Albert Schweitzer once said, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” The more that I live my life and think about success, the more this quote rings true to me. I look around and see materially wealthy people who are unhappy with who they are. If a person is not content with what they have and is always searching for more, this begs the question—are they truly successful, or are they only wealthy? I would argue that if they are internally unhappy, they can not be successful because they are not content. The key to success is to turn success on its head. Success is not when the world says one is successful, but rather when one is content with what they have. It seems like the simplest things in life are those that make us the most happy. For me, success is not fame or money but rather the betterment of my community and those around me. This summer, I was part of a community outreach called Grace Gives, where volunteers host art, theater, and sports camps for kids, run car washes, perform random acts of kindness, and even help with yard work and home improvement projects, all for free. I served as a volunteer teacher for Art Camp, helped with the car wash, and stayed overnight at the church to be able to help around the clock. Although the work was exhausting, it was enjoyable to work as a team, and it was all worth it to bring a smile to someone’s face. I have absolutely nothing to show for the work that I did, but after that week, I have not felt more physically and emotionally successful. The work that I did at Grace Gives was important to my community and impacted the lives of those around me. I know I am happiest when I am helping others. I feel successful when other people have been blessed through me. Furthermore, I know that if I were left to my own devices, I would choose a career path that would only benefit me. However, I know that I would not be happy, and I know that I would not be fulfilled in what I do if it did not help other people. I see this in myself when I volunteer with others and see the smiles on the faces of those we are helping. Because of this, I have decided to study psychology and potentially get a law degree in the future. I want to be able to do this so that I can help those who need it and be able to defend them and vouch for them. I know I will be successful when I get the opportunity to help others. I would define success as when an individual is content with what they have and who they are. A successful person is unable to be shaken because they are so confident in who they are and the life that they have built for themselves. Success is not found in material things but rather in a mindset. As Albert Schweitzer put it, happiness is the key to success.

Standing in the bed of a stranger’s pickup truck, completely soaked in water, soap, and acrylic paint, was one of the highlights of my life. I was surrounded by my teenage friends and family working hard to wash neighbors' cars for free. The best part wasn’t the army of volunteers with sponges and buckets, but rather the different expressions on the drivers' faces as they realized this wasn’t too good to be true—we were really doing all this for free. This experience and others like it have completely changed my perspective on extracurriculars and have shown me the importance of what it means to serve my community. The free car wash we organized was part of a community outreach called Grace Gives, where volunteers host art, theater, and sports camps for kids, run car washes, perform random acts of kindness, and even help with yardwork and home improvement projects, all for free. I served as a volunteer teacher for Art Camp, helped with the car wash, and stayed overnight at the church to be able to help around the clock. Although the work was exhausting, it was invigorating to work as a team, and it was all worth it to bring a smile to someone’s face. Community outreach is some of the most impactful work I have participated in, as are other outreach services. I also currently serve as a vocalist at my church and was even able to go to Spain for a mission trip. I am passionate about these activities because every time I have been a part of an outreach, someone has come up to me to thank me for my service and tell me how blessed they have been. They tell me about things they are going through and their difficulties. But regardless of their circumstances, they tell me they are blessed by the service I have done for them. I am always honored that I am able to help them in little ways, and this opened my eyes to the people and community around me. Every person I have encountered has had some burden weighing them down. Yet, through a simple act of kindness, their burden is lightened, even for a moment. This taught me three things. First, to remember that I am one of eight billion people in the world. Life is too short to live for selfish gain, and others endure much suffering. It is unjust and self-centered to go through life ignoring those around me. Second, I realized how much of an impact these simple acts can have on my whole community. During the week of Grace Gives, so many people in my town would come up to me and my fellow volunteers to thank us for our service. One woman last year was even brought to tears by the simple act of cleaning her yard. Another child was able to receive the help she and her family needed simply by coming to Art camp and being connected with a church. Simple acts can spark a butterfly chain of events to help people’s lives for the better, and that is something worth doing. Volunteering and community work have been so impactful in my life and in the lives of those who I have served. A simple act of kindness has not only sparked growth in myself but also changed my perspective of other people.