During the summer of 2015, I drove to Lipscomb University’s campus with my mandatory khaki shorts and a positive attitude. I knew it was an honor that I was given the chance to attend Volunteer Girls State, but I had no idea to what extent. I grab my bags, walk to registration, and instantaneously get fixed inside a cloud of smiles, greetings, and positivity. It was almost overwhelming just how cheerful the atmosphere was, but it was tremendously refreshing. I told my mom goodbye and glanced over my busy itinerary with my roommate just before heading to the first of many Davis City meetings. I was a very outgoing child growing up, but once I reached the age of 14, I became pretty introverted. However, as soon as I walked into the room containing 40 girls my age, I decided that I was not going to be timid. Not here. Something in the atmosphere just felt so comforting, yet eerie. It was as if these girls had been my friends for years, and I knew that they were going to accept me. I, as a new and improved extroverted person, decided to run for city councilwoman and try out for the Girls State choir. The negative …show more content…
Each day, we would get a few hours to learn songs that we would sing at the assembly that night. It was on the fourth day that we began learning patriotic songs. That Thursday, we left the campus and drove to the VA hospital. As I walked through the doors and entered the waiting room, I immediately saw the faces of sorrow, distress, and concern. We formed into our lines and began by singing God Bless America. Straightaway, weight was being lifted of these people’s shoulders and they began to smile. We went on to sing to our veterans that were hooked up to dialysis machines. Seeing this shattered my heart into a million pieces, however the smiles that I could see on their faces mended it all right back together. This experience that the choir gave me was something so very
Good morning Hollie, It was a pleasure meeting you at Women Who Brunch this weekend. Thank you for considering purchasing an advertisement for the Ms. Phi Beta Sigma Scholarship Pageant at the University of Houston. In preparation for this pageant I have been challenging myself to explore service in ways I have not before by hosting empowerment projects in both the Chicago and Houston metropolitan areas. Just recently, I partnered with the Chicago clothing line, Almvghty to raise money for an anti violence youth program on the city 's south side. Since November, I have been leading a African American literature club with Project Row House 's Third Ward College Bound Program.
The words and melody of this hymn seemed to strike a chord in individuals and groups alike, creating an anthem of faith, hope and victory in this very trying time. Almost two hundred years latter this hymn is still considered one of the most loved and familiar patriotic songs in the United States.
Their vision is to provide a safe environment for all women and girls to come together and experience opportunities, awareness, and action, diversity and inclusiveness and partnership with others. What do we do? We volunteer at the events that help raise the funds that go towards their annual mammograms for uninsured women and the scholarships that allow women of all ages to go back to college who did not get the chance or finish to go before. Each year around 500 scholarships are awarded, that go towards high school graduates or older women who choose to go back to school to either get or finish their degree; in order to
I was exposed to a high-intensity of competitiveness and the attitudes that came along with it. My perspective on life and my personality were both changing quickly and I was beginning to like the person I was becoming. I was able to hold conversations and became much more social than I previously was too shy to accomplish. This newfound confidence solidified my feeling of separation between myself and the group of girls.
One-hundred and fifty students stared out at the audience, heaving after singing their final note at the All-State Honor Choir Conference. Among those kids was Janie Hawkins, a five-foot-two, singing powerhouse. All state choir is focused on learning music and perfecting skills, so when Janie got in, she received music at home before the “conference.” She and other students tried out in September, received the music and then stayed in Eugene, Oregon. After two days of practicing for the performance with her choir peers, Janie and the choir finally did the performance and had to say goodbye to their new-found friends at the Eugene Hult Center.
I woke up every morning before dawn to work a full day in agriculture and ended the day singing with kids from the hostel. The work was hard and exhausting, however at the end of our two weeks, I cried. Not for the work, but for the people whom I had worked with. We could barely speak to one another, but created a relationship out of hugs, smiles, and laughs. I learned a great deal about myself, about the strength I had and what I was capable of.
I was struggling to find out why I was losing sight of my favorite trait: being a social butterfly. When I first entered college, I was so energetic and spontaneous with all the people I met. But, after my sophomore year, I realized something changed within me. I stopped trying to keep friendships alive and barely surrounded myself with others, besides those who are close to me. Through this course and backpacking trip, I was able to gain insights on why I was like this.
I was feeling my anxiety level rising, my whole body getting weak, and the thought of wanting to cry was to its max. But then I realized, why should I be doing this to myself? Why not just go and talk to people,make new friends, and be a different self? In response to those thoughts scattering throughout my mind, I never would have thought I could be where I was today only because one little turnaround; to this day, I am now the leader of the team and all the girls look up to me in some sort of way. I, as the team leader, have no fear of messing up or even feeling self-conscious around any of my
I now know what those kids in the street are going through, fighting for every penny. Now that I was there, I know. It has made me very generous towards people that need the help, because when I was in their shoes, I know that it would’ve been amazing for someone to do something like that to
Elie Wiesel’s work, Night, published in 1958, demonstrates the struggles Jewish society and other minorities faced in order to live a life of liberty. I, myself, felt bound and trapped, but not by iron doors, but by words. Even though being open and social can help communication growth, rudeness and unnecessary judgement can hinder one’s ability to be social and make them feel like expressing themselves is not possible. August 21, 2010, as my mother pulled up to the side of Georgetown Middle School, I remember thinking “I hope Mrs. Hope gives me hope.” My blood was pounding from the adrenaline, and my stomach was in knots knowing that in a few moments, I would be taking my first steps into an unusual environment for the next three years.
This opened mine, and my whole family's eyes to what it feels like to be deaf and not have a form of communication with family. This was a deaf community experience because it made me realize what it would be like
Dahlia Alkharrat The Power of Introverts Ever since starting high school in a large community, I have tried to hide my introversion. I have strained myself from coming out of my comfort zone, attending large gatherings with mild strangers and starting conversations. However, trying to loosen up a little bit proved to be worthless; it drained my energy, made me feel uncomfortable and left me pondering about my identity.
I began this research with the intent on writing about introversion in the public school system. Being an introvert myself, I was encouraged to research this topic based on my experiences going through the public school system. Throughout school, I was constantly being reminded that I didn't fit into the mold that was set out for me. I saw how every student was forced to be very open and outgoing, and I watched as my friends and classmates failed because they couldn’t squeeze themselves into this expectation.
If there is one thing I have learned throughout my high school career, it is that I cannot get what I want if I stand idly by and wait. Good things come to those who work. When I was young, I was always pegged as “that shy quiet girl.” I accepted that fate and never spoke unless spoken to. I never tried anything new if it was something I was uncomfortable with.
We all sighed in great displeasure of the announcement. Our band director then came over to tell us our exact results. What I heard next made my heart sink. We made eleventh place; one spot off advancing to finals. I suddenly became flooded with thoughts of last night.