In a world where sunshine and rainbows aren't always guaranteed, I endured quite a lot. Growing up in a single-parent, low-income household, I quickly realized that life wasn't always kind. However, despite the challenges, I worked tirelessly to achieve everything I had. Early on, I understood the importance of being cautious of my surroundings and not taking things for granted. Fortunately, my journey took a positive turn when I joined the Boys and Girls Club at the age of six. At the club, I experienced an outpouring of support and kindness that changed my perspective. College volunteers frequently engaged with us, offering assistance with homework and simply spending time with us. As I grew older, I eagerly embraced opportunities to give back. Starting with small tasks like cleaning and running errands, I gradually took on more responsibilities, eventually becoming involved in organizing activities and providing various forms of support. My volunteer work extended beyond the club to initiatives like my school's clothing drive (andys attic) and my cheerleading gym ( Far out Cheer and Dance). I would take any free time I had to pour back into he hand that feed me. Throughout my acts of kindness I found that doing the bare minimum can still have a vast effect. Of course I didn't have a million dollars to donate to a homeless shelter or to buy sports equipment to athletes. But I had the time and determination to do anything in my power to make a difference in someones life. I fear people take to many things in this world for granted and we don't realize how servere or the amount of impact we could make by dedicating or time. I was driven by a desire to express gratitude to the community that had nurtured me. Without their support, I wouldn't be the person I am today, filled with confidence and gratitude. Recognizing that not everyone receives such support, I cherish the opportunity to make a positive impact in someone else's life through my actions. Through my volunteering experiences, I discovered an inprovement in my leadership abilities and communication skills. My capacity for compassion and empathy deepened significantly. I polished my teamwork skills and became adept at managing my time effectively. My volunteering efforts opened my perspective, leading to increased cultural awareness. Volunteering stitches together the quilt of positive change in society and the only way to finish it to one thread at a time. Thanky you for taking the time to review my application.

My name is Ciara Adu-Addo and I love to volunteer. Within my 17 years of life, I have dedicated about 9 of them to volunteering and helping out my community. When I turned 8 when I found volunteering exciting and fun. Coming from a low-income single-parent household I wanted to be able to give back as much as I could to people in need. It started by helping the elderly in my neighborhood with any daily activities they needed to be done. I would go to the grocery store for them, help them with laundry, bring any bags they needed upstairs, walk with them and make sure they got to their intended destination safely, and much more. As I grew older I had gotten involved in different events and public events around Worcester. Living in an interactive city, I have been presented with various opportunities to offer my hand. I have been volunteering at my local Boys and Girls Club since I was 10 and I currently still dedicate my time to being involved in the members' lives and helping provide guidance, extra help, and support. I have also been volunteering at a neighborhood garden. Once a week I enter our gated garden and water everyone's plants. I refill the water jug and keep the space clean. If there are any fruits or vegetables that are ready to be picked I pick them and deliver them to whoever planted them. From time to time I babysit for free to help out family members and family friends. I also volunteer at a cheer gym that I am apart of. When I am not working at the gym i extend my helping hand for an extended period of time. I also volunteer to drive other people/underclassmen home or to the Boys and girls Club for school. Ahead of me, I will be participating in helping set up a local vendor event in which a variety of food and art vendor will showcase their product to the community. I hope to continue volunteering 8 hours a week at the Boys and Girls club. I am going to start volunteering my time on weekends to help children with their soccer skills. I plan to give back to my community as my education starts furthering by continuing to share/provide a helping hand to my community and to the people who need a little help. I will continue to participate in volunteering opportunities to give back and show my appreciation to my community.

Sports play a big role in my upbringing and life/lifestyle. I was always an active child and could never quite stay in one place or sit still. I would watch almost every sport on tv and just be amazed by the players and the physical activity itself. Coming from a low-income, minority, single-parent household, I couldn't get or do a lot of things that other children my age were doing. I would always be the listener in the conversations about soccer practices, gymnastics, and dance practices on the big yellow bus. I would learn how to flip and play different sports on my own when I got the chance too. It wasn't until I was burning holes in my shoes with my mom trying to catch the bus that I decided to pursue sports. I am ranked one of the best well-rounded- athletes in my city. I got the opportunity to participate in sports when I entered high school in my freshmen year. I signed up for the dance team, soccer, cheerleading Track, and Field. It was then my time to take advantage of the activities I always dreamed of being part of. Having commitments to a variety of activities left me always busy and moving. In that case, It helps me away from the not-so-good thing happening in my community or around me. I was able to stay out of trouble because I wasn't in the environment or in the position of making a bad choice. Ultimately being involved in sports not only saved my life but presented me with opportunities that I have now (college scholarships, invites, etc) I am pursuing a career in sports because if I didn't I can't see myself being happy or content with my life. The whole concept of sports has my head wrapped around its finger. Athleticism is one of my favorite and best qualities I obtain. If I could be involved with the sport that gives me butterflies every day of my life, it wouldn't get any better than that. I want to be able to sit down with an athlete and help them with whatever they may need assistance with. Sports itself is a huge industry and the countless opportunities within that field leave me with various career options and connections. I have heard it is best to be in a career field that you align with, interests you or gets you excited.

My goal in life is to be able to financially support myself and my family while in a carrier field I love. To be bale to acquire the education I want without the idea that money will be an issue.

Something that I have learned that has changed my perspective would be education is the golden ticket. I always viewed school as a place I would go to while my mother was at work. A place where I could make friends and learn a thing or two. I was always at the top of my class and I never thought much of it. That was until I was accepted/invited into the 6th-grade class at Godard Scholar Academy, a school for students who are above average and excel higher than average kids. That was when people started talking to me about my future. It was explained to me that getting a good education, especially coming from a low income is very important. Coming from a low-income family I realized that I may miss out on a lot of great opportunities. That was when I had to start paying attention in my classes, take my learning seriously, and take advantage of the opportunities given to me. Now I see school and education as an opportunity for a brighter future. A ticket to the seat at the high table and out of poverty. Education is key

A personal finance lesson that I find important would be planning your money out and setting clear goals. For instance, I create a budget for every month. I add up my monthly bills and match that to my paychecks. I put half of the hats left into my savings account and the other half into my checking. I am a disorganized person, so doing this helped me stay in charge and highly organized. I think that having a plan for your money makes it easier for you to save and keep track of what you are spending and what for. Without planning, you may end up with no money at all to cover bills and expenses.