Legacy Essay Winners - Fall 2004
| Strengthening the heart |
A wise man said: “The best exercise for strengthening the heart is reaching down and lifting people up.” The reality of this statement never fully sunk in until I volunteered with Meals and Wheels. While making my second routine stop along my delivery route, I arrived at the home of a sweet, elderly woman.
I could tell by the way her eyes lit up that she was not accustomed to having too many visitors or seeing people my age. Alone, with only a small Chihuahua dog as her companion, she simply wanted someone to share her thoughts with. I found myself becoming impatient while she lingered on with conversation. I finally managed to end conversations and dutifully continued along my route . . . and did not come in contact with the woman again until Christmas time. My friend and I, who both play musical instruments, thought we could spread some Christmas cheer by playing a few carols to those along our route. None of the listeners, however, matched the appreciativeness of the lonely, old woman. As we played for her, I caught a glimpse of her crying, Her tears were not of sadness, regret or pain. They were unique tears — a kind of tears I had rarely witnessed before, Simultaneously, it seemed that an unforgettable smile graced her face. As she sang along with the familiar melodic lines, bobbing her head to the well-known rhythms, I knew that the carols brought happy memories flooding back to her. I imagined her as a young girl my age, her face not yet aged with wrinkles, her body not yet plagued by diabetes and other ailments . . . As I recall the expression on her face, I realized that in that moment, I was not the one bending down to lift her. Instead, in that moment of forgotten, abandoned pain when that genuine smile and those reminiscing tears lit up her face, she was unknowingly lifting me up — to a place far better than I could have imagined. |
| Four reasons to volunteer |
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The event that has changed my life is my volunteer work. For the last two and a half years, I have been a volunteer at Midland Children’s Rehabilitation Center (MCRC) where I met four amazing people who completely changed my life — Samantha, LaMark, Tiffany and Chris. At first I was volunteering strictly because I needed community service hours for Abell-Hanger. Now I have found more important reasons to volunteer — these four special kids. Sam, Tiffany LaMark and Chris had to grow up fast. The had to learn early on who they were and to stick up for themselves. These four kids could not excel in who they wanted to be because of the way society treats those who are different. Through my work at the Center, I have realized that it is what is on the inside that counts. These four have inspired me to stand up for myself and others who society puts down. Sam, Tiffany, LaMark and Chris never asked to be born with this handicap, but they do not sit around and pity themselves. They struggle and make it through life with determination and strength. Sam, Tiffany, LaMark and Chris have molded me from a confused and judgemental adolescent into the person I am today — a person who is ready to take on the world as me, not as society expects me to be. All that I have left to say about my experiences at MCRC is lucky, lucky me! |
| The ultimate reward |
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Do high school students really understand what it is to do community service? Have they ever stopped and looked around to see what kind of impact they are making? I know that I never did until the last semester of my high school year. All through my high school career, I never really cared if I got involved in my community . . . but I was still short a few volunteer hours . . . so, I ended up working with the English as a Second Language (ESL) class at Casa de Amigos. I showed students (who happened to be adults) all of the basic things that I learned when I was learning how to read and write. The second time that I went, I had so many of them tell me how much I had helped them and how much they had learned. This gave me a feeling that I could not even begin to describe! Every night, I would come home so excited and tell my parents all of the new things that I had taught that day! When I was in the 6th grade, I had always said that I wanted to go to law school. To this day, I still want to go, but I would like to get my bachelor’s degree in bilingual education. With this experience of teaching the ESL class, I am inspired to bring my two career goals into something fulfilling in my life. Today I am president of the Catholic Student Association at Midland College. With this honor I hope to share these kinds of experiences with my fellow classmates. Recently, our club got together to clean a senior citizen shut-in’s home. When we finished cleaning, the lady was so happy and grateful she looked as if she was about to cry. Experiencing this had made an impression on me. It fills my heart with joy and purpose to know that I could make such an impact on a person’s life by doing the simplest task that you and I take for granted. To me this feeling is the ultimate reward. |
| A happy and philanthropic life |
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Before my first year of college, the Abell-Hanger Foundation “got my feet wet” in becoming a more giving citizen. I mainly helped out at organizations for senior citizens such as Meals on Wheels and less fortunate citizens at the Soup Kitchen. This year, I met a different group of people who need our help — children. This year I volunteered at the Museum of the Southwest’s Children’s Museum. The children come to have a good time, but in the process become acquainted with science, math, nature, art and business. Groups of young students come to visit “My Town,” a pint-size city with a Burger King, a newsroom, a grocery store, a Home Depot and a house. There are designated peacekeeping “police,” clerks and regular citizens. The citizens each have a checkbook and a budget to manage, while the business owners manage income and promote their business. The “police” patrol the town to maintain order. The kids enjoy themselves while learning how business and money management work. While I mainly just cleaned and set up, I occasionally had the opportunity to interact with the kids. I was surprised how smart and aware they were. I observed the direct benefit of the Children’s Museum and recommend all local parents take their small ones for a visit. I’d like to sum up how the Abell-Hanger Scholarship benefited me. The knowledge and awareness I received is beyond any monetary value. I’d like to thank the Abell-Hanger Foundation for getting me involved with community service and aiding me in the continuation of leading a happy and philanthropic life. |
| Lessons learned through service |
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At 16 my father passed away, leaving behind a scared confused girl to pick up the pieces of life and make them better all on her own . . . I thought it would be impossible for me to ever afford to go to any college until I was told about the Abell-Hanger [Legacy] Scholarship. Things were beginning to come into focus for me . . . and, this scholarship could be a huge step toward that goal. As I completed community service hours at Manor Park, my initial reason for being there began to slip away . . . A big factor in this change of heart were the conversations I shared with one particular lady. We spoke of the trials and tribulations of her interesting life, as she asked questions about mine. She listened and absorbed every word . . . The moments of sweet conversation between the two of use were as much a blessing to me as they were for her . . . I found this simple relationship to be a major blessing in my life and in hers. I recommend that everyone pursue community service. Things that we take for granted, like a simple conversation, can be a gift to elderly individuals. Looking back at those hours of community service, I have no doubt in my mind that they were an imperative step towards my present contentment with my life. I hope that the lessons I learned through my first experience of community service will resound throughout the rest of my life. I never want to stop giving back to my community. Giving truly is the root of all that is received, and I thank the Lord for all of these opportunties to give. |
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