school I’d managed to make a handful of friends. My sister being in her last year she wanted to try sports and made me join the soccer team with her. In joining soccer I made new friends, it encouraged me to do well in class, and the girls drew me out of my shell. I, the shy bookworm who read in the bathroom stalls, was chosen to lead the JV team, in my second year. As the seasons passed and I was chosen as Captain, I learned to be a leader. All in all, being a leader in any sport, project, or activity really gives someone a rush to be better, and it created one out of shy

It’s a huge improvement in every person’s life that when you are in a sport, adventures, or even a dance community can change your personality and identity. If anyone have known from many years ago until now, they would notice a big difference in my personality and that I am complete different person. Back when I was younger, I was antisocial person or I can call it “homebody” who always playing video games. Although I loved sports especially soccer, but I haven’t gotten any chance to practice it until I participated in a soccer competition in high school. At the beginning I have been chosen for my class team as a midfielder and we won the contest and I got an award for being the best assistant. now I am a better off person because of the sence of community that came into my life after years of being indoor and spending most of my time at home.

In an attempt to just get through high school, I decided to blend in by being a part of activities. I start with what I knew from middle school, basketball. High school JV basketball was my awakening. I despised the game, but liked everything else. I overcompensated for my dislike of the school setting with involvement in most activities offered that weren’t academic. My self-esteem grew. School days began at 6:30 A.M. with a practice and ended around 9:00 P.M. depending on the practice. Then, there were the weekend practices, meets and performances. This lasted approximately three and a half years. Learning was important, but activities didn’t leave time for studying and

During the fall season of 2004, this attitude regarding sports changed. I joined a youth’ league basketball team at the Water Tower Recreation Center located in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia. I absolutely enjoyed playing for the team as I found numerous great friends around my age. As a shy child, this helped me become more social among my peers thus improving my social skills. I found friends based on the common

I took cautious steps to take this confidence outside my house. When I didn’t make the highly competitive St. Xavier Golf Team, I joined the Queen City Golf Team where I faced varsity and junior varsity teams across the city, utilizing my years of golf practice to connect with people who share my interest. I was ready to test my inner extrovert back at my safe place. During my two weeks at CREW, by sitting with new people at meals and introducing myself to all the new staff, I connected with many kids. Our friendships continue through our work on the Junior Board.

My home has always been a place of physical, mental and spiritual healing for many people. My Grandmother is a retired nurse who loved people and was always administering treatment at home. Watching her helping to restore the health of people and bringing joy back to families every day made me see her as a superhero. Her passion and dedication for her job inspired me daily. She thought me how to combine knowledge, wisdom, and prayers to make an impact in the lives of people around me.

I woke up, and immediately regretted it. I had just been in a wonderful dream. That’s all I know. The dream was forgotten when I came around. I wish I hadn’t arose from my slumber. I could’ve just. . . died. Dying would be less stressful than my current situation. Oh. I need to introduce myself. I’m a fourteen year old named John Bernfield, one of the many—too many—Johns in the city I live in, Philadelphia. I have lost my family, my job, my home, and everything else I possessed.

At the age of 20, I mastered the smallest life skills to succeed in this life. I can establish and maintain my finances, file my taxes, maintain my car, communicate, and even pay my college tuition. I have been my own advocate, cheerleader, and counselor ever since I could drive. I learned how to cope and accept my weaknesses, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t struggled with myself. I am constantly in a state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension that causes an extreme amount of self doubt.

“Poke the porcupine! Poke, poke poke,” yelled my brother, Matt, as he jabbed his fingers into my ribcage. This game made the three hour car ride to Maine feel like eternity as the middle seat had my name engraved upon it (one of the perks of being the youngest child). My sister stared at the alluring landscape as we drove down the street, welcoming my family to Nana’s house. Pulling into the driveway, I am greeted by Nana, Papa, and Uncle Dave. My siblings and I immediately explored the backyard like adventurers in a new habitat. I traveled down a scenic path, welcoming me to the salty Atlantic. I paddled as hard as I can to keep up with my Nana and Papa kayaking. My whole family then took a hike, screaming every time we saw an apple tree. As we returned to the house, I washed my grass stained shirt and checked my body for ticks as I smelt savory lobster cooking. Crunching on corn and devouring my butter soaked lobster, I looked up at the table and saw a happy family: laughing about our hiking adventures and enjoying time together. As a first grader, I was thrilled to practice my reading skills to my Nana as she corrected my mispronunciations. Maine was a sweet escape, and I never wanted to leave. The only worries in my mind were the grass stains on my shirt, and removing the tick cemented in my leg.

Throughout my life I have encountered many circumstances that have shaped me into the person I am today. I started life in a small house outside of Mackinaw, Illinois. I lived in that house for eleven years, and while I was there I became the oldest of four children. That in itself has been an experience, teaching me a lot about being an example and impacting my views on responsibility. I have a brother who, quite frankly, is the worst behaved kid I know. He lies, steals, and misbehaves compulsively. Academically he is not much better. He was held back in first grade due to a refusal to do homework, and has barely scraped by ever since, consistently getting D’s and F’s. Miraculously, he is now in eighth grade, but he still is not doing much better academically or behaviorally. He is actually very smart; he just refuses to do work which is why he fails. At home he fights with my younger brother and sister and pushes my patience to its limits constantly. Through it all there is a silver lining. He has taught me tolerance and patience. I have learned to deal with other people and annoyances through my experiences with Brock, and find that I am generally harder to anger than others. The lessons in patience that I have learned from Brock have helped me a lot in working with others, and have contributed greatly to my successes in academics, but no single person or experience has impacted my outlook on life as much as my Mom.

A crisp, snowy night on the seventh of December, 2001. Slush crowded at the edge of roads. Cars trudged across the smothered streets. On this night, my mom gave birth to me. A quick learner, I walk and talk by the time I turn 10 months old. By the age of three, I ride bikes without training wheels. At only six years old, I attempted more advanced math while the rest of my class worked through addition and subtraction exercises. Throughout all of my early accomplishments and disappointments, I always took pride in the effort I applied to important events and even everyday assignments. This past year, I played two varsity sports, played for a club soccer team and the state soccer team, and maintained a 4.0 gpa through it all. Even when I was swamped with homework and practices, I still found time to push my mind and fitness an extra mile. I aspire to lead, not follow people. I always want to be the first person to soccer practice, the first person to finish a race, and the person who others go to with questions in class. The hashtag that epitomizes my life is #firstneverfollows.

When I was younger, I oftentimes found myself with a pencil and paper in my hand. I would leave a multitude of marks on the paper in some form or fashion, whether it be scribbles, unvarying words and sentences, my name, or the names of family members. Growing older, I would find myself writing more than enough when it came to essays. I could never bring myself to leave out any details and I rarely used simple sentences. Originally, I assumed it was because I wanted the validation of my parents and teachers, but it was something else I had yet to realize. I liked writing and I realized it one day when I was in my room, listening to music.

I have heard people discuss the many passions in their lives. Listening to them, I have been puzzled. I simply do not have an abundant number of passions myself. In fact, as I think about it there are really only two subjects of interest that I feel rise to the level of passion for me; my God and sports. These two areas have been integral parts of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in the church and much of my young life was spent either there or on a sports field of some sort. These two institutions, I feel have shaped me into the adult that I have become and the career I feel myself called to enter.