High School is an important period of life for self-definition. We develop new goals along with continuing or discontinuing the old and continue learning things about ourselves: our passions, core values, and career path. Although I have yet to figure everything out, I was blessed to find focus, safe places to grow, and multiple communities I can count on. It is my goal to pay forward the positive influences those communities have had on me. All of the organizations that played a significant role in my development thus far have revolved around community involvement and/or service. Beta is centered around community assistance, actively aiding organizations throughout, and communities within, the area. The Jackson Student Leadership Team is committed to community improvement through student lead efforts. Junior Leadership Jackson is all about inducting youth leaders into Jackson County so that we can have a smooth transition when continuing leadership into adulthood. My membership in Beta allowed me to step outside of myself and my tendency toward introversion and onto the path of leadership. One of my most valuable takeaways from my past three years being a Beta member and officer is the importance of friendship within a team. In a group where you are constantly having to plan and communicate with one another, if the environment is one of unfamiliarity and anxiety, efficiency and enjoyment will plummet. I accepted one of the four team leader roles during my first year on the Jackson Student Leadership team. At the time I was forced to confront the reality that even whilst maintaining that environment of friendship amongst a team, part of leadership is also holding people accountable and pushing them outside of their comfort zone in order to grow and perhaps discover new skills. I was able to learn first-hand about community involvement and leadership from the often unseen leaders in my own community. All art shares one message in common: I was here. That message inspired the title Eagles Live Here for my Service Learning project. We spend much of our formative years in one place. A place that leaves so many marks on -good and bad- we practically live there, we eat and sleep there, and some of us do not return home until after five; yet, after we have gathered all our things that fit into one or maybe two bags what is left of us there? Eagles Live Here, was created to give students a chance to leave their marks on the school, give it some much-needed vitality, and leave a statement: We are here. In the hopes that every day they can come in and think, "This is my place" to know, "I mean something here. Outside the lunchroom canvas’ were put up where students could use markers placed out to draw or write anything they wanted. Repurposing all that unused space to give students an opportunity to feel connected, my goal was that, while you may be alone in a crowd there is also someone else who is alone, unfortunately humans cannot physically feel the resonance but, I hope that reading might offer some comfort or encouragement. My involvement in those organizations is what solidified my goal to become an active community leader, committed to the betterment of not only my own local community, but also to society at large. While attending college I plan to continue taking advantage of the service and leadership opportunities presented to me. I will dedicate myself to my new communities as I have - and will continue to - my current ones. Continuing on my journey to answering those self-defining questions.

“Global mental health crisis,” “The youth despise school,” “People = lonelier than ever.” “Suicide rates on the rise.” It is hard to change the world however it is possible to brighten it if only for a moment, if only for a single person. All art shares one message in common: I was here. That message inspired the title Eagles Live Here for my first project in Service Learning. We spend much of our formative years in one place. A place that leaves so many marks on us - good and bad - we practically live there, we eat and sleep there, and some of us do not return home until after five; yet, after we have gathered all our things that fit into one or maybe two bags what is left of us there? When we walk in Monday, where is the proof we were there last week? Eagles Live Here, was created to give students a chance to leave their marks on the school, give it some much-needed vitality, and leave a statement: We are here. In the hopes that every day they can come in and think, "This is my place" to know, "I mean something here," and to one day be able to come back and say, "I was here and there's the proof." Outside the lunchroom canvas’ were put up where students could use markers placed out to draw or write anything they wanted. Schools have been likened to “sterile prisons,” repurposing all that unused space to give students an opportunity to feel connected is my goal. While you may be alone in a crowd there is also someone else who is alone, unfortunately humans cannot physically feel the resonance but I hope that reading might offer some comfort or encouragement to someone who needs it. In the future I would like to push for more permeant student messages. Initially, I had hoped to present students with the opportunity to paint bricks inside the school however the timeline did not allow and administration was hesitant.

High School is an important period of life for self-definition. We develop new goals along with continuing or discontinuing the old and continue learning things about ourselves: our passions, core values, and career path. Although I have yet to figure everything out, I was blessed to find focus, safe places to grow, and multiple communities I can count on. It is my goal to pay forward the positive influences those communities have had on me. Growing up in a highly conservative, predominantly white area as a black girl, I have been confronted with my fair share of cultural insensitivity. “Can I have the N-word pass?” “You talk white.” “You’re like an Oreo.” “I don’t like black girls.” And, while in my younger (“and more vulnerable”) years, I was quick to pass judgment upon hearing such comments, I have come to understand that everyone has their own story and background that shapes their worldview. It is easy to succumb to anger or frustration and “write people off,” but it is much more productive, comforting, and realistic to seek understanding. As someone who had to unlearn things instilled in them during youth, there is nothing I am unwilling to question, discuss, or reconsider; yet, I also understand that adjusting one’s perspective is not an easy thing when your beliefs are thoroughly ingrained into your identity. My personal motto is: Learn More to Do More. All of the organizations that played a significant role in my development thus far have revolved around community involvement and/or service. Beta is centered around community assistance, actively aiding organizations throughout, and communities within, the area. The Jackson Student Leadership Team is committed to community improvement through student lead efforts. Junior Leadership Jackson is all about inducting youth leaders into Jackson County so that we can have a smooth transition when continuing leadership into adulthood. My membership in Beta allowed me to step outside of myself and my tendency toward introversion and onto the path of leadership. One of my most valuable takeaways from my past three years being a Beta member and officer is the importance of friendship within a team. In a group where you are constantly having to plan and communicate with one another, if the environment is one of unfamiliarity and anxiety, efficiency and enjoyment will plummet. In order to learn more about leadership in regards to project organization and implementation, I accepted one of the four team leader roles during my first year on the Jackson Student Leadership team. At the time I was forced to confront the reality that even whilst maintaining that environment of friendship amongst a team, part of leadership is also holding people accountable and pushing them outside of their comfort zone in order to grow and perhaps discover new skills. The decision to join the Junior Leadership Jackson program was borne out of a desire to further my knowledge about the community I live in. I was able to learn first-hand about community involvement and leadership from the often unseen leaders in my own community. My involvement in those organizations is what solidified my goal to become an active community leader, committed to the betterment of not only my own local community, but also to society at large. While attending college I plan to continue taking advantage of the service and leadership opportunities presented to me. I will dedicate myself to my new communities as I have - and will continue to - my current ones. Continuing on my journey to answering those self-defining questions.

Newton’s third law tormented me as we trekked up the road with the hot sun beating down on us. One minute we were in the store browsing the book aisle and the next my mom was running back urging me to come out to the parking lot and help her find her car. “It’s out there you’re just looking in the wrong place,” I told her laughing, “Come on I’ll find it.” The laughter was short-lived. The car has been repossessed. Lesson #. A car title loan is a “secure” loan that uses one’s automobile title as collateral. The lender lends you an amount of money equal to the value of your vehicle. You agree to pay back a “little” more than what is lent to you plus interest. For many, it seems like a good deal and for some, it works out just fine. In regards to taking out a loan one should have at least two things: Confidence that they can pay back the loan and a great deal of accountability. “The worst part is…there were so many times that I had the money. I could have paid it back.” She was laughing but she looked tired, and not just because of the hot sun and humid Georgia air. Aloud I say, “At Least we’re getting our steps in!” Mentally I’m revising the list: We don’t own a house, We don’t own a car. Lesson #. Trade-offs are a concept in economics that can be summarized as the comprehension that when you choose to do and/or buy one thing you are virtually giving up another. Being able to efficiently evaluate trade-offs is necessary if one seeks to live shrewdly. While the immediate satisfaction you get from seeing the Barbie movie with your friend may seem tempting, if you take off work you are trading the money you would have made from your paycheck. After cooking in the sun for thirty minutes the first thought in my mind after sliding into the air-conditioned backseat of my uncle’s car was: I can’t wait to take a shower. My second thought was: My friends will love hearing about this. My third thought was: How am I going to get to school? And that thought led to the question that would be hanging over us for the next six months: What are we going to do now? Lesson #. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction in other words, our actions have consequences. “Some people need to learn things the hard way,” is a saying I have heard and read numerous times. I have witnessed, firsthand, enough people run into brick walls that I have no desire to collide with one myself. To ensure my list is filled with “do’s” and not “don’ts” I will continue taking what I have learned not to do and learn what to do; using my knowledge to execute the latter.