As I got out of the airplane, I took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air rousing my nose, and filling my lungs with natural oxygen. It was my first time in Sacramento and I was there for a three day “Mobilizing Communities to Provide Healthy Relations Conference” that I applied for and fortunately, got accepted to attend. I was feeling enthusiastic because it was my first conference, I felt blessed due to the opportunity presented to me. It was a conference organized by many organizations that focus on preventing all types of violence. Our group “Teens United” was there to represent our organization “Strength United”. At the time we arrived at an elegant hotel, the conference had already started. We hurried to carry our luggage to our assigned hotel rooms. In a matter of seconds, we were sitting in a circle, introducing ourselves to each other and playing different types of ice breakers. I didn’t know anyone besides the members from my group, however, that did not stop the feeling I was feeling at that moment. I felt like I knew those teenagers already, and their charisma just made it so comfortable for me to open up to them. …show more content…
Two days passed in a blink of eyes.
It was already Friday, the last day of the conference. I was melancholic, I didn’t want to leave. On the other hand, my heart rejoiced of felicity because those two days had been the best days of my entire summer. It was 1:00 pm; it was time for the groups to present themselves at the conference and explain the projects they had done to help their community in order to promote a peaceful environment. My group presented our project “Mapping”. A project where we had to map our community to identify the areas that needed the most help with. I was surprised by how many people raised their hands to ask constructive questions after we ended our
demonstration. Unfortunately, it was time to say goodbye, sadness invaded my system. I spent the way back to the airport looking through the window, conscious of my surroundings; lost in thought as I reflected on the amazing experience I had just lived. The animated, charismatic faces of the people I met came to my mind. It was impressive how dedicated they were in helping those victims from different types of violence. It was such an amazing experience where I gained new skills that I put in practice every day. Violence is not a technique to solve problems and that is why, every time there is a controversial confrontation between me and another person, I try to fix the problem talking calmly without using some type of physical harassment. This experienced has inspired me to feel the eager to help those who don’t have a voice. It has motivated me in achieving a career where I have to succor and support people, where I can inspired others to become cooperative, generous, and humble. To always keep in mind, help without expecting something back.
This meeting lasted about 1 hour and I felt very welcomed in this warm compassionate setting. Attending this meeting, I knew that I wasn’t going to be judged or looked down upon because of my situation or issues. Everyone who attended this meeting has a story to tell and that is why they choose to come. I choose to attend this meeting because of my past struggles, so I felt that I could relate to the material that was presented. The ...
It was just us: thirty young men, and our two city counselors. I vividly remember the theme of the discussion: "What is your biggest goal and biggest fear in life?" What I heard that night from people I still barely knew astonished me. The hopes and fears that I heard from my fellow city members truly inspired me to work hard in life and do whatever I can to face my fears. When it was finally my turn to share with the group, I told everyone that my biggest goal was to do well in high school and college, find my dream job, have a family, and be happy. That goal may sound very ordinary, but that is truly my dream for the future. Next, I told everyone that my biggest fear was to lose motivation in life. I explained how I work so hard in high school because I have the motivation of my goal that I mentioned previously. If I lost this motivation, I do not know where I would
Two hours on that Tuesday morning are having enormous ripple effects. What if we called this the next level of diversity awareness training? How are we debriefing it? We need to continue. It is a case study for sensitivity training, for strategic planning, for risk assessment, knowledge management, religious understanding. I can't think of an activity that is not affected. Groups may need us to convene and moderate the discussion, to provide guidelines for interaction, to be facilitators. We have numerous opportunities. We can speak about the interconnectedness of people and cultures. We can help to define patriotism in a new way. We can offer ourselves as resources in forums, classes, religious services, panels, talkshows, to provide alternative ways of thinking and acting. We can assist people to learn and teach about different cultures, religions, nationalities. What have you been doing?
Everybody got their plate and lined up for the Ceviche. After the Ceviche was on my plate I headed over to the tortilla chips. The combination of Ceviche and tortilla chips was a great combination. Everybody agreed that the Ceviche and tortilla chips was a hit. It was not fine dining; but the combination of great food and company kept everybody satisfied. Another aspect of the room I observed while eating was the table and lighting. The shape of the table was circular and the lighting was natural. All the light that permeated throughout the room was sunlight. I thought the table being circular was a coincidence, but since this was a community event it seemed logical. Space is circular and encompasses everything around it. And this dimension of the room embodies that concept. The mood while everybody was eating seemed light-hearted. I got to learn more about everybody more than some classes I had for a whole semester. Some countries that have less than the United States get to experience this every day. My family that was born in the Philippines got to talk with their neighbors on a daily basis. Our society in the United States is accustomed to just saying greetings to each other. There are times where I have talked to somebody on the street for directions and got this weird reaction. It is like everybody is here for their selves. We are not as connected in this country compared to countries who are less fortunate. Being present in the environment around you at the moment is what being connected to me
It was eye-opening for me to hear what these teenagers are going though in their lives. They have already experienced so much….Being in foster care and being a new parent are some of the adversities different than the average teen that these youth are facing. But aside from living life a bit different than the average teenager, they still have the same social pressures thrown on them that the average teen does. They are just as vulnerable to peer-pressure as anyone else their age; but what set them apart was how heartbreaking it was to hear some of them speak and agree that they did not feel the need to avoid substance abuse because they did not feel their Empathy was shown from the facilitator to the youth, as well as from youth to youth. The youth to youth support was especially important as it allowed the teens to know that they are not alone in their situation and that others like them can relate and offer support.
On July 17, 2012 I woke up to my alarm buzzing letting me know today is the day I go to Compton, California for a mission trip. I was full of emotions because it was my first mission trip, my first time away from my parents, but I was also going to one of America’s most dangerous cities. I went to church to meet up with the other students, and eventually we were off to
“We’re moving,” said my mother after she had enough. I just wanted to make her happy after everything she had been through. She lived an arduous life: she escaped communist Vietnam, only to settle down and subsequently deal with a decaying marriage that forced her to raise me alone. I didn’t ask questions or wonder about all the things I was leaving behind. In the long run, I just wanted to please everyone.
Large red and blue mats cover the floor. Thin black nets come down from the ceiling and latch onto the ground, separating one court from another. All the noises are blocked out, except the noise from the pounding of my own heart, sounding like a drum, beating rhythmically. I begin to feel shivers up my spine and my Mom seemed to have sensed my nervousness. "No need to be worried, Alyssa. You'll play excellent, just relax", she said with a nice, delicate voice. I take deep breath to regain my focus, and I reply, "Mom, I don't even know these people; I'm certain that they won't let me play by hogging the ball, or I'll just fail overall." I thought this over multiple times due to the fact that I was new to this volleyball team. I was unsure of how well we were going to play together as a team or how well I was going to converse with them.
As we all waited in line to go into the concert there was a thrill of excitement in the air. I was standing there with two of my friends. when we saw a few other people we knew. " Hey, come over here!" I bellowed.
On July 25th my family and I met at Faith Community Church around five in the morning. The big day had finally come. The day we were going to help the citizens of Ferguson, Missouri through the nonprofit organization Convoy of Hope. The city of Ferguson that was known for protesting was given a chance of hope that day. There was a total of forty churches and one-thousand volunteers in the St. Louis area that came to the event to help supply food, clothing, and haircuts for the citizens. In addition, with the help of many charities and donations, the city was also given over thirty-five thousand pounds of food. That day my church group and I were on a mission to make peace, and bring exhilaration to the community.
Everyone finds themselves coming face-to-face with adversity sometime in their life, whether it be a challenge that is small or large, it is prone to happen at least once. In the case of myself, I had to overcome challenge starting somewhat early in life. My parents seperated when I was in first grade, and during this time my younger brother and sister were only three and four. Eventually, before any of us knew it, my dad was dating once more, and he met my step mom, however he wouldn’t listen to my siblings and I after that.
... thought that maybe we won’t be friends or even know each other in the future. Unexpectedly, we all had these feelings of fondness for a place we a come to despise and couldn’t wait to leave. Why would that happen to us? We all realized that in this moment we’re growing up but are far from “grown up.” Suddenly, there is a flash of light and in that moment I knew that the three of us would be separated for the rest of the day, maybe our lives. The flash brought everything back. It gave us a reason to go back into the hallway and meaninglessly chat with our friends. After we left that room we were still sharing a moment together but in a different sort of way. The picture was there and we had superficial thoughts but the graduation was so much more. It marked a major time in our lives and sent us off into the future. No longer were we the next generation because we were being sent off into the grown up world. Would we all still be appreciated? How is the world going to receive three naive girls who don’t know anything? All these questions were to be asked and to be forgotten because we got caught up in the moment. The picture marks that time in our past and an important time it was.
Ever since I was little I’ve been what you would call a “high achieving” kid. I did well in school, I did well in sports and I did well in my community. I was always the first one to class, and the last one to leave the field. I was the kid that all my friends’ parents compared their children to. I was the kid with a room full of trophies and awards. In my mind, the worst possible thing I could do was disappoint the people around me. In elementary school I was involved in every club imaginable. I was in the band, I played in the orchestra, I sang solos for chorus, I was in the math club, I was president of student council, I played travel soccer, I was involved in every activity possible, and I excelled in all of them. This
From October of 2013 to March of 2014, as a sophomore in high school, I had the opportunity to participate in the ruling body of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, the Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC), program of the Model Atlanta Regional Commission (MARC). In the MARC program, 50 students –including myself- from all the districts in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area came together under the guidance of the ARC to learn about public policy and city planning in the ever developing urban metropolis. The students were voted into different committees to consult and resolve some of Atlanta’s growing problems. The provided the opportunity of talking to young adults of different backgrounds and identities and collaborate to create a resolution to one of Atlanta’s different problems. The resolutions revolved around improving our community and helping those currently not accommodated with current resources.
On Tuesday August 23rd 2016 and Saturday August 27th 2016, I volunteered to help the North Georgia Family Crisis Center with a charity kid’s fashion show. Tuesday was the rehearsal for the fashion show, and unfortunately I didn’t get to help out much because I was held up at a meeting. However, on Saturday, I got the chance to participate more and I experienced an opportunity that I believe was a great advantage to me and will benefit me in the future.