Weekly following trash and recycling collection in my town, I like to return my neighbor's cans and carts to their houses instead of them staying on the street with the risk of them either being lost by the wind or stolen from pedestrians. Why might you say that I like to do this endeavor? It is because I like to spruce up my community and keep it tidy. One of my neighbor's remembered an old lady from her homeland that would do the same thing. Therefore she gave me the term "street custodian". The job grew from when I would take out my neighbor's cans and cart since she and her husband are elderly, thus requiring assistance from people. From there I gladly took the position which sparked my desire to return other people's cans and carts following collection. Another act of service I like to perform is to assist candidates that are campaigning for local offices in my state or town. Since there is a lack of volunteers in my age range, I accepted the commitment to conduct Get Out the Vote (GOTV) assignments such as dialing telephone calls and walking door to door to leave flyers and palm cards. This was done regardless of whether residents were or were not home so that I can spread information about the candidate running for office. This activity I consider an act of service because I am communicating with voters so that they can understand why should we vote for this particular candidate. This job is about spreading the good news about the candidate and how they will bring meaningful change to office should they be elected. If I didn't do any of these acts of service, then who would?

When I actively listen to people that are around me, I like to look them in the eye and nod my head in agreement. By demonstrating those gestures, it communicates to my peers that they understand that I am listening to them. They are not assuming that I am dozing off in another world and not giving a damn about what they are communicating with me. Another method to demonstrate active listening is I ask follow-up questions to him or her if I do not understand their communicated notion. By asking follow-up questions, the communicator acknowledges that I care enough to listen to them. When I am communicating my thoughts or I need to address a concern or problem with an individual or my teammates, I hope they are taking the advice that I give them. Thus, I am showing them respect and they are showing respect back to me. The listening skills that I've learned are not only from going to grade school but from my Business Communications class that was required I enroll to complete one of my majors in my sophomore year of college. Listening to me means that we social animals are communicating in a logical manner. If we weren't doing that, then the world would be in total chaos with no structure. If listening skills were missing from our daily lives, I believe that society would never and could never function as we see it today. The listening skills I have acquired have come from activities such as being a volunteer EMT student, serving dinners to less-fortunate guests, and conversing with voters during the election campaigning season. To sum up my understanding of listening according to Mr. Simon Sinek who once said "Hearing is listening to what is said. Listening is hearing what isn't said."

My favorite way to help others is to participate in civic engagement. Specifically that is doing door knocking and leaving candidate information for people at their residences. Doing that and/or speaking with the people demonstrates my civic engagement in the community and helps to get the word out on candidates and why their platform matters to individuals. It is easy to just do mailers, television advertisements, or telephone calls. However, I think the best way is by walking to peoples homes and speaking with them directly on what matters to them. That in a way shows that the candidate’s campaign cares about what people think and shows a drive for them to winning the election. As I write this essay, I have been participating in this activity. The past few months, on weekends, I will go door-to-door and leave information for people. It is worth it that I sacrifice my weekend time so that I can do you what is important as in stated in my thesis. It shows people that you are willing to give up a few hours of your time so that you can inform others who are not. In conclusion, I believe going door-to-door to peoples homes is my favorite way to help others. This demonstrates that candidates are willing to speak with others face-to-face since I believe we have lost that ability. If I did not do this or people in general, then how else could candidates communicate why their platform is better than their opponents?

I keep a growth mindset by using a planner to keep track of my daily chores and assignments that should be finished by a key deadline. Also, after experiencing the loss of my parents at an early age, I learned to buckle down harder than ever. Because I learned that you never know what life will throw at you. You have to be prepared for life’s daily unexpected challenges. Using apps on my phone and computer for classes and personal use enable me to make the most out of what life is going to throw at me. Organization is a key tool to have at your disposal to navigate life. The planner I keep serves that role too because writing things down is a must. I am a big fan of communication. It is paramount that when you are collaborating with others, you “keep them in the loop.” If you do not, then you will not get the job done and you will invite mass confusion. That in turn will throw a monkey wrench into the gears, thus, slowing your progress. In all, organization, communication, and will permit me to achieve a growth mindset. These three tools permit me to get the most out of life’s challenges. The ubiquitous baseball player Babe Ruth once said, “It’s hard to beat a person that never gives up.”

I never thought I’d say this but my parents died at a young age, 12-13 years old to be exact. These events would shape me into who I am presently. My mother battled breast cancer for a few years and died in the hospital in June 2012. Before her death, she had her ups and downs periodically. Unfortunately, one day it took a turn for the worst. That’s when my father woke me up and said the hospital took her off life support in the wee hours of the morning. Him and I went and saw her for the last time; her family was there too. 8 months later, my father would die in his sleep from a massive heart attack while I was asleep alongside him sometime in February 2013. I found him like so in the wee hours of the morning before a giant snowstorm. I dialed the neighbors house for her to contact the first responders. After they loaded him into the vehicle, my paternal aunt and her husband would visit to see my father’s status. To no surprise, he was already dead on arrival. From those two untimely deaths, I realized that I was on my own in who I would become. The silver lining of my parents dying showed that I would become strong and independent. It would drive me to be successful in school, work, and life. I wanted to prove those people who thought that I could not succeed in life wrong. A lot of people who would have experienced what I experienced probably would not be strong enough. My parents untimely deaths proved that I can be who and what I want. Even so, I can still make them proud, even if they are not present physically, but rather spiritually “up there.”

To stay true to myself in my daily life, I have to be who I am. I cannot take the risk of being something that I am not. I cannot be something that I cannot be. That means staying loyal to my personal and especially my political beliefs. To elaborate, arguing why my conservative Republican viewpoints are best for the country, on a domestic and foreign scope. Actions and activities to demonstrate staying to my true self include volunteering and canvassing for candidates that will make substantial progress at the local, state and national level. Being newly hired to my local parish council on advocating positions that serves the church’s best intentions. Doing what I love in college, that is, studying Corporate Finance and Political Science and working part time for the College library, marketing their services to students, faculty, and staff. It is pretty easy for me to stay to my true self. That is because I do what I love everyday. If I did not, then I would be miserable and I would have to find a career change.

I never thought I’d say this but my parents died at a young age, 12-13 years old to be exact. These events would shape me into who I am presently. My mother battled breast cancer for a few years and died in the hospital in June 2012. Before her death, she had her ups and downs periodically. Unfortunately, one day it took a turn for the worst. That’s when my father woke me up and said the hospital took her off life support in the wee hours of the morning. Him and I went and saw her for the last time; her family was there too. 8 months later, my father would die in his sleep from a massive heart attack while I was asleep alongside him sometime in February 2013. I found him like so in the wee hours of the morning before a giant snowstorm. I dialed the neighbors house for her to contact the first responders. After they loaded him into the vehicle, my paternal aunt and her husband would visit to see my father’s status. To no surprise, he was already dead on arrival. From those two untimely deaths, I realized that I was on my own in who I would become. The silver lining of my parents dying showed that I would become strong and independent. It would drive me to be successful in school, work, and life. I wanted to prove those people who thought that I could not succeed in life wrong. A lot of people who would have experienced what I experienced probably would not be strong enough. My parents untimely deaths proved that I can be who and what I want. Even so, I can still make them proud, even if they are not present physically, but rather spiritually “up there.” Resilience is an important factor for me in what I have endured. It is a key term that people should incorporate into their daily lives. One has to be battle hardened to face the challenges that come their way. That can be if attending college/university, applying for a career or losing a loved one. Looking up and saying “Yes, I can do it” are powerful words to utter. You have to put your mind to it. If you do not, then you will not accomplish your objective. Acting optimistic towards something will go a long way. Aggressively studying and enjoying challenges to prove people wrong have made me overcome adversity which was the untimely passing of my parents.

I never thought I’d say this but my parents died at a young age, 12-13 years old to be exact. These events would shape me into who I am presently. My mother battled breast cancer for a few years and died in the hospital in June 2012. Before her death, she had her ups and downs periodically. Unfortunately, one day it took a turn for the worst. That’s when my father woke me up and said the hospital took her off life support in the wee hours of the morning. Him and I went and saw her for the last time; her family was there too. 8 months later, my father would die in his sleep from a massive heart attack while I was asleep alongside him sometime in February 2013. I found him like so in the wee hours of the morning before a giant snowstorm. I dialed the neighbors house for her to contact the first responders. After they loaded him into the vehicle, my paternal aunt and her husband would visit to see my father’s status. To no surprise, he was already dead on arrival. From those two untimely deaths, I realized that I was on my own in who I would become. The silver lining of my parents dying showed that I would become strong and independent. It would drive me to be successful in school, work, and life. I wanted to prove those people who thought that I could not succeed in life wrong. A lot of people who would have experienced what I experienced probably would not be strong enough. My parents untimely deaths proved that I can be who and what I want. Even so, I can still make them proud, even if they are not present physically, but rather spiritually “up there.”