Growing up, I always looked up to my grandfather as my fatherly figure. He holds a special place in my heart, and I am so grateful to have him in my life. He is the kind of person who specializes in tough love, but he always tries his best to be patient, understanding, and there for me. Even though he grew up in the projects and didn't have much, he spoils me as much as he can. One thing that I've come to appreciate about my grandfather is his own set of weird rules. At first, I didn't understand them, but over time, I've realized that they come from a place of love and care. He always surprises me with his patience, even when I mess up and disappoint him. He's the kind of person who will give you the tough love you need, but he'll always be there to pick you up and help you move forward. I remember one time when I got in trouble at school for not turning in a project on time. I was so scared to tell my grandfather, but when I did, he listened patiently and then gave me some tough love. He helped me understand why turning in assignments on time is important and how it can affect my future. He also helped me come up with a plan to make it right with my teacher and get back on track. Just last week, I accidentally flooded our garage because I left the sink running. At the time, he and my grandmother were enjoying a Phillies game. Luckily, by the time they got home, it was all cleared up. Instead of yelling and screaming like I very much deserved, he simply came in and laughed and told me that the place looked better than before. Even though my grandfather can be tough, I know that he always has my best interests at heart. He spoils me as much as he can, whether it's with little treats or just spending time with me. I always feel like he's there for me, no matter what. He's the kind of person who will drop everything to help someone in need, and I strive to be like him in that way. In conclusion, my grandfather is a special person in my life and a true fatherly figure. He specializes in tough love, but he always tries his best to be patient, understanding, and there for me. He spoils me as much as he can, even though he grew up in the projects. He has his own set of weird rules, but I've come to appreciate them over time. I'm so grateful to have him in my life, and I know that he'll always be there for me, no matter what.

Volunteering has been a truly transformative experience for me. It has enabled me to see the world through a new lens and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that many people face every day. Through my volunteer work, I have been able to develop valuable skills and become more self-assured in my abilities to help others. Despite the immense benefits that volunteering has provided me, I have not had the support of my parents in my endeavors. This lack of support has made it difficult for me to continue my education and pursue my passion for volunteering. As a result, I require financial assistance to help me continue to grow and make a positive impact in my community. My mother has only been in my life optionally. She comes around sometimes, texts me every day for weeks, and then stops messaging me for a month. My mother is the only parent I have in the picture, however, she lives too unstable of a lifestyle for her to be there to support me in the way I need. I am very thankful for being supported by my grandparents in the meantime. Unfortunately, they are getting older and can't do as much. Plus, they already have three children of their own. I am happy that at the same time, I can help them as they help me. Volunteering has allowed me to gain a greater appreciation for the struggles that many people face daily. It has opened my eyes to the inequalities and injustices that exist within our society and has inspired me to take action to create positive change. Through volunteering, I have been able to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and learn from their experiences. It has helped me get past my struggles and face the reality that despite my circumstances, many other people out there have it worse than I do. This is devastating, but also comforting news to realize that you are not the only person struggling. I went to school in a very privileged area and often felt very alone. Volunteering taught me to get past myself. I learned to be a better person. Moreover, volunteering has helped me to develop valuable skills that I can apply to various aspects of my life. I have learned the importance of communication, teamwork, and empathy, all of which are essential qualities for success in any field. Volunteering has also allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and take on new challenges, which has helped me to become more self-assured in my abilities. Not only this, but these skills have made it possible to bring assets that will help me get places. These are skills that I can include in applications and on resumes. All of which, I see great value in. In conclusion, volunteering has been an incredibly transformative experience for me. It has enabled me to gain a new perspective on the world and develop valuable skills that I can apply to various aspects of my life. However, due to the lack of support from my parents, I require financial assistance to continue my education and volunteer work. I am grateful for any support that I can receive, as it will help me to continue to grow and make a positive impact in the world.

My mother has been the one that pushes me. I wish this was because she was there to support me like a mother is supposed to be, but unfortunately, this isn't that kind of story. I have always been jealous of the kids around me who had parents that REALLY took care of them and by that, I mean watched over them. I mean the type of parents who took the time out of their day to sit with them and help them through all their homework. I mean the parents that packed them lunch and saw them off in the mornings. The type of parents that went out and found extracurriculars for their kids so, that they were involved in something from the time they were young. I can't blame my mother for the things she could not do. She had been a single mother pretty much from the time I was born and she was used to being on her own, but it was already hard for her on her own- let alone her "happy accident." I understand that I was not in the same situation as the more privileged kids around me and I know she did all she could. When I was younger, it did not make as much sense. It is sad that as a kid I had to feel like an outsider compared to the people around me just because I didn't have the same family life as them. I isolated myself because I was shy and I felt too different from them. I already knew that I was gonna work harder to be as successful as them, but I was too young to know how to do any of that without a parent there to help me. I threw myself into schoolwork because that was at least something I could easily excel at on my own. I like the thinking that something clicked when I was in the seventh grade. Before then, I was an average student with a slight leaning towards smart. However, I went from a good student to an advanced one. I realized this when suddenly I was the only one with my hand up in history, when people started complimenting my English work and asking me to review their own, and when my math teacher gave me a textbook from the class above me. I felt more on par with the people around me. I felt like I had finally earned my place with them. I finally started to make some friends- this was the beginning of me breaking out of the shell I had put myself in. Although through unconventional means, my mother helped me realize how independent I was and how much good I could do on my own. I will still always be jealous of the kind of parents I did not have, but my mom showed me early on what I could do- even if it was accidental.