Essay 11:
Even at a young age, I knew well enough that life is an adventure. Each step should be lived, and each person and experience that crosses our paths should be accepted with openness. It is through this that we learn and become better people.
I’ve always believed that one can never be too young to make a mark in people’s lives. Everything we do matter to one or more people, and to us. We should make the most of what we have and not take anything for granted. Life is to be lived; it is not to be waited on and wasted.
Growing up in a stable middle class family, I have many opportunities come my way. I know I am lucky and I feel that it is only right that I repay my parents by excelling and being the best student and daughter that I can be. I will graduate with a 4.0 GPA in high school. Also, I will end my year as one of the school’s student leaders (class president) and lead debater in our school’s debate team, the only batch in our school to compete in national competitions. I have worked so hard to achieve these and I am proud to have seen my simple dreams come to fruition.
Being class president has thought me a lot. It has allowed me to be involved in several projects and to work with several people. It is amazing how much diversity in culture and ideas are with us now. I think this is a good thing. Lives can be enriched by our differences as long as we learn to work together for a common cause and for the general good. As class president, I’ve had to be at the center of it all. I am the person most classmates turn to for guidance, decisions and inspiration. I have had to work to keep my friends motivated. This has thought me immense strength in character. And I have learned to always look forward to life’s challenges.
As a debater for our debate team, I have learned the importance of research, logic and analyses. We always have to get the facts straight, and be aware of possible arguments our competitors might present. Being in the team has also given me a healthy sense of competition. Sometimes, it is not always in winning a contest where we find victory; it is also in being able to do our best and come together as a team.
Outside school, I also involve myself in charity organizations and volunteer work. I help in food drives for the local Salvation Army, as well as several fundraising initiatives for our town’s homeless shelter. This has been an important factor in keeping myself grounded. I am keenly aware of my privilege and I want to be able to give back however way I can.
With all this activities I am involved in, I know what I want to achieve out of my life. I want to make a difference. I want to help people. I have a strong inclination to enter the health care industry or study medicine. I think becoming a health care practitioner is a solid way to go out there, help and make a difference.
Photo Credit : Mark Coggins
