Personal Narrative: Washington United Youth Center

Walking into the doors of Delaware County Community College the 1st day of my freshman year, I did not think I would be where I’m at now. I was so cocky towards school, thinking I could slide through college classes just as easy like I did with highschool, Boy, I was wrong. I started skipping classes, not turning in my work on time, and honestly not giving school the best of my ability. Even out of school I was off course, I got my licence right at the beginning of the semester so I was out until 12 every night, sometimes even later. Most of those nights, I didn't even sleep at home. The fact I wasn’t a child anymore and I was in college, I wanted freedom without the responsibility. I actually took INT during my first semester but I didn't take it seriously.

My whole life I felt love, but never like the love I experienced three years when I walked in the Lawrence County Developmental Center. The LCDC is the special needs program for the student of East Lawrence and I was chosen to be an aide my sophomore year. Most of the kids could not speak, if they could speak they still had problems communicating. I felt like I had walked into a totally different world, and that made me want to spend every free moment in the LCDC. My three years with those kids taught me the most incredible lesson: your life is what you make it.

There’s one decision that I’ve made that I’m still carrying out; meaning, I’m still not certain whether it was a good one or not. My decision was to come to Squaw Valley Academy. I did not want to go to my local high school as the education system wasn’t the best a couple years ago. It still isn’t but occasionally I wonder if I made the right choice. By going through with this decision I have changed a great deal. I have been at this school for almost two years now, and I’m definitely not the same person that arrived here. Going back home I realized how different I was from my old friends, and how much more mature I had become.

Last year, I decided I wanted to make a larger impact in the world, so I decided to sign up for the Humanitarian Experience For Youth program. It was here I realized how blessed I have been and the depth of the passion I have for serving those less fortunate. During this 17-day service trip to Lima, Peru, I helped build a medical clinic in an area that lacked treatment for families. We built the walls with bricks and cement and I learned how to install rebar. I also helped local schoolteachers with their English program by volunteering in their classrooms twice a week. It was very rewarding to accomplish so much in so little time. The work was extremely exhausting, but I would do it again without hesitation. Because I’ve been the recipient of so much service, I want to always “pay it forward”.

I completed my first sixteen hours of service learning at the Hope Haven summer camp for the special needs children. This was a great experience and definitely one of my favorite places to volunteer. I was able to contribute to the organization by keeping an extra eye on the children in their various activities. This included ensuring the children were having fun and not getting into mischief. I also helped set up and take down activities they had planned for the children. I did everything they asked of me and made sure to help kids who needed me.

As I mentioned over dinner last night, the one thing CUNY, said to us was, "There may be dirt all around her, but there are still seeds to be planted. We know of her work at Hunter College, the days with Silvia Fishman and ....

7am. That was the time I arrived at the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church in Woodbridge, New Jersey. The destination was Montreat, North Carolina and I was about to embark on a journey with twelve other kids to attend my first Montreat Youth Conference, a retreat focused on strengthening and shaping youth’s faith. The number of stories I’ve heard of what a week in the black mountain area of North Carolina entailed led me to crave the formation of my own stories. This trip was reputable for being “life changing,” and Montreat was supposedly a “thin place between heaven and earth,” but before going on the trip I was perplexed as to what those words meant and if they were ever going to hold meaning for me. However, after a twelve-hour

It has come to my knowledge that in order to join cross country I would need to go to the summer program. Due to being in summer school for Geometry(for two semesters), and my mother wanting to get the most out of the summer athletics program signed me up for tennis. This was due to tennis despite being right after summer school was in a time zone that I could attend, on the other hand cross country was held in the later half of the summer a time that my family dedicated for a mix of vacations and christian camps; and because of the various events would make it so I couldn't come to a good portion of the cross country program, making it the worse of two choices. However, because I am now unable to go to the summer program I was hoping if I

Ten forty-six, on a late Saturday night. Instead of sleeping I was once again reading and editing my Teen Advisory Council (TAC) application for the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey. I still remember to this day how nervous I was; the application, the interview, and the phone calls. However, as I further refined each and every component, my nervousness slowly transformed into confidence. Next thing I knew I was sitting there with fifty other individuals, listening to the executive council’s strategy on how we were all going to help improve the council. It was at that point that I knew becoming a part of the TAC would provide the opportunity to help those in need while building my understanding on how such organizations achieve their goals.

Welcome to the ABC Center . This center only take toddler age 3-5 years old. Very secure front and back door have a code lock. Vistors have to show ID through our camera badge. The windows are high not reachable for the student also have lock .Fire alarm is place where teacher can see. Are center can only hold about 16 students. It's a rest room in the class. Napkins, toilet paper, tissues, etc. are place in the storage.our class have amount of space so the children can play. Everything in the classroom center so the children are more aware of how to interact in each center and in your classroom. . The Art Center, Library Center, Block Center and science Center are located on the on a carpeted area of comfort for the children

At a young age, school work is sometimes not one of the main things on a child’s agenda. They can easily get distracted and would rather play games on the electronics or gossip with friends and find ways of getting around their school work. I’ve found that being an ARAC tutor is more than just a job. It allows for college students to make a difference on an individual level that can later on impact a whole community. Working in the Bibb County schools has provided me with insight into a community that is less fortunate than where I grew up. It has made me realize that I am giving these students more than just help with their education. I am providing them with an image of a person that provides a positive contribution to

Throughout this school year, I’ve been working as an assistant debate coach at my middle school. Although I’ve had quite some experience debating, I’ve never truly taught debate, nor have I ever work with children. During most meetings, I would be a volunteer who assisted Coach Bryan with whatever he needs.

I first heard about Life Learning Center when Katie (Massa) and Alecia (Web-Edgington) came to speak at my high school. We started the Summer Rise program with many of our peers from high school, but now with two weeks left, it’s down to three. But the three of us get along well and have become closer through the program. LLC has helped me develop as a person. I used to be pretty shy, but over time, I’m less shy and more open with people. Some places give you a destination you have to get to, or a specific path that must be taken. LLC is broader, it offers a variety of paths and doesn’t have a set destination to be reached. It gives you the ability to find your own path and choose the destination.

I volunteered at St.Mary’s Springs Academy to help tutor little kids. It provides service for the little kids to gain more knowledge in their school work. I physically walked around tables asking kids if they needed help and if they did I would guide them through what they needed help with. I felt motivated to help the kids with their homework, so I and their teachers would not have to see them struggle. I expected to see many kids raising their hands for help with their school work.

Something I will never forget in my life is my experience at Advancing Leadership Youth. Advancing Leadership Youth (ALY for short) is a year-long program in which students from around the Federal Way region that apply, are selected, interview, and attend, almost like your first job. But, it’s not the process of getting into the program that makes it so compelling, it’s what happens when you’re their.