Legacy Essay Winners - Fall 2005
| Hours of meaning |
“I was sitting in a room filled with young children, and I approached a young boy who had just been introduced to fractions and felt like he wanted to give up because it was too hard. I explained the steps again and even used many pictures to show how to solve the fraction, but he still wasn’t getting the concept. By the next day the young boy came up to me in class and showed me his homework. I glanced and saw that he was beginning to understand the concept, and he didn’t get any wrong … we had succeeded as a team. The time I had been spending doing community service made me feel like I had a purpose. Community service wasn’t just hour I needed to get a scholarship, but hours of meaning.
It all began when our senior counselor came to visit my English class giving information about local scholarships, including Abell-Hanger. Part of the criteria was 40 hours of community service. I have to admit I had tuned out for a moment until she said Abell-Hanger would pay for two years of my schooling at Midland College. I decided to go ahead with community service and just not give 100 percent. I began volunteering at my church life center, Greater Ideal Family Life Center, and was placed tutoring younger children. When I first stared community service I complained and wasn’t excited about giving up my senior year to help younger kids, but the tables turned and even though I had finished my hours in the fall semester I continued to tutor until school was out. Community service had turned from wasted hours into hours of new friendships and the meaning of giving back.
I received the scholarship with a whole new respect for community service. When Midland College’s Chaparral Center become home for 45 hurricane evacuees from Port Arthur and Beaumont, I volunteered because I had seen the devastation on television and wanted to help. I keep in touch with a family from Beaumont and plan to visit them in the near future. The most valuable lesson that I have learned is to give if I have something to give without expecting something in return, and the rewards will be greater than imagined." |
| Holding on to the small things in life |
“I never truly understood the power of inspiration until I witnessed it first hand. I
decided to become a big sister in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs. I was quickly matched with a local girl. As my case manager and I drove to my new ‘little sister’s’ house, I wondered if I would be what my sister was expecting or if I would be able to teach her the important things in life and learn from her in return.
As I opened the car door, a small girl ran outside to meet us. I knew by the expression on her face that her life had been filled with let downs, walkouts and disappointment. Right then, I was determined to become someone this girl could count on. I realized that she was what I needed in life, and for the first time, I felt that I was right where I needed to be.
Day-by-day I earned the trust of a girl who had nothing in the world but the clothes on her back and the love in her heart. Over time, I taught her how to laugh, love, smile and trust, and she taught me the most important lesson in life. She taught me that inspiration comes in all shapes and sizes no matter who you are or what your personal background is. I learned the small things in life are what you should hold on to.
Through community service I was able to redefine the important things in life and touch the life of someone else.” |
| Sharing life lessons |
“Ignorance is a funny issue, and it happens to be the topic of my lesson of working my community service hours. I worked at the Breaking Bread Soup Kitchen. I worked with the same people every night. Most were still in high school. I didn’t realize why they were there until a few days had passed.
The people who used the services of the soup kitchen asked me question such as: ‘what did you do to get her,’ or ‘what trouble are you in.’ I didn’t understand what they meant; I would just explain the scholarship. They were very surprised at my answer.
Soon I learned why the others were working there. Most of them had to fulfill their hours because of being in trouble with the law — MICs, MIPs and fighting. At first, I was surprised because I realized how ignorant I was when I began the experience. I thought everyone there was working towards a goal like I was, but they weren’t. I was frightened to be working with people who got into trouble.
As more time passed, I began to relax with my community service co-workers. They all turned out to be very nice people. I showed my ignorance once again because I thought they were bad people. WOW, did they prove me wrong. Each of them worked so hard every night. Our teamwork was something to be proud of. We all served the part of the community that needed our help, then cleaned up after dinner. At the end of the night I felt so awesome for what I had accomplished.
When my last day arrived, I was reluctant to leave because of the positive atmosphere. But it is times like these that make it all worthwhile because I am allowed to share my wonderful experiences and life lesson with a whole community. Out of my ignorance came so many new friendships.” |
| A fulfilling experience |
“When I arrived at Bynum School, the director, Karl Brewer, welcomed me with open arms and directed me down the hall to Mrs. Cruz’s classroom with six special-needs students. Mrs. Cruz asked me to read to a boy named Austin who could not talk; he just made noises and screamed. Austin really responded to my reading. When I finished with one book, he would stand there with another book for me to read — it was non-stop reading from the time I got there until the time I left. Mrs. Cruz told me that his parents started to see a change in Austin at home. At home, he was grabbing books and getting his parents to read to him. I was amazed that I had an impact like that.
But it does not stop there. About two weeks after that wonderful news, Austin talked to me! We had just finished his favorite book when he said really loud, ‘BOOK, BOOK, READ ANOTHER BOOK! I was so amazed to hear those words come from his mouth. I quickly told Mrs. Cruz what had happened, and she immediately called his parents. His mother came from work as quick as she could to hear it for herself, and he said it again. His mother thanked me for helping her son talk. She told me that having a son who, at the age of eight, finally talked was like a gift from God.
I had no idea how I could affect a little boy’s life with just community service. I still go to Bynum School every day to volunteer. The last time I was there it was to help the children have their Halloween party. It is so fulfilling to see the special-needs children smile while enjoying the company of their peers, teachers and other volunteers like me.” |
| Rewards received through volunteering |
“I took a deep breath and slowly turned the cold door handle. I opened the greeting card at the base of the flowers and took one last peak at the name. I called out a weak whisper, ‘Mrs. Andrews.’A head emerged from the covers. She moved her head from side to side, scanning the room to find the source of my lackluster welcome. ‘Yes,’ she muttered in pain. The light from the bright hallway almost blinded me as it flooded into the black, dark room, broken only by the figure of my friend who accompanied me on this new task of delivering flowers to the hospital patients.
‘Mrs. Andrews, I’m here to deliver these beautiful flowers to you.’ Her smile was far superior to any smile that I have ever received in plain daylight. I let go of the breath I did not know I had been holding and walked closer to her to give her the glass vase full of flowers. She winced in pain as I handed her the flowers. And once again, gave me that priceless smile.
‘Thank you,’ she said, and I turned slowly and quietly closed the door. What happened in the hospital room that afternoon showed me how important and satisfying it is to volunteer. I got the chance to make people happy by delivering their flowers. The look on someone’s face when they receive flowers is priceless. I look forward to continuing to volunteer — not for the community service hours, but for the rewards I receive.” |
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