Last year, as a junior in high school, I served weekly at a food shelf. My duties included preparing the food and distributing it among those who asked for meals, no questions asked. While there, I got to know a variety of people, all with different stories about their lack of food. Some were open about their background, and others were not, leaving me to make observations about their living conditions. One person in particular that I remember supported a family of twelve. Sometimes, he would collect the meals by himself, and other times he would have young children with him. He was very chatty, and my second week there, while waiting for food, he told me his story. He and his wife both had jobs that paid fairly, if not abundantly. Their oldest son also had a job and contributed to the bills. They weren't wealthy, but they could get by. Then, his wife's brother lost his job and moved into their house with his two children. Getting food became a struggle. Because of his earnings, he did not merit government assistance, but not enough money was made to support his family. He had to rely on donations and private welfare programs, which do not always provide enough aid. Another person I met at the food shelf was a shy woman. She never got out of her car, preferring to instead receive the meals in her car. My supervisor whispered to me that this woman had planned to go to a state university when she fell victim to teenage pregnancy, and the father left her. Her parents forbade an abortion and insisted that she raise the child alone with little familial assistance. She had few careers available to her without a college degree and a daughter to raise. In order to feed herself and her daughter, she had to rely on handouts, both from the government and nonprofit organizations, like the one I volunteered at. To this day, it is difficult for her to further her education because of her other responsibilities. After meeting these individuals, I became determined to help their situations, and similar conditions. It is the role of the government to ensure the health of its citizens. When families are unable to provide food to their children, the gap must be filled. It is the local leadership's responsibility to confirm that all needs are being met, especially in the case of children. It is not always as simple as giving free money to those in need, but there are always steps that can be taken. In college, I plan to pursue a political science degree, so I can assist those living in poverty. Whether it be editing the welfare requirements to account for special circumstances or allowing easier access to higher education, there are always possibilities to improve life for those unable to feed their families. By becoming a civil servant, I will make a change in the lives of those struggling to put food on the table, and ensure that no one goes hungry.