"Danny's Song" by Loggins & Messina. Tells a story of a man who is building his family in life. He describes his love for his wife and children, who have no money or wealth. He teaches us that having a strong, loving family is the most important thing in life. Happiness is the most important thing, even though you don't have the newest and coolest things in life, what matters, in the end, are your family and your happiness. Now when I take a step back and look at my own family, I can say with my whole heart this song is my family's lifestyle. Growing up we didn't have much but I remember the love my parents gave me and my brother. I have the most amazing and loving family anyone could ask for. I have been blessed in so many different ways. I wish everyone in today's society could experience how having a loving family has so much more value than any money or any other worldly things in life. At the end of the day, all you have is your family. Family is everything.

It was the summer before my senior year of high school. I was on my way to my friend's grad party when I was notified that one of my close friends had passed away from an overdose. Johnathan and I had met in eighth-grade science class. He was hilarious and always getting us into trouble. He was so kind and cared so much for all of his friends and loved ones. When I heard what happened it crushed me, I thought of anything I could have said to help him out or anything I could have done to prevent this from happening to my friend. I knew at that moment that I needed to change something in myself. I needed to hop back on the right path for my life. I am now in my freshman year of college, studying education. I want to be a teacher in the inner city to counsel and love the kids that are struggling with the things my friend Johnathan was going through. I want to be the person that is there pushing them to keep going and not give up in their lives when everyone else looks down upon them. Their wont be a day that goes by that Johnathan does not cross my mind. I will forever and always have a heart for the kids that are lost and just trying to find out who they are.

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, is one of the most breath taking paintings in the Art Institute Chicago. It is a form of pointillism art, also known as dot art. It is a painting drawing with detail and deep description, all in dots. This piece shows a park, full of all different family’s enjoying a beautiful summer day. I am fascinated looking at this piece. It’s not only just a park, if you stare at it long enough you can understand there’s more to the piece. It shows all different types of people, living all different types of lives, but that they all choose to spend there day at this park. That everybody has their own story and the only reason to be there. I became so fascinated with this piece that it has encouraged me to make my own form of pointillism art.

After eight years of feeding the homeless and loving on the lost and broken hearted on the streets of Minneapolis I am convinced that change is possible for all of us and no one is too far gone for a transformation of heart and soul. I have danced in the dark to worship music in Peavy Park with a prostituted woman as she hugged me and told me i look like i could be her granddaughter. I have witnessed homeless men and women get plugged into treatment and church and have life lasting positive change through our Friday night street team outreaches.With the adults come the children and that's where my family is connected into volunteering to teach and mentor the shelter kids at Life Center Church of Minneapolis. For years i have taught the three to five years olds who are bussed in from Mary's place, PSP and The Drake before it burned down. Some kids through the years have come in hard hearted and hate filled due to the circumstances to which they were born into.I once was called a “White Bitch” by a student who now runs into my arms when they see me walk into the room. Through consistent acts of love and respect their walls of racism and judgment break down and we become family. I am a firm believer that people can change and my mom is the most remarkable example of that. She grew up in poverty,abuse,and addiction in Omaha,Nebraska.My grandfather was a loan shark, thief and con artist with a mighty name for himself. This was the example life passed to my mother so as a young adult she emulated that lifestyle.She will tell you that all she was raised to do was to lie, steal and cheat others. At 22 years old she met my father, Phil. He patiently worked with her and showed her a new way of life.He showed her the goodness of God and how man should genuinely love one another. Even though my mother never went to college she is currently an author, a children’s pastor and a wonderful mom. Her novel “Godcidence” tells the story of her transformation. Hearing my mother’s past has solidified my faith and convinced me that change is possible no matter your circumstances. The homeless people I have met on friday nights and at church have become my testimony to miracles of transformation and God’s unconditional love for us all. I want to always be plugged into this life of doing what I can to help others find their path.. I plan to work with troubled teens and make changes in our school system and to help combat the problem of the dangerous tent cities. I see life not as a glass half full perspective but as if there is at least a drop of water in that glass then anything is possible. Thank you for your time.

After eight years of feeding the homeless and loving on the lost and broken hearted on the streets of Minneapolis I am convinced that change is possible for all of us and no one is too far gone for a transformation of heart and soul. I have witnessed homeless men and women get plugged into treatment and church and have life lasting positive change through our Friday night street team outreaches. With the adults come the children and that's where my family is connected into volunteering to teach and mentor the shelter kids at Life Center Church of Minneapolis. I am a firm believer that people can change and my mom is the most remarkable example of that. She grew up in poverty,abuse,and addiction in Omaha,Nebraska.My grandfather was a loan shark, thief and con artist with a mighty name for himself. This was the example life passed to my mother so as a young adult she emulated that lifestyle.She will tell you that all she was raised to do was to lie, steal and cheat others. At 22 years old she met my father, Phil. He patiently worked with her and showed her a new way of life. He showed her the goodness of God and how man should genuinely love one another. Even though my mother never went to college she is currently an author, a children’s pastor and a wonderful mom. Hearing my mother’s past has solidified my faith and convinced me that change is possible no matter your circumstances. I want to always be plugged into this life of doing what I can to help others find their path. I plan to work with troubled teens and make changes in our school system and to help combat the problem of the dangerous tent cities.

My family and I have volunteered at ICCM (Inner City Church of Minneapolis) for 8 years. We love on the homeless and drug addicts. We help them get back on their feet, on the right track in life. I feel beyond blessed that I have had these opportunities in life to love on others and help them be the best they can be. From the experiences I’ve seen, it has helped me realized that anyone has the ability to change and be successful. They just need the right people in there lives pushing them and guiding them through the rough parts of their journey. I hope I can continue this work with getting my degree in education, and going to the places who are in need of good teachers that will help kids at a young age. Through this if I’m only able to make a change in one child’s life, it would all be worth it.

My family and I have worked at ICCM (Inner City Church of Minneapolis) for 8 years. We help get people off the streets, feed and clothe them. On Friday nights we go out side of stores and shelters in Minneapolis. To minister and love on the lost and the broken. This has opened up my eyes to the world, helps me see how and what I can do in my own community to better the world. I am so blessed with these opportunities in my life. To love on others and show them that we are here to help set them up for success. Get them back on their feet, on the right path. I have all the faith in the world that I can help anyone change. Help them be the best they can be in life, because everyone has it in them to be successful. With a degree in education, I hope that I can continue to help motivate others in life.

Ive been picked on and told all my life, with my grades and learning curve, that I wont succeed in life. That I wont get into a college and I wont get a job. The people that speak those words to me, motivate me. They motivate me to get out of bed in the morning. To go and try my hardest in life, in and outside of school. All though those words people spoke over my life helps motivate me today, It didn't always. I used to get sad and frustrated with the comments people had. It used to cut me up inside and I learned to be who they all thought I was. Someone that wasn’t going to do anything with their life. I went down this path for all of my life. It finally took me till my Junior year of high school to realize I’m more than what they say. I can accomplish anything if I put my all into it. I wait for the day that I can show them all that I made it in life, I got a degree in education and I have my dream job.