Jesus came to teach us the truth and to show us how to love and serve our neighbors. He tells us that what we do for the least of these we do for Him and this principle has greatly impacted how my family and I live our lives. My mother spent much of her time volunteering and working at Union Gospel Mission dedicated to helping the homeless. She ran their First Steps recovery program and taught the women there about Jesus and overcoming fear and addiction. I have often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. My mom has always been a great inspiration to me with her servant's heart and strong faith in the Lord. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to find healing through Christ. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children and God has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

When I was in elementary school, my mother started volunteering to help with childcare at UGM’s Anna Ogden Hall in Spokane Washington, a shelter for women and their children to live at while going through UGM’s recovery program for those suffering from addiction. I would often go with my Mom during the summer when she volunteered to help watch, read to, and play with the kids. This experience instilled in me early on the desire to help and serve others. When I was in middle school my mom went on to start working at the UGM Women and Children’s Crisis Shelter where she led their First Steps recovery program that the women attend prior to moving on to their program at A.O.H. During this time I had often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. It really inspired me to see how deeply my mom cared for the people she worked with and how she selflessly devoted her time and effort into helping them improve their quality of life. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. There I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to have their emotional needs met and achieve a more healthy lifestyle. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.

Jesus came to teach us the truth and to show us how to love and serve our neighbors. He tells us that what we do for the least of these we do for Him and this principle has greatly impacted how my family and I live our lives. My mother spent much of her time volunteering and working at Union Gospel Mission dedicated to helping the homeless. She ran their First Steps recovery program and taught the women there about Jesus and overcoming fear and addiction. I have often accompanied her while she drove ladies to church, grocery shopping, on fun outings and attended many baptisms. Many of the women that I spent time with from her program were some of the sweetest and most loving people I have ever met. They had experienced and persevered through many hardships and challenges throughout their lives that had left them in need of help and support to recover from these experiences. A great deal of the women who went through this program were able to go on and pursue a greater education, find a good job, and obtain a more self-sufficient lifestyle. My mom has always been a great inspiration to me with her servant's heart and strong faith in the Lord. The summer after my sophomore year of highschool I volunteered to assist Becky Szelag, the Director of Children's Ministry at the UGM Crisis Shelter. I helped read to and play with children of a variety of different ages. Becky is someone who is extremely devoted to helping both children and mothers who have often been through very traumatic and unstable circumstances to find healing through Christ. She worked very hard to meet the unique needs of each child and help them develop a solid foundation that can help them throughout their lives. She made me realize just how important what we learn and experience in early childhood is to who we are and our sense of security later in life. Her patience, understanding, dedication and love for children and God has inspired me to also consider pursuing a career in early childhood development or education so that I can help children to achieve a brighter and more prosperous future. I am currently volunteering at the Ojai Hospital’s Continued Care Center once a week and playing games such as Yahtzee, Penny Ante, Uno, and Trivia Pursuit with the residents. I also volunteer at my church, Refuge, every Sunday to help teach a Sunday school class for the younger children. Serving others brings great joy in my life.