Personal Reflection Paper On The Blue Pacific Marlin

I’ve made it my mission that whatever I do, it would come from the heart because the greatest gifts comes from within. The winter of 2013, my mother and I gave our old coats to a homeless family sleeping inside a bank. Their bodies trembled on the cold tile floor as they tried to fall asleep. I remember it being midnight because there were no cars nor people on the streets of this cold winter night. They tried to make the best out of what they had which wasn't plenty. Feeling sorrow for the pain they’ve endured, my mother and I traveled back to our home and gathered items such as coats, socks, shoes, and blankets we no longer thought were useful to us. Supplying this family with the gift of warmth was the greatest gifts of all because it provided a cozy

During the week in Chicago, I grew closer to God, learned how to be a better leader, and learned to put others before myself, which is what helped me become a better person. Serving others that had situations worse than I could imagine was life changing. The idea I could make such a tremendous change in someone’s life while doing activities I enjoyed, opened my eyes to the potentials of serving. After the week ended and I returned home, I wanted to do more for the people around me who were less fortunate. Going into freshman year, I made the decision to volunteer at Urban Vision. I help kids who have newly immigrated to Akron and the United States find items at a holiday shop for their families and themselves. Many of these kids went directly to the necessity aisle, (i.e. toilet paper, laundry detergent, and soaps) to get these items for their families, even though there were plenty of toys for the kids themselves. These kids helped me realize I should be grateful for everything in life, from shelter over my head to the clothes on my

at the orphanage, I was able to help build a sidewalk and a garage for

We went to the store and bought toiletries, bread, peanut butter and jelly, water, juice boxes, and many other things to distribute to the homeless around town. These items were essentials that were desperately needed by these people, and the money we raised in order to get these items went a long way. We were very nervous about just walking up to people and passing these things out, the idea of a stranger coming up to you and handing you items is a scary thought in itself, but being on the other end is even scarier because you don’t know how others will react.

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.

For the past two years I have dedicated one Wednesday a month to going to Ronald McDonald House. While there, my peers and I would cook and serve a dinner for the families staying in the House. I loved the way it felt to give back to these families that had been going though such hard times with their children, so I decided to

However, one surprising pleasant morning we were set up at an elementary school when we noticed a potential family festival nearby. The volunteers began buzzing with excitement as we realized the nice weather and festival were the perfect combination to draw a sizeable crowd. As expected we were hit with an unceasing stream of people from noon to take down. The entire day I bustled from one job to the next rummaging through an endless pile of clothing, restocking tables that emptied as soon as filled and counting heads all while conversing with the shoppers. The lull that came at the end of the day filled the air and we began packing up. As I jumped down from loading the last container I watched the counters face transform from a look of concentration to that of exuberance. “We were able to help seventy families today!” she cheered. We all crowded around in disbelief and shared triumphant shouts. Delight fills my heart when I think of all the lives that we impacted that day but for a long time after woe clouded the memory. We could give a million outfits to a million families and there would still be someone who went

While searching for colleges, I was looking for what all students ask for, a university with top notch academics and a social life; and I have come to discover that the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point is the embodiment of such an institution. After doing an abundance of research, I am fully confident that your university is the perfect match for me, not just because of the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point’s qualities, but also the fact that I believe that I will flourish as a student and that my characteristics will enhance your school.

On one sunny day, I was helping my mom doing chores when she pulled me over to talk to me about something important. I was confused why my mom would want to me about something important, but I listened to what she said and followed her. What she told me was what her life was like back in Vietnam. She did not have much of an education. Instead, she stayed home with her mom to sell Vietnamese yogurt every day for a living. Since I was born in America, I never thought of life was like for others in developing countries like Vietnam. Hearing from my mom's experience, it stuck with me. I learned the importance of being grateful for what I have since they are a lot of people who do not have what we have in America and it made me want to help those who are in need. I was also inspired to do whatever I

My roommate asked me to drive him to the hospital to visit his mother. He did not have a vehicle and I was his only way to the hospital. I was wholly aware that by taking him to the hospital my academics would suffer, but this was never truly a choice. Taking care of people, demonstrating compassion, and caring for those who are closest to me has been a priority of mine since my upbringing. I drove my roommate to the hospital and was with him while his mother suddenly fell critically ill, and eventually passed away. She always invited me over for “family” dinners, especially during the holidays, since I couldn’t always make it home due to work. Although it was difficult to cope, I was presented with the opportunity to demonstrate the compassion she had shown me so many times, by helping my friend. We sat in her room reminiscing, crying, at times in silence, and eventually saying our goodbyes. Our friendship, and my perspective were altered permanently that day. This experience not only illuminated the profound effects of compassion, but also demonstrated what it means to be a community member. Being a community member encourages us to support others when they need it most, even if it entails personal sacrifices. We are all humans, we share over 99% of our genome, and everyone deserved to be treated with compassion and

The first time I ever delivered food to the needy during the holidays was that special time. I delivered food to the needy in a neighboring town called Worth and it was my father and I who made the deliveries of food directly to the families. We made a couple deliveries and it was going quick the day until we pull up to an apartment building with an eighty year-old woman on the third floor waiting for us. We unload the delivery to her and when I’m leaving she says to me “Young man you are truly making a difference in this community and world. God bless your soul”. Those words from eight grade winter break have stuck with me to this day. Those words not only made me feel a part of the community, but made me feel like a better person. Being connected to the community is important because it makes your house feel like a home that is protected because of its surroundings. Community is important in everyday life, but interactions with people different than myself is equally as

My whole family and I were devastated by the sudden death of my uncle Ryan. He had been sick with what we had thought was the flu, but later realized that it was pneumonia. I believe that we learned so much from this experience and were able to come closer as a family. As a result of my uncle’s death, my whole family decided to take a get-a-way trip to the Dominican Republic during his birthday and Christmas. While I was there I learned a very important lesson; I am blessed to live in the United States.

It took me eighteen years to spend some quality time with my mother and discover what an incredible journey she has had with my brothers and me. She is the kind of person who has always been very involved with all parts of our daily lives. In fact, she was the kind of mother who always had time for her three sons, worked full-time and had time to devote to community projects too. Her energy and enthusiasm for all of these things seemed endless and she always tried to teach the three of us to see the value in the idea of giving back to the community. I was always glad that she was present at my games and supported me through school, but it took me over a decade to learn what motivated her to be so

My mother's heart is at its purest when giving. I witnessed my mother chip in and pay

During a few of our classes we have learned about globalization, and a little bit more about the world we are currently in. This lesson entirely introduced me to the new problems that we are faced with today in current society. This lesson has impacted me a lot. I also learned how much donations and little actions can benefit everyone in every way. When we were putting away jackets I thought a while after about all the people who’d have something to wear this winter. The part was that they didn’t have to donate at all, but people continued to do so. It was the same with the food hamper, although we did not get many donations this year, people still had the thought to bring things in. No one was obligated to bring anything in at all, but merely encouraged. These small actions are going to be able to make others lives better.