Personal Narrative: My Summer CCD Program: Radiant Joy

During my volunteer hours I learned a lot about my own community I that I have not been able to experience. For example I have never been able to participate in so many writing programs and workshops in my local high school, this is because I also did not attend my own local high school because my mother did not allow me to instead, she asked me to attend a charter school. By partnering with LA826, I was able to attend different writing workshops where I would help different high school student write essay, cover letters, and personal statements. Furthermore I believed that most of my activities consisted of just being able to listen to some of the students.

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

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

We donated our time to a charity during the fall, the JROTC program decided to do the Mana Cafe to help those in need. It was a food drive and people would help gather food together to deliver it to families that needed it for the winter. Everyone was pitching together and doing their part to get the food together and in the people’s car. Even in the cold weather, everyone was having fun, knowing that they were doing excellent in their hearts. Therefore that day families were allowed to eat despite their economic struggle and all as a result of the service we did to help them.

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.

I knew my transition from an ordinary visitor to a volunteer would be a new and exciting experience. My task in the Summer Reading Program was to register patrons, explain how the program works, and give out prizes at the end of each week. The number of children who registered for the program impressed me. I enjoyed working with these children, since I knew exactly where they got their excitement from. I would look forward to seeing the smiling faces of the children as they received their prizes. Their faces made me reminisce about the joyful moments I had as a child when I couldn't wait for the grand prize week of the Summer Reading Program.

While I have been blessed with many opportunities that helped me grow by pushing me to new limits, my volunteer work at South McKeel Academy through National Honor Society is my most memorable. The way I was brought upon this experience was not with the average vote. One morning I showed up to the 7 A.M. meeting ready to hear about how all

Volunteering at Memorial Hermann transformed my life by teaching me lessons through small moments. One such instant occurred when I went to wheel an old lady visiting her husband. The lady and I conversed for many minutes about college, my future plans, and life in general. When we reached the lobby, the lady wished me luck in all my future endeavors. Coincidentally, I wheeled the lady several times after that and each time she would remember

After much thought about what I would want to for my volunteer project, I finally settled on the “Feed the Homeless” campaign organized by the Southwest Rotary Club of Las Vegas. This experience allowed me to work with the fantastic organization, Rotary International, and has given me the opportunity to better myself, both personally and professionally, through working with great people and overcoming the challenges presented to me.

A volunteering experience that holds a lot of meaning to me was being able to participate in a FCCLA Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) Event called Advocacy. As part of my class assignment, my partner and I first had to research a need in our community, state, or throughout our nation and then “advocate it”, or make it know, as well as find a solution. Our research quickly showed that Texas was ranked fourth in the nation for the number of children living in poverty and our own county was ranked 116th out of 264 counties in Texas for the number of children living in conditions below the Federal Poverty Level. This project went from being a class assignment, to a volunteer experience that positively influenced and changed my life in so many ways.

When I was thirteen years old, I joined National Charity League of Tustin. At the time, I did not really know my place in helping the community, but I did know that I wanted to make a difference in any way possible. The first event I did for NCL was the Ronald McDonald House. That is where volunteers come to cook meals for the seriously ill children who are getting treatment, and their families. While volunteering there, I talked with and befriended some of children at the residence. Their radiant happiness made me reflect on the times when I felt that something bad was happening to me. All the “problems” I thought I had in my life could not compare to the true misfortune of others. It made me realize that if these children can stay happy even

Upon entering high school, I joined the Middletown High School NJROTC Unit. This is what lead me to begin a successful high school career filled with over 800 hours of volunteer service. As a freshman in high school I discovered a sense of selflessness. I realized not only did I want to help but I needed to. As a major element of the NJROTC Unit; volunteering is our priority. Since starting, I’ve participated in countless events that benefit the community and help those that deserve it most; helping raise over $20,000 for various organizations. Following up on this sense of selflessness, I sought out to increase my knowledge on how to help others. This is when I decided to become a certified lifeguard supervising and teaching up to 200 grade

I never even asked for vacations like my friends had in the Summer, because volunteering at civitan was much more rewarding.

Vividly, I remember when my mom decided to sign us up to be a part of Coachella Valley's National Charity League. NCL is a mother-daughter organization in which we are involved with several charities throughout our desert community. Being a part of this chapter for 6 years has taught me a lot about my community and the importance of giving back. Volunteering, through the years, has shown me how different people's lives are only 10 miles away from my home. By living on the west side of the Coachella Valley, my quality of life is completely different as compared to those that live on the east side of the Valley. In addition, my fondest memories have been the times I have volunteered at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission located in Indio. There,

I have been volunteering before I was old enough to know I was volunteering. As the youngest of four, I happily came along whenever my parents and siblings volunteered. But, community service is not just something I was taught to do; it is something I love to do. Today, I serve others in ways that are closer to my own heart. Serving people and animals “who don’t have a voice” has been and always will be central to who I am. I spent this summer raising awareness and funds for foster children, and I am excited to use those funds this November to personally decorate and deliver new duffel bags with supplies to foster children in my area. Additionally, I have loved dedicating my time to a local animal rescue where I have participated in animal