“First, you take this piece of fabric, and grab the other piece of fabric next to it. You tie those in a knot, and continuously repeat that pattern with the other pieces of fabric. Also, make sure you double-knot the corner pieces! Once you’re done, you’ll have a beautiful pillow that you can rest your head upon!” I told the Korean woman, and she steadily followed my directions. I volunteered at a community service event in Downtown LA, along with other members of my school’s Kiwanis chapter. For those volunteering, the task was to create non-sew pillows for event attendees, as an activity for community engagement. Most of the individuals that attended the event were either Koreatown residents, or people in need of support, who typically hailed from the same area or Skid Row. The Korean woman that I worked with didn’t speak much English, but from the astonishment that was exhibited from her flawless face, words didn’t need to be used to express how much she loved her pillow. I’m a black girl. I only speak English, and that’s it. Although I don’t understand Korean, or any other language, at most, I’ve always been able to recognize the emotions and feelings of others, regardless of the words that may be expelled out of one’s mouth. The next person I helped was a black man. I don’t remember much about his appearance, but I definitely remember our interaction during the event. I reiterated the same instructions to create a pillow, and within 5 minutes, a pillow was created! Now, this time around, I was able to understand him, but there were some moments where he spoke so fast to the point where I was unable to comprehend his speech. It was evident that he loved his pillow, as he ran up to me and gave me a warm and endearing hug. However, this is where things start to get a bit…chaotic. The man proceeds to jump on top of me, and use his phone to hit me across my chest. It took multiple people to get him off of me, and in the heat of the moment, I was utterly shocked. Within seconds, I start to laugh. I was not angry, nor was I on the verge of tears. I could’ve chosen to react differently, but in the heat of the moment, I decided that the best thing to do would be to handle the situation with grace. Similar to many people that attended the event, they were in need. For that young man, it was quite apparent that he was dealing with a mental battle. A battle that many choose to not bat an eye to, or to even help. A battle that can claim victory within a short or long period of time. Whether it’s a silent struggle, or a loud struggle, just like that young man, the best thing you can do is support them. Essentially, my way of supporting him was creating the pillow. Once day, whether it’s today, tomorrow, or in the near future, I want to become a “pillow” for many; someone that they can rest upon, knowing that I can support them. Through my community service experiences, it has ultimately increased my aspiration for wanting to pursue a career in the legal/governmental field. Helping others truly ignites a flame in my heart, and I believe that serving people is one of the most beneficial and rewarding experiences as a human being. By continuing to be a Kiwanis member, and continuing to serve my community, I can become someone's "pillow."