I embody selflessness through the passion I have to help people and the motivation that drives me to do so. I have served the vulnerable since I was around 9 years old, so about 10 years now I have been working hard to improve the state of living conditions for those less fortunate. I have done countless acts like helping to feed the poor in soup kitchens, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Room at the Inn, and I have sorted medical supplies for Project CURE. These acts make me feel like I am serving people while also improving myself and my selflessness. I acknowledge that I am a fortunate person with a loving family and a roof over my head, but that does not make me feel good about the state of the world. Helping people in need is a big part in improving the world and connecting with the world you were put into. One specific example of a time I helped someone in need is actually at my former job as a hostess. A homeless man came in asking for a job, and I guided him right to my manager after getting him a cup of water. It was a small act, but it shows care in the world and he ended up getting the job, so fortunate things happen to people that seek them in the right places. I love seeing the smiles on people’s faces as they are handed food at a soup kitchen, or even new clothes that I donated to a local thrift organization. Selflessness is not just the act of being selfless, it is the thought that goes behind what you are doing for the sake of making the world a safer place. I have done service at libraries as well, helping older individuals volunteer for the education of the younger generation. Mundane work also makes a difference, so it is important to acknowledge the work you are doing in order to make a true impact on the people you are helping. I know some people struggle to find that motivation to help the vulnerable, and I was in the same boat. It was not until recently that I really thought about the service I was doing in order to cause relief in people’s lives’. I learned a lot about the less fortunate in my Theology class, and it got interesting, inspiring me to think about the motivation I have to help people. Overall, everybody starts somewhere and it does not matter where you start as long as you have that motivation to give yourself to others.

I have been a medical child since I was a little girl, starting with my brain tumor journey at age 4. I developed a Pilomixoid Astrocytoma when I was about 3 years old until it went down, only to reach back up and cause my health issues at 4. Our finances have not fully recovered from the numerous hospital bills, but we have had family and friends to help pay it off. Now, my dad has had multiple variations of skin cancer, and we have two very old cars that break down at least once a month, one of which is the car that all of my four-person family uses. Work is difficult to get to for my sister, my dad, and I, but we manage with what we have. Anyway, the finances in my household are not the greatest, but my dad works hard as a teacher to reach back up to a good point to be able to pay off the mortgage. My finances in my education currently, fortunately, are covered at my college prep school as long as my dad has a job here, and has been for the last 4 years, so I am luckily able to complete and graduate from my school. In transitioning to college, I chose a school that I am confident will enhance my education and career goal as a radiologic technician. My transition into Kentucky Wesleyan College in the Fall will help me get out on my own without my parents to help guide me. My financial plan for the years is getting private loans, then paying it off once I start my career in radiography. My education is important to me and I want to get the best I can in order to pursue my career. As I move forward, I am looking at everything one step at a time in order for my future to be in good shape. If I feel stressed about anything, I know that it will be okay and financing can and will smooth out as long as I focus on my goal at my new school, improving the way I can help people. As of right now, my dad is in a credit program in order to build his credit score back up for himself and my family. Since I have my own job, I step back from asking for money from my parents since I know they cannot provide much, but I am grateful for anything they can give.