College Essay -- What would you do with $5,000?

Unexpected Donation

Walking into the foul smelling building, I was ready for my weekly routine.  As I placed my hair net around my head, I entered the kitchen bracing myself for another hectic Monday.  “Looks like it is going to be a good day,” Chef Mike says to me. “You always say that!” I replied with a smile.  He was cutting up chicken with a huge knife making my heart jump every time he got close to his finger.  “We have chicken again today?” I asked.  “Yes, my dear.  Do you see anything else?”  I gave a slight smile wishing that statement was not true and hoping that one day I could make it false.

Volunteering at a soup kitchen is a new experience every day, aside from the food.  Our food donations are rather scarce so unfortunately we do not supply very much variety.  The recipients of the food, however, do not seem to mind for they are grateful for whatever they receive on their plates.  I am happy that I can satisfy them while at the same time feeling guilty.  “These people go through enough hardships; they should at least have something to spice up their lives,” I would say to Chef Mike.  “Darling, you and I both wish we could do something.  Our supply is just too low,” he finished his statement while placing his hand on my shoulder for comfort.  I tied my apron around my waist and reached for the broccoli.  As I washed the green bunches under running water, my mind began to wonder.  “How am I going to be able to give back to this kitchen after my years of school are completed and I am put out into the demanding work field?  Not only are they lacking in food, the help around here is not the most abundant,” I completed this thought with a silent sigh and began my next task.

The mid-day continued just like any other.  As familiar faces filed in, I was told the daily joke by Joe and the latest weather update by Sue.  The radiant glow reflecting off their smiles as they told their exciting accounts, made my worries disappear.  I placed the chicken and the sides of broccoli and rice on each plate wishing each man and woman a good day.  I smiled as conversation began to fill the dining area.  As I walked around to clean up any plates or napkins left behind, compliments were asked to be given to the chef for the wonderful meal they had just received.  This reminded me how grateful each individual was for the simple meal we could provide.  I tossed the used plates and headed through the swinging door to the kitchen.

Recalling that vivid memory I was blessed with ten years ago has made this decision effortless.  When my boss handed me my Christmas bonus for the “stand-out” job I have done in the past year, I was awestricken.  The check was made out for five-thousand dollars in my name.  “I know I worked hard, but do I really deserve this?”  I silently asked myself.  Maybe I did deserve it, but in that moment I knew a place that deserved it more.  It was a surprisingly warm Monday morning when Chef Mike walked out to the mailbox.  I would have given anything to see the expression on his face when he opened up that white envelope. 

           

Reading is Still Fun

My sister called me the other day from her 14-hour-away home.  She currently attends the University of Alabama and is constantly consumed with new projects or an exam to study for.  A few weeks ago she had been complaining about the fact she had no time to read something she personally wanted to.  "There are so many books out there that I am interested in. I just don't have the time," she said to me.

I understand that statement 100%.  Being a senior in high school, just accomplishing my big junior year, I have been consumed with numerous papers, difficult math exams, and don't forget my friend the SAT.  It has been a constant battle to get through even my favorite book.  I was surprised with the Kindle last Christmas and immediately downloaded my personal favorite.  I started reading the novel in Decemeber and it was not until last week--September 14th or so--that I turned that final page.

So when my sister called me raving about this book her and her roommate had just read, I was shocked.  "It took me a day!" she exclaimed.  "It was amazing and it won't even cut into your school work, trust me!"  Hearing that statement come from her, I knew it must be true. 

I am blessed every Friday with a reading workshop where I can choose any book and free read for 42 minutes.  I thought this was the coolest idea.  I get excited to walk into that class at 7:45am and dive into my chosen novel.  This workshop has set us up to remind ourselves that reading still is fun.  Having been consumed in Junior and Senior English assignments, we may have strayed away from that idea.

I am thankful for that time where I can simply, read. It is a weekly reminder that I can in fact still have time to myself.  Oh and that book my sister recommended, I had read 80pgs within the first day (very unusual).

Forever 21

When I go to a store, I shop around and find what is appealing to me.  I pick it up and think, "Is that something I would wear?"  If not, I put it down and keep on going with my shopping adventure.  Some t-shirts I come across I laugh at, while others I just don't care for.  However, I never found sayings as simple as what has been brought up at Forever 21 offensive. 

Forever 21 has designed a shirt (among many) making playing jokes about school and math class.  Typical teenagers tend to not like school work and mostly, algebra.  Who likes math anyway?  Sure there is a handful who have that talent for numbers but most just find it time consuming.  Anyway, the shirt was intended to be playing and funny; along with most of the shirts in the store.  Forever 21 has a unique style that appeals to all different style tastes. 

The greatest problem I have with this controversy is the fact that people are saying the shirt is sexest.  Umm hello, Forever 21 is an all women's store.  So no, you won't find a shirt for men's with text that opposes against school or math class.  Go down to a department store however, and you can most likely take your pick of men's graphic tee's with witty sayings.

If you don't like a shirt, put it down and keep searching.  Not everything was made to fit one style perferance.

Loss For Words

Many people compare the day of September 11, 2001 as “the day the world stopped turning”.  I strongly agree with this statement.  The tragedy of the towers left millions in shock and starring at their televisions for hours.  Everyone was at a stand still either due to that shock or literally forbidden to leave where they were.

Then there are the journalists.  The ones we know as always having something to say.  We can get lost in their words and not realize they are people too.  It is easy to just expect the Sunday newspaper to be waiting on our front step in the morning. In this time of tragedy, they too can be at a loss for words.  They are then faced with, “confronting the first time in [their] career[s] when emotions truly clouded judgment…” states journalist, Maegan Carberry. 

It was the day the world stopped turning.  It was the day the ones who always had everything to say, stopped and starred at a blank computer screen.

Personal Fallings of 9/11

I did not know exactly what I was set up for when I began reading this article.  Previously warned that it was a difficult topic, I sank into it anyway, bracing myself for what would appear on the next line.  I scanned the article like I always do and there it was.  In the center of the artistic words was the picture of the “falling man”.  Immediately I felt all the blood rushing to my head due to the own man’s head first- downward position.  He was heading straight for the concrete pavement and I began reading the article.

         
Having just been assigned to conduct interviews about 9/11 for my World Cultures class, I have re-experienced the normalcy of how the day began for everyone.  Diving into this article was no different.  Marlow Stern invites his readers into what he had planned for that day; photo shooting at a fashion show.  Having this article start out as personal as it was, made me want to continue on and see just what was going to happen next.                           

This I Believe

The Small Gestures of Serving

            Through service, I believe in making others smile.  I am not just saying that to look good or set myself on some kind of pedestal.  I truly believe in devoting my time to others who need it most, in order to change their day in some way.  I want to help put unexpected smiles on the faces of those who perhaps face despair instead of hope.  It is easy to take for granted the simplicity of everyday tasks.  I want to take these little things I am blessed with everyday and share them with those who go without.  I want to combine talents and small gestures to make others believe in the capability of succeeding and pursing anything they dream.

            When spending a certain amount of time on a project, hard work and much thought is put into every detail and each small component is obsessed over until made right.  Producing the perfect outcome of the project will be achieved in order to make talents shine.  That is how I feel about hours put into community service.  Sure I may have to reach a certain requirement for a club in which service hours are required, however, my devotion to service started long before becoming a member of any club.  To me, the hours put into service is not about reaching a quota.  Just like working on a project, I spend my service hours working as hard as I can to produce that ideal outcome: a smile.

            Every Wednesday I travel about twenty miles from my home to my favorite “project”.  I am a volunteer at a horse stable in which I assist with a Therapeutic Program.  I became interested in this kind of service because a friend of mine happens to be one of the patients in the program.  For years I have been looking for a way to be apart of her recovery due to her life changing condition.  I now find myself every week by her side while she is up in the saddle.  I wrap my hand around the stirrup, securing her ankle while giving her words of encouragement or simply sharing a smile.  As she glances down at me, she rewards me—she gives me that immaculate outcome—she smiles.  In that moment I do not care how many hours I miss out in the summer sun or how many miles it will take me to travel home.  I believe in giving myself to others so that they can receive something they might have been missing from their day.  Finding that missing piece trumps any time others may see as “wasted”. 

            Some may think a smile is not that big of a deal.  When I was asked what my favorite part about serving others was I simply stated, “Putting a smile on an individual’s face”.  The response following sounded something like this: “Oh sure!  But it is easy to make someone smile”.  That statement is not always true.  The patients I work with at the stables have gone through very traumatic experiences.  With their disabilities, they are reminded everyday of their constant battle to complete what used to be effortless tasks.  One man arrives thirty minutes before his lesson in order to sign in, put on his helmet and mount the horse, a process which should only take about five minutes.  So for others, something as simple as a smile may not always take a second to appear.  Giving up free time to assist someone in need and having a conversation that they usually go without, will find the smile.  Although these gestures may be simple, they are extraordinary to those who receive them.  I want to be able to be the giver of these gestures due to how I feel in return.   It is indescribable when I am blessed with seeing a smile on a troubled face.  It hides any of my over exaggerated problems.  The feeling reminds me to be thankful for the life I have been given.

Therefore, I believe in putting others first.  I believe in those small gestures that can turn around an individual’s day.  It is incredible to think the simple things are those that matter most.  So share smiles.  Share time.  This I believe.