In February of 2010 a teacher at my high school was diagnosed with an uncommon form of cancer called angiosarcoma. Ms. Ensign was a business technology teacher. Along with her teaching she was a varsity softball coach, varsity volleyball coach and an athletic facility manager for the school. One could also spot her at sporting events and school assemblies taking photographs for the school yearbook. Ms. Ensign would be treated monthly in Houston, TX. Even though she had this rare form of cancer, one would never know because she always returned to school the next day after her treatments. Ms. Ensign was the most positive woman I have ever met. She was someone who gave everything to her community and asked for nothing in return. How would one give back to such an amazing person? Fortunately, a senior named Manda conceived a plan to help, She called it Mission Ensign. Mission Ensign began as an ongoing fundraiser that assisted in funding for all of Ms. Ensigns travel expenses. The first year we raised $10,000. Manda led Mission Ensign when I was a sophomore. Elected Student Council co-pr...
This past summer, I acquired an internship at Baldwin and Lyons, an insurance company in Indianapolis. Every Wednesday during my internship, a couple of employees and I participate in a prodigious community service project, Meals on Wheels. Throughout the three months that I worked at Baldwin and Lyons, I got acquainted with some of the individuals whom we delivered to. These inspiring individuals were so grateful and appreciative that we took time out of our day to volunteer to do such a service. One elderly woman who we delivered to would sing to us as she came to the front door “good meals, good meals, good meals.”
Every year our country’s schools come together to raise money to donate to the Terry Fox Foundation. This is such a great impact because it is encouraging our youth to be more productive and athletic. It is also teaching our youth that no matter what, you always have time to donate and always have the time to talk to or help out a survivor or someone suffering cancer. Terry Fox has made it known to kids that Cancer can happen to anyone, anytime,
Valentine's Day will never be the same. Four years ago, Cupid's holiday coincided with my discovery of a tumor in my cheek. Later diagnosed as a rare sarcoma, this capricious cancer has provoked me to understand myself and my passions. While I have developed new life perspectives since vying with cancer, my metamorphosis was not induced by my illness, but through learning to confront myself. My renewed outlook manifests in my leadership with the American Red Cross where I serve as the Chairman of the National Advisory Council on Youth Involvement. Carrying my insight from cancer--that tomorrow is never guaranteed--I have re-focussed the Council's advocacy efforts on behalf of the 340,000 youth volunteers of the Red Cross. Rather than promoting youth as an investment for tomorrow, I have prioritized youth as the asset of today. With a more immediate message, our Council has bolstered corporate youth programs and youth funding. Through my service on the National Committee on Resolutions, I also integrate youth initiatives from the field level of the Red Cross into national policy.
During the summer or even on weekends my mom would take me with her to go help out her patients. Which included bathing them, feeding them, and caring for them. Not only did I help my mom with her patients but I would always help rake leaves, pick up trash and make their yard look nice. I can’t even image how they would’ve done all the things I did for them with their fragile bodies. I’m glad I was there for them and made a difference. Aside from helping my mom’s patients. I helped an elderly man who was on fire in his backyard. It was around spring time and I heard someone screaming yelling “help” so I went around to look and there he was on fire. I tried so hard to put out the fire and it felt like mission impossible but I did not give up even though the ambulance were on the way. He was burnt pretty bad, but I was so glad I found him. Who knows it could’ve been worse! He is still alive till this day and sits on his porch waiting for me to pass by his house every morning to say good morning. It’s such a wonderful feeling to know that I not only changed a life but I saved
Sunday, October 15,2017 was an exciting day for me because I got to participate in a very important annual event that can help to save lives. This amazing event is the breast-cancer walk in Coney Island. This was my first experience in this kind of event. Before the event, my class started to raise money for this amazing cause, as I got help from friends and family and I completed my fund-raising goal. Overall, we surpassed the goal of five thousand dollars for this well-deserved caused that afflicts many women worldwide. The entire experience was filled with moments I can never forget. My classmates during the walk made it all worthwhile as they were engaged and excited about the cause as well. The people cheering on the sidelines, women
I’ve since been working for him, often teaching specialized courses for those who have a harder time learning. Twice a week, I volunteered at my local recycling center. Wanting do what I could to address cancer, I got involved in Relay for Life, my team raising the most money of any participating group among the five Blue Valley high schools for the American Cancer
During my first year of medical school, I brought a new student organization to my campus called Love Your Melon. Love Your Melon is a company that was started by two college students in Minnesota with the initial mission to give every child battling cancer a beanie. Bringing this organization to my school allowed me to raise awareness for childhood cancer, as well as carry out events for local children battling cancer. One child in particular was a 16-year-old girl diagnosed with brain cancer. As an organization, we were able to provide her a day doing all of the activities that she loved instead of focusing on her disease.
She never takes credit for the success of the school, but modestly shifts the focus to the contributions of the whole community including the staff, parents and the students themselves. Miss Wendy treats everyone who walks into the door with courtesy and respect, and greets them by name. She makes everyone feel heard and important. She has taught me that all people have gifts and we have an obligation to share those gifts with others. During school hours, I have picked up trash along the sides of the roads in Souderton, served food to people at The Table of Plenty, visited my “senior pal” at The Souderton Mennonite Home, and used the proceeds of a fundraiser to help fund small businesses in Africa through the non-profit organization, Kiva. Even though she is the head and founder of our school, she can be found outside on recess duty even on the coldest days. Like Miss Wendy, I hope to earn the respect of others by empowering them and leading by
With regards to your first paragraph, you are right on point. Excellent perception. Understanding in life there are always three sides of every story, it is impossible to keep everyone happy even when the result appears to be positive. Think about when planning a wedding and how exciting a wedding is and how this time in a couple's life ends up causing so many problems, heartaches, and many times destroys not only friendships, families, but also results in the marriage never taking place after all is said and done. The point I bring to the table about being a liar for educational purposes is from experience I know students are concerned with offending each other so instead of voicing their opinions openly they simply agree with everything their classmate's write. This procedure serves absolutely no valuable educational purpose if everyone agrees with each other even when they disagree with what they wrote. This is why I openly offer your classmates and you to write whatever you want about me. I will not get offended and I actually encourage you to DISAGREE with anything and everything I write, but I ask that you defend you position with facts. And if you choose not to disagree with me - I WILL DISAGREE WITH YOU! Understand, there is nothing you can write that will actually offend me, but I do ask that you not purposefully offend your classmates. (In class I openly say things to the students so they know I'm okay with being challenged verbally and while I cannot illustrate that to your class and you on a discussion board, accept that it is acceptable.)
Whether it is holding the door for a single mom struggling to push the stroller through, or volunteering my time to assist those in need, I always strive for ways to put a smile on the face of others. I have always been aware of the effects a simple act of kindness can have on someone; although, it was not until Spring Break of 2017, when I was presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Costa Rica with my youth group, that I came to realize just how incredible an impact one person can have in the lives of others. Participating just for the mere joy of bringing happiness to the Costa Ricans had me sold; but I later discovered this was only a glimpse of what the entirety of the trip was
One student has described me as the “sugar” (calm reassuring presence) of the program providing a complementary balance with a co-worker described as “spice.” One of the experiences I have been challenged by was providing support for a student who experienced the SIDS death of her 4 month old infant son while in our program. Attending the funeral of the baby was difficult and knowing the heartache and personal challenges this young woman faced was heartbreaking. We never realize how simple listening, a smile, a word of encouragement can impact a student’s life. A letter (2 years later), out of the blue, from this former student thanking me for listening and encouraging her through this experience meant so much to me.
In eighth grade, I moved from Wisconsin to Michigan, and through social media stayed connected to the people and events of my former school. In the fall of 2015, I learned that my fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Petrie, was diagnosed with lymphoma. After battling the disease for one year, his fellow staff and students re-routed the annual homecoming parade past his house to show their support as he fought for his life. Frail and emotional, he watched from his driveway. In an interview with the media he stated, “If my legacy ends tomorrow, today I know that these kids have put this forward, and they'll remember this for their lifetime.
In October this year, my school raised a significant amount of money for our local United Way. The ways we got our fundraising events known was through cell phones and social media. Another way my phone has helped me accomplish things is through online scholarship finders that help me find amazing financial support for funding my university education. Finally, I am the president of my school’s SRC.
People’s lives are changed every day by their actions and experiences. This past summer, I participated in a community service project, an experience that opened my eyes in many ways. I was a volunteer at the County Memorial Hospital. In my time as a volunteer at the hospital, I was able to meet patients and staff members from all over the world and learn about their life experiences. Listening to all of their stories has made me truly appreciate everything which I have.