Community involvement is important. Not only does it benefit the people the service is aimed at but it also benefits the people providing the service. Community involvement has helped me learn how to serve others and be a good steward of where I live. Educating people, cleaning up, and serving through local businesses are just a few ways I have been able to help my local communities. Education through reenactments is a great way to learn. Ever since I have lived here I have been involved with a Civil War reenactment as one of the re-enactor. I enjoy learning the history of the event teaching other people about its history. Last year, my sister and I taught kids about the culture of the Civil War era and how to dance the Virginia Reel, an old-fashioned line dance. We loved having that impact on the kids and seeing how much they enjoyed learning. Educating others and learning from them ourselves enriched the experience even more. Another way I have served the community here has been by working at the local Chick-fil-A in the past. Working there taught me how to put the customer first, get along with co-workers, deal with problems that might arise, and have a great attitude even when in difficult situations. As I learned to become a better teammate, I was able to help new co-workers do their best and jump in when others needed help. I loved helping people have a great day through the little things and experience great service. The region I am from had lots of fires that would often sweep through. People affected would have a difficult time recovering from losing their homes and possessions during the fire season. My family and I would help with fire relief by buying personal items for refugees and preparing meals for them. A couple years ago some close friends of our own lost their home to a fire that raged through their community. We and our church family bought them food, clothing, and personal items. My family kept most of their donated items in our basement and others gave them lodging. This instance showed me how important it is to serve those in need and how to take care of them properly. Watching others serve gave me a desire to do the same. Serving the community can give you a sense of kinship with those you work with everyday and live around. Helping those who live near you also strengthens the community as a whole. Reaching out to others when they are in need shows them the love of Christ and can change the whole area around you. Jesus stated that one of the greatest commandments was to love your neighbor as yourself. By doing so as a christian, you show your love for God.

Every human life is valuable and deserves protection. This is taught throughout the Bible. Pro-life means protecting life at all levels, whether the person is a small child in the womb, a physically or mentally disabled person, or an elderly individual. My faith has greatly impacted my stance on pro-life. In my future goals, I plan to become a mother and teach my children about the value of life, as well as use my education in political science to educate others about the rights of the unborn. When my mother was pregnant with one of my siblings, she was confined to the hospital for two months, uncertain if my little sister would be born alive. Similarly to the mother of Natalie Joy, although she was encouraged to kill her baby, she refused. Thankfully, she ended up giving birth to a healthy little girl, who is now four years old. Her persistence and love for a person who she had never met on the outside had a great impact on me and showed that life is worth protecting, no matter what. As the oldest of seven children, I have helped raise my younger siblings. I help care for their needs and teach them what the Word of God says about the value of human life. I also nanny an infant, which has taught me a great deal about the uniqueness of every individual. Caring for children has encouraged me to become more staunch in my beliefs. If I were never a Christian, I would never know how important it is to love your neighbor as yourself. The Bible states in Philippians 2:3-4, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." This verse shows how important it is to God that we serve others first. In a culture where self-love is heavily promoted, the Bible emphasizes loving others more than yourself. I'm thankful that the Lord revealed that to me through His Word. One of my most important goals for the future is to become a wife and mother. I believe that is one of the most impactful pro-life movements that you can make. Raising kids who love the Lord and have been taught the importance of valuing life is one of the greatest things you can ever do. The founders of our country knew that life is an inalienable human right no one can take away, and they wove that concept into our nation's founding. I believe we should continue to uphold the values that so many have fought and died for throughout our history. After the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the outcome encouraged me to support the movement for life more than ever. I plan to use my education in political science to support the pro-life movement by educating others about children in the womb's own right to life. I have gained a lot of knowledge through my experiences after seeing my mother's reaction to the birth of my younger sister, assisting in caring for younger children, and pursuing a higher education in political science to defend our inalienable rights. As the Bible states in Matthew 7:12, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." The whole Bible revolves around the theme of showing love for God by showing love for others. Protecting life inside and outside of the womb is the definition of loving your neighbor.

Once upon a time. This simple phrase has opened many timeless classics. How about the words "In the beginning?" This phrase opened up the greatest story of all. This was the story of perfect love and redemption, of an almighty and sovereign God who created all things and even died as a sacrifice to save sinful human beings. The greatest part of this story? Every word of it is true. As an aspiring author and writer, I can only learn from this wonderful book to find my inspiration. I can use storytelling as a way to connect readers to the characters I create and their struggles to show how they learn to overcome difficulties through leaning on faith in God's holiness. Though I will never know who the stories will reach, they can truly make a difference in someone's life. “Peter did not feel very brave; indeed, he felt he was going to be sick. But that made no difference to what he had to do.” - The Chronicles of Narnia Do you ever feel like this? Like when you have to decide to do the right thing even if it's difficult, or if you're struggling to pay bills, or when you have to wash a giant pile of dirty dishes that have sat there for a week? Stories with relatable characters show truth in real-world ways and sometimes in fictional ways, like in the Chronicles of Narnia. The stories lived by fictional characters can meet people where they are, show that they are not the only ones in that situation, and offer a solution or show what the right (or wrong) response is. When it comes to stories with Christian themes and virtues, you can present deep truths that might be hard to understand in a comprehensible way. This is the magic that can be produced by Christian literature. Although some may argue that Christian literature and fictional stories are not a very popular genre, in contrast, however, there are actually many christian stories that have truly changed the world. Think of just a few. The works of C.S. Lewis, John Bunyan, John Milton, J.R.R. Tolkien, and many others have been cited as some of the greatest books of all time. Almost everyone has heard of the Chronicles of Narnia, the Pilgrim's Progress, Paradise Lost, and the Lord of the Rings. Some of the most beautiful works in history have been christian works. Why? Because they reveal the wonderful truths about God and His perfection. I believe well-written Christian stories that point directly to Christ and are embedded with timeless themes is the kind of literature that impacts generations. As I look up to these great men and borrow inspiration from them, I have found that my storytelling can improve by reading their works, which will hopefully have a similar impact as theirs. Much of Christian literature is deep and beautiful. While there are thousands of books out there that honor sin and depravity, Christian literature can act as a beacon of hope, pointing many toward Christ. It can change people's lives for the better, bring beautiful truths to light, and has the ability to change the world. There is much darkness in the world, and there is only one light. But that light is powerful enough to cause all shadows to flee in terror. In the words of John Bunyan, “What God says is best, is best, though all the men in the world are against it.”

What is the greatest book in the world? What can you base the criteria on? Would it be the most widely circulated book? The most widely translated book? Or perhaps the most influential? No one book can possibly meet all those requirements. Right? To the contrary, there actually is. Since the 16th century, The Bible has been the most popular, most widely translated, and most influential book on the planet. It is not entirely known how many Bibles there are in the world, though some estimate it to be in the billions. And yet, there are many who do not know its message. Myriads of people do not know what it means to have a saving faith in the Lord. If I could have everyone in the world read just one book, I would choose the Bible. The message of the Bible, though simple, is extremely profound. It is simply this: Jesus Christ is King and Lord of everything, and He saves those whom He has chosen through His death on the cross and resurrection. This message gives true joy to all believers. It is the message that millions have been willing to die for. Everyone searches for the most basic questions about life. Why do we exist? What is our purpose in life? What happens when we die? All of these questions are answered by the Word of God. In addition, the Bible is a beautiful piece of work. Read any book of the Bible, and it will ring with the glory and power of the Creator of the universe. When many feel that this life is superficial and long for something lasting, the Bible is the perfect place to turn. Though many have tried to obliterate God's Word and put it out of existence, the Bible has never faded away and will never be destroyed. Although I could choose from numerous books that I would love everyone to read, the Bible is the greatest of them all, with a message all should hear. Though many strive against the Word of God, it has managed to thrive and reach even the most remote groups. Though everything in this life will pass away, the Word of God will never pass away. "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." (English Standard Version, Isaiah 40:8)