Although I wasn't born and raised in Hunterdon county, this community has become deeply integrated into my life. I've met some of my closest friends at school, shared some of my best memories at Bundt Park, and have spent countless weekends walking around Clinton with friends. I center my life around family and my commitment to sports as well as academics. I also am a part of clubs like Interact, Rho Kappa, and Spanish club. Hunterdon has opened its heart to me, and I can't show more gratitude other than by giving back to the community. As a sophomore who had just transferred to North Hunterdon I was afraid to put myself out there. I was lucky enough to be athletically gifted and make the Girls Soccer Varsity team. That's where I met Ellie, she was our team captain. She had such a radiant personality, and worked hard even when she was tired. Naturally, I gravitated towards her and wanted to be similar to her. When I heard Elli talking about Special Olympics I was immediately intrigued; I thought that if Ellie was doing it then surely it was a good organization to join. Special Olympics was something that I've never heard of or experienced before. At first I signed up to be a trainer because I wasn't sure what to expect. Entering the gym and seeing everyone laughing and conversing with their friends was intimidating, but I traversed anyway. Waiting for my athlete was grueling, all I could think was that I hoped they'd like me. I picked at my nails and sat on the bleachers patiently looking for someone with the name Bryan to appear. Then there he was, he was a grown man that couldn't help but have a smile on his face whenever he walked. Bryan was talkative and loved to tell me stories and then ask me questions about it later to see if I was paying attention. Bryan also liked to ask me questions about myself; like what my favorite food was, if I liked candy, and if I had pets. He was kind and kept me in good company. When it came to training Bryan needed a lot of motivation. Every week I had to pick a new strategy; whether that was running with him, talking him through drills, or giving him a break when he needed it. I looked forward to our sessions every week and would be excited to see how much he progressed. There was a day that I'll never forget during my time being Bryan's trainer, it was when I was sick. I had a bad cough that Tuesday, so I couldn't go to school or Special Olympics that day. I was bummed, but I knew that Bryan would be in good hands since Special Olympics was full of caring people. The next week I showed up Bryan raced to me and quickly asked where I had been and if I was okay. He was so concerned and had been wondering where I was last week the entire practice. Seeing how Bryan was affected by the presence just as much as I was by his is what got me hooked onto Special Olympics and serving my community. Knowing how much impact I have on the people that I help is what makes volunteering worthwhile for me. My first year at Special Olympics inspired me to do it throughout the rest of my time at North Hunterdon, and I even became a team leader which allowed me to connect with even more athletes and trainers. Special Olympics also pushed me to join Unified Social Club and become a peer leader. This opportunity allowed me to work closely with special needs students at my school and even be an advocate for different disabilities within my community. I even educated others in different communities through Unified Summits which have a variety of schools that share how they're promoting inclusivity in their communities. After I graduate I plan on continuing Special Olympics throughout college. I also will be giving back by volunteering at the Lehigh Valley Hospital during the summer in order to make a positive impact on patients and staff working in the hospital. From just one experience in 10th grade, I have now fallen in love with making my community a better place by forming genuine connections with others. You never know who will brighten your day or whose day you will brighten, so it's best to choose kindness every time.