Community service is a sacrifice. It’s being willing to give up your time, lending your skills and talents towards the betterment of your community. The choice to serve your community is just that, a choice. It isn’t required, isn’t mandated, it isn’t an obligation, it's an individual decision. The decision to put the needs of others above your own. Community service is often perceived as a burden, yet the object of community service is to strengthen and uplift the community. Community service foster's improvement. Furthermore, it’s infectious. The spark of selflessness ignited through an act of true, altruistic goodwill will inspire another. Like a wildfire, community service does two things, it glows brightly, and it spreads. My dream is to pursue the art of theatrical performance and more specifically, the art of Musical Theatre. Now, at first glance, Musical Theatre doesn’t really seem to be a career that inspires community service. In fact, it may even appear somewhat egocentric. And while on a surface level it can be, there is so much opportunity besides just being in the spotlight. Even though I’ve only been doing theater full time for about three years now, I have had so many opportunities to give back. I was privileged enough to write the script for a One-Act play that was actually performed for the Woodland Park Senior Center. Furthermore, through Junior Woodland Players, a 3rd-12th grade month-long, summer theatre camp, I have been able to not only perform in many shows, but also been able to help raise up the next generation of kids. I adore teaching them, playing with them, and I am more than honored that they choose to look up to me as a mentor. Making these kids feel special, seen, and loved is exactly what people, like what my now good friend Jackson, did for me when I was a new actor. Being able to serve in this way is such a blessing and it’s so rewarding. Community service isn't only a service to those around us, but also to ourselves. Serving others, purely out of kindness, may just be one of the most uplifting things one can do. While I have dreams of being on the big stage, I also have dreams of sharing my gifts, and giving back. So many amazing people in my life have helped to put me where I am now, opened doors, patiently taught, and sacrificed their time and effort for me. They are the reason why I can chase my dreams. And now, it's my turn. My turn to uplift others. My turn to inspire, and share joy. My turn to give back to the community that put me in a position to take hold of my future. I want the opportunity to uplift young actors, to challenge them to not only chase their fantasies but make those fantasies into actualities. Most of all though, I want to inspire in them a desire to serve selflessly. Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” We all have the opportunity to give back to our communities. However, it is a choice that we alone must make. The choice to put others before ourselves. To be a light in a dark world, and to brighten the lives of others. Each and every person is capable of using their unique talents to give back to their community in their own unique ways. All it takes is one choice. Are you going to make it?