Selflessness, honesty, and integrity are three pillars that define my life. Working to constantly maintain these three things is a tiring effort, but it has led me to become a better person. I currently serve as the West Point High School’s National Honors Society President, which is something I am very proud of. Not only do I get to be the local president of a nationally recognized club, I get to do something I am passionate about. This organization works to provide service to the community by asking members to choose to help others and prioritize their well-being. As a part of this group, I am required to volunteer for at least eight hours each semester. One of my favorite service opportunities I have been given has been to go to Cumberland Hospital in New Kent County. Each year, around Christmas time, I go to the children's hospital to wrap Christmas gifts. Most of these children come from very underprivileged backgrounds that require any gifts they receive during the holidays to be donated by the staff or the hospital. When we wrap the presents each year, seeing how little these children ask for is truly eye-opening. Some of them only ask for things that many would consider basic necessities, like simple clothes or shoes. While I was there, wrapping gifts, I recognized how blessed I am. I have been given a good family, great opportunities, and I have never wanted for anything. Seeing others so grateful for receiving items that I don’t blink twice at made me reflect on every time I was given something. Was I grateful enough? Did I wish that it was something else, perhaps something I wanted more? Did I let them know I appreciated the fact that they even thought about me? Because of this, I have decided that I need to make a change, to better myself, so that my first response is always gratitude. When I go forward in life, I want to look at things through a more grateful perspective. I want to look at every win, loss, opportunity and lesson and be thankful for the experience. I believe that God puts things in my path to test my faith. Being able to not only pass the test, but to keep moving and learning is a true victory. Choosing to follow God on a straight and narrow path has not always been easy, but I can say that it has been the most rewarding experience in my life.