June 23, 2016 my plane touched down in the tropical oasis of Cancun, Mexico. We are here to spend a week in paradise celebrating multiple mile stones in my family. The moment our plane landed I could not wait to spend some time in this amazing destination. The ride to our resort was breath taking and seeing the authentic shops lined up and down the streets put a smile on my face. However, there was something stuck in the back of my mind. While we were driving down the highway we passed several families who were walking along the side of the road with no shoes on and worn out clothing. My little cousin pointed them out and asked why they were walking shoeless even though the ground was so hot. There were little children and adults whom all were …show more content…
I got to know Jose and learned that he was a single dad with 2 little girls names Sofia and Sabrina. He told me how working one full day he only makes $8. He also told me how hard it was to support a family down there while trying to make a living at the same time. I knew that I can only make a little difference but, it is better then nothing. When I got back from Mexico a week later I googled fundraising ideas for those who are in need of shoes and clothes. I came across a organization called ‘Soles for Souls”, which is a online website where people sign up to have shoe drives and raise money so it can get sent to those in need. Once you collect the amount of shoes you want to donate then you find a drop off location and then they send them to places all over the world for people who need shoes and money. I never realized how much I took for granted before I went on this trip. That pair of shoes I saw online and begged my mom for. A new top that I just had to have. There are so many things that I took for granted and never truly realized that I have more then I could ever need. Recently, I incorporated ‘Soles for Souls’ into my school and held a shoe drive which gathered over 100 pairs of
Many service projects have had an impact on my life, but the significant one is the time that our group put together Blessing Bags. The Blessing Bags were bags put together for homeless people. This project had an impact on my life because at one point in time, my family struggled. We did not have a stable home and we had to continue movie because of the living expenses. It is very difficult to buy many products that are needed for personal hygiene, especially if someone does not have a stable home. There are many people that live in the streets and it breaks my heart. Whenever I see homeless people, I give them what I can. Although my family did not become homeless, I could not imagine living in the streets without any food, clothing, or products
"Sarah, we need your help in the Ukraine this summer. Can I count on you?" This question changed my life profoundly. I was asked to be a counselor on JOLT, Jewish Oversees Leadership Program, an opportunity to interact with young campers in an impoverished country and positively influence their lives. Little did I realize that this experience would impact mine so greatly.
Later that year, I was accepted into Spanish Honors Society, a volunteer based program to help out the Spanish communities near my school along with volunteering to help raise money for organizations that help less developed countries. One particular project that I helped raise money for through Spanish Honors Society, was Project Running Waters. The money raised for this event was donated to help people living in Guatemala receive fresh water through pipe systems that would be built. We raised over one thousand dollars to donate to this cause. Knowing that I can positively impact individuals in my community and in other countries makes me feel like I have grown maturely and am able to understand what needs to be done to make a difference to
Mother Teresa said “let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” Many times in life the only way we can extend love to others is through a smile and an embrace. A great example of those times is on a mission trip to a place that speaks a different language. I have experienced just how true this is firsthand. This trip truly changed my life, completely affecting my outlook on my daily life as well as the “big picture” plan for my life. I now appreciate things I once took for granted, luxuries that we have come to expect in our sheltered lives that we live here in America. In my life, I have never experienced extreme poverty for myself, but this trip gave me just a glimpse into what life is like for those who are not so pampered as our country.
On a cold and rainy day of October in 2013, my mom and I were on our way to shop for Halloween. On our way to the store, we saw this bitter, fragile, and brisk homeless man in front of the store. In the store my mom bought a new sweater and told me ,“Go outside and give that man this sweater.” When i gave him the sweater, my mom walked out and said “may god bless you.” This made me realize how nice and generous our parents are.
Growing up, I always had a nagging sensation in my heart that urged me to take care of anyone that was sick around me, doing whatever I could to make them feel better. As the years passed, I became more exposed to the world around me. I traveled around town and around the United States. I realized just how many people were far less fortunate than I. This new found knowledge struck a chord in me, being the naive child I was, I could not figure out how I could have so much while others have so little. When I was with my parents and saw a homeless man or woman crouching on a street corner, with worry lines strewn about their face, I would beg to go to the nearest store to bring them food. I continued to help those around me all through my
Organizations such as the Salvation Army and the Catholic Charities uplift my spirits. Although we have a long way to go to decrease Poverty in America, many individuals are appreciative acknowledging caring organization do exist and are willing to assist them in a time of distress.
My family and I had never visited a third world country before so I was determined not just to learn as much as I could about my heritage but also to help in any way I could, I packed two extra bags of clothes to give away, and a bunch a my old toys for donation. Unfortunately, I under estimated just how hard it would be for me to achieve my second goal. Honestly, I did not
...illadoras, and I now do most of my shopping in thrift stores. I appreciate what I have more and I don’t mind not having a new outfit every day. The people I met while on the trip have given me a better understanding of what life is really like on the border. I try to make other people aware of what life is like in Mexico, because sometimes the best form of help is education. Because of my work at the daycare I now enjoy the simpler things in life, and I appreciate more the little everyday things that I used to take for granted, like running water. The children at the daycare center taught me a very important lesson; simplicity is the key to happiness. There is one thing that has stuck out in my mind ever since the trip, Rueban, a man who ran a refugee center in El Paso, told us, "The poor don’t need us, we need the poor." I will never forget that as long as I live.
I tend to avoid things I do not like or enjoy. I know that is not a novel or new tendency for people but after reading about Avoidance Learning I have a new understanding of why people do things that they do. The things I avoid, like having lab work drawn because I HATE needles, are things that others do not even give a second thought. The most ironic thing is I do not have a fear or global avoidance of needles, I have no problem what so ever sticking them into other people, I simply just get very anxious and uncomfortable, not to mention pass out, when they are aimed at me. Why is that? Why, does one person avoid something that another person does not even think about? The answer, OK part of the answer, is Avoidance Learning.
A family of five sit at their dinner table in the United States. Surrounded by novelties of their travels, unnecessary items from faraway lands, and rare items from places that speak other languages. They quietly speak about where they should venture off next and decide that they should go to Mexico. Wondrous palm trees, unbelievably crystal clear waters, and incredible cloudless skies. There is a resort filled with incredibly designed rooms and incredibly expensive furniture that litters around the entire resort. Every room is filled with delicate pillows, embracing comforters, and comfortable chairs.The walls seem to be lined with gold and other rare and luxurious metals that would cost millions of dollars to replace if somebody were to scratch or slight damage any part of it. Waves roar as they come within twenty feet of the exit of the resort and this beautiful water is free to explore for anybody
I had a lot to put down on the page. But due to the scale of assignment, I decided to cut it short. I was planning to write it in reverse chronological order, meaning arrange the entry from the most recent to the oldest. However, I think it would be difficult, and took too much time, for my reader to analyze “who am I” by reading one entry and referring to connect the dots. If I have time to revise this diary, I would make each entry more detailed, more vivid, and modify the language that I used when I was still 12 years old. I could also show the transition in speaking tone throughout each journal entry to demonstrate my growth as a person.
I went to the grocery store and got cases of water, bags of bread, and stuff to make the sandwiches. I had finished preparing the bags and each had granola bars, fruit, ham and cheese sandwiches, water, toothpaste, and other hygiene products. My dad and I had arrived outside the homeless shelter and were ready to pass the bags out as we saw the swarm of people. Hundreds maybe even thousands of people gathered sitting in what little shade there was. I knew we had a homeless problem, but not to this extent and the bags I had made were going to make little to no difference on the vast amount of people that had been sitting outside. I was a little disappointed at first to be completely honest because I was not prepared for that many people. If I would have known there would have been so many people I would have made more bags. We drove around the block planning on what we were going to do and saw some tents set up. My dad and I were curious as to what they were, so we got out the car and saw that these people had been giving people food and I walked up to them and asked if there was any way I could help them. These people in the tents were actually an organization called Open Arms Outreach and a few girls scouts. They gladly let us help and we brought a few cases of water and the bags I had made and helped pass them out. The organization Open Arms Outreach
My strong interests in music, good food, and the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom may seem broad, but they are the essentials for my aspiration in life. These passions are the incentives of how to be a happier and more successful person for me to become.