Coming to another country, different language and culture barriers make me distressed and feeling insecure all the time. My parents don't speak English, therefore, I'm responsible to take care of everything. I remembered at the time, I cried everyday, my mental health was obviously broken. However, I am feeling thankful for those moments in my life, for what I have gone through. I have learned a lot when I’ve been working, I know how to be strong, to be independent in work and life. I’d been working at Target at the same time as at the salon, I had opportunities to learn about different management and work organizations. I knew more about work-life balance, at first I tried to work as much as I could, then I realized that I must focus on school. The more I went through, the more I learned. I believe that I am the best teacher of myself and I need to experience the world. I know that I did a really good job, I'm working hard, staying curious about the new place, new things. I'm proud of myself that I can share the burden with my mom, because more than anyone, she was the one who experienced a lot and just kept silent. In addition, I'm joining a church where I meet the youths who encourage me, heal my heart and make me feel like a second home. We share our experiences at school, life and social relationships, it's the best way for me to learn English and about American diverse cultures.

Coming to another country, different language and culture barriers make me distressed and feeling insecure all the time. My parents don't speak English, therefore, I'm responsible to take care of everything. I remembered at the time, I cried everyday, my mental health was obviously broken. However, I am feeling thankful for those moments in my life, for what I have gone through. I have learned a lot when I’ve been working, I know how to be strong, to be independent in work and life. I’d been working at Target at the same time as at the salon, I had opportunities to learn about different management and work organizations. I knew more about work-life balance, at first I tried to work as much as I could, then I realized that I must focus on school. The more I went through, the more I learned. I believe that I am the best teacher of myself and I need to experience the world. I know that I did a really good job, I'm working hard, staying curious about the new place, new things. I'm proud of myself that I can share the burden with my mom, because more than anyone, she was the one who experienced a lot and just kept silent. In addition, I'm joining a church where I meet the youths who encourage me, heal my heart and make me feel like a second home. We share our experiences at school, life and social relationships, it's the best way for me to learn English and about American diverse cultures.

There was a volunteer activity going to an orphanage, my teachers said that we could donate clothes, shoes and our old books for kids who live there. In preparation, I messed up my closest to looking for some dresses and usual clothes to wrap in a big bag, I came to my sister room and ask for donations, then I also called to my cousins and told them about my following trip, they were glad to give their own, and I looked forward to bringing my stuffs to the orphanage. This trip is unforgettable to me, there were many naïve eyes popping up when seeing us. We played with kids, read some stories and helped them with their homework. We put on performances and created funny games for them. We were surprised that we met disability children, who were adopted when they were infants because of their malformations by their parents. To be honest, I couldn’t stand crying when I was told about their stories, but at the moment, I didn't want them to see my pity so I tried to hide my tears. I used to buy a pricey phone but that happiness is not amazing like that when I saw their smiles and listened to their songs. I empathized with those situations and encouraged them to reach out their desires, make their lives more expectations. It isn't important that who you are, who you become decides the rest of your life. Afterwards, I realized that I was extremely lucky to have parents and go to school with a normal body. I have participated in some volunteer activities after that to spread my sympathy to my community. I went to nursing homes to do gardening and hospitals to provide free meals for patients and their families. I also actively fund my school’s charitable foundation to children who are in the mountains or the areas where there is a lack of daily study conditions and assistance. Community services are very meaningful for not only recipients but also people who do it, especially impacting students’ personal developments. Volunteering will help us recognize the value of our lives, know how to love ourselves and others, and how to sympathize in difficult situations. Personally, I learned an abundance of motivations and changed my life into a bright direction. Those activities bring abundant positive thinking to me, help me beautify my soul and mindset.

I am a Vietnamese student, I have been in the U.S for more than one year. Unfortunately, I moved here in a pandemic period, so it is impossible for me to participate in the local community service organizations. But I used to enlist different kinds of activities in my country when I was a high-school student. I had thought that community activities are somethings that are vast and meaningful, but I recognized that there may be a little thing I do to benefit others such as spending my breakfast to send to school’s charity, helping the elderly pass across the road, giving my clothes, shoes for orphanages, … The experiences of volunteering activities gave me a lot of lessons and skills for my life. It is certain that I am going to take part in a group to serve my community lately. Maybe it is different between my country and the U.S about community services, however, I am going to tell you about my own experiences. There was a volunteer activity going to an orphanage, my teachers said that we could donate clothes, shoes and our old books for kids who live there. In preparation, I messed up my closest to looking for some dresses and usual clothes to wrap in a big bag, I came to my sister room and ask for donations, then I also called to my cousins and told them about my following trip, they were glad to give their own, and I looked forward to bringing my stuffs to the orphanage. This trip is unforgettable to me, there were many naïve eyes popping up when seeing us. We played with kids and read some stories and helped them with their homework. We put on performances and created funny games for them. We were surprised that we met disability children, they were adopted when they were infants because of their malformations by their parents. To be honest, I couldn’t stand crying when I was told about their stories, but at the moment, I did not want them to see my pity so I tried to hide my tears. I used to buy a pricey phone but that happiness is not amazing like that when I saw their smiles and listened to their songs. I empathized with those situations and encouraged them to reach out their desires, make their lives more expectations. It is not important that who you are, who you become decides the rest of your life. Afterwards, I realized that I was extremely lucky to have parents and go to school with a normal body. I have participated in some volunteer activities after that to spread my sympathy to my community. I went to nursing homes to do gardening and hospitals to provide free meals for patients and their families. I also actively fund my school’s charitable foundation to children who are in the mountains or the areas where there is a lack of daily study conditions and assistance. Community services are very meaningful for not only recipients but also people who do it, especially impacting students’ personal developments. Volunteering will help us recognize the value of our lives, know how to love ourselves and others, and how to sympathize in difficult situations. Personally, I learned an abundance of motivations and changed my life into a bright direction. Those activities bring abundant positive thinking to me, help me beautify my soul and mindset.

I am a Vietnamese student, I have been in the U.S for more than one year. Unfortunately, I moved here in a pandemic period, so it is impossible for me to participate in the local community service organizations. But I used to enlist different kinds of activities in my country when I was a high-school student. I had thought that community activities are somethings that are vast and meaningful, but I recognized that there may be a little thing I do to benefit others such as spending my breakfast to send to school’s charity, helping the elderly pass across the road, giving my clothes, shoes for orphanages, … The experiences of volunteering activities gave me a lot of lessons and skills for my life. It is certain that I am going to take part in a group to serve my community lately. Maybe it is different between my country and the U.S about community services, however, I am going to tell you about my own experiences. There was a volunteer activity going to an orphanage, my teachers said that we could donate clothes, shoes and our old books for kids who live there. In preparation, I messed up my closest to looking for some dresses and usual clothes to wrap in a big bag, I came to my sister room and ask for donations, then I also called to my cousins and told them about my following trip, they were glad to give their own, and I looked forward to bringing my stuffs to the orphanage. This trip is unforgettable to me, there were many naïve eyes popping up when seeing us. We played with kids and read some stories and helped them with their homework. We put on performances and created funny games for them. We were surprised that we met disability children, they were adopted when they were infants because of their malformations by their parents. To be honest, I couldn’t stand crying when I was told about their stories, but at the moment, I did not want them to see my pity so I tried to hide my tears. I used to buy a pricey phone but that happiness is not amazing like that when I saw their smiles and listened to their songs. I empathized with those situations and encouraged them to reach out their desires, make their lives more expectations. It is not important that who you are, who you become decides the rest of your life. Afterwards, I realized that I was extremely lucky to have parents and go to school with a normal body. I have participated in some volunteer activities after that to spread my sympathy to my community. I went to nursing homes to do gardening and hospitals to provide free meals for patients and their families. I also actively fund my school’s charitable foundation to children who are in the mountains or the areas where there is a lack of daily study conditions and assistance. Community services are very meaningful for not only recipients but also people who do it, especially impacting students’ personal developments. Volunteering will help us recognize the value of our lives, know how to love ourselves and others, and how to sympathize in difficult situations. Personally, I learned an abundance of motivations and changed my life into a bright direction. Those activities bring abundant positive thinking to me, help me beautify my soul and mindset.