I sat in adolescent damnation upon the question that everyone asks themselves. What is the meaning of life? As a man of faith, I am accustomed to the fact that the lord works in mysterious ways. Fortunately, an opportunity fell into my lap that has given me meaning, purpose, and a revival of selfless joy for the good of others that transforms one's values, and the outlook of the world around them. This is the very thing that has defined my time in high school, with lessons and motives to take along my lifelong journey. In my religion, after making a confirmation in 8th grade, you're done with religious education and feel as if it is a "chore" that is finished forever. But I started off joining the church again during my freshman year. I had a great love and interest in faith, but I honestly started to be with my friend. I began once a week as a teacher assistant, floating around rooms, helping children out with work, and paperwork in the offices, and giving my input on lessons. Through this, a new perspective was given to me not just on faith, but on guiding and teaching...voluntarily, these beautiful young and curious souls. Eventually, I wanted to spread all I knew and guide them in the ways. I knew then and there that I wanted to teach, preach, and lead. In my sophomore year of high school, I came back to volunteer again. This time, no other friends, just me. Although I was not a teacher yet, I stepped up in my work that year. I became a permanent teacher's assistant to a precious class of 1st graders. I led the class in some readings, worked individually with them to instill their prayers, and built real connections to make them excited about faith. For them to see religion as not a chore, but a wondrous gift! I got to even know them more by taking on a director's position at the church for the youth theater programs. As life lifelong actor myself, I led the rehearsals on a musical about the birth of Christ. This past year was the culmination of it all as I became a full-force volunteer in the youth education program. I officially was certified, sworn in, and became a teacher of a 1st grade class. I had the honor not only to introduce new faith to young 6-year-olds, but spread valuable lessons, and conversations, and even learn from them myself. The absolute joy when they would smile in excitement, raise a hand in curiosity, a take my guidance with them was a joy never experienced before. I spent the year continuing to direct the musical with the students. Watching these precious youngsters perform the technique I modeled along with the lessons of faith I taught was remarkable. I continued my volunteer work becoming a lector at masses, preaching the word of God, and even becoming part of the filming crew where we recorded mass to stream to the world. In essence, this has strengthened my passion for my future career—public office. Just like I continue to do for students, I want to run for office to connect with people to make change and work for the good and improvement of them. This scholarship will further ease my ability to mitigate the high cost of schools preventing me from higher education in political science to further enlighten me on qualities of leadership, therefore being able to continue my work with others across the country, and continue to answer that horrifying question. What's the meaning of life?