This is an essay that I had to write for a scholarship.
Where do I fit into this world? I view the world as a large puzzle, full of pieces that contain the names of the youth of my generation, everyone fitting into their own snug space. Our pieces however, aren’t complete. As we grow up they morph, depending on the decisions we make, and the career we choose, as well as the advice we give and the friends we make. Not until we are fully grown and matured do our pieces become complete. Right now, as a teenager I fit into the world as just that, a student, a daughter, a friend, the future. But, as I grow I will change, as will my place in the world. One day I will be a mother, a wife, and hopefully a photographer. My part will be to nurture my family, and decorate the world with my photographs.
How does the lifestyle decisions I made as a teen impact the world around me? You can change the world, no matter how old you are. So many teens believe that just because we are young, we can’t impact the world or society but the truth is we can. Anyone can make an impact if they try. By living a straightedge lifestyle, meaning I consume no drugs, alcohol or tobacco, I’m impacting the world. If I chose to drink an alcoholic beverage and then get behind the wheel of a car, I could kill someone, or several people. This would impact the world in a negative way. Because I chose not to drink, I am impacting the world in a positive way, the same with choosing not to smoke. By choosing not to smoke, I am choosing not to pollute the air with the harmful pollutants contained in cigarettes. Every decision we make impacts the world. No matter how small.
How can I affect the world? I can affect the world by doing my part as a citizen. Its not hard to have an affect on the world, even though we are small. I plan to have a positive affect on the world by helping as much as I can. I love to volunteer, I’ve helped out with several local charities, and in the summer of 2009 I plan on participating in a mission trip to Haiti. On this trip I will be helping to build houses that will house a mother and several children, these houses will be away from the villages, and have electricity and running water. I will also be helping to repair one of the orphanages there, as well as doing a Vacation Bible School of sorts with the children. In the future I plan on doing more trips like this, and continuing to do charity and volunteer work. I can affect the world everyday by helping someone.
Once I have taken on responsibilities as a college student I can impact the world even more. Furthering my education will give me more opportunities to help the world, as well as a better understanding of how to help and why my help is needed.
As an adult, I will be able to dedicate even more time to charities and volunteer work, I will also be taken more seriously, than I will while I am still a child. As an adult it will also be easier for me to affect the world, and make my voice heard.
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