I, like many students, started volunteering to earn volunteer hours. Last summer, I decided to begin the lofty goal of amassing one hundred volunteer hours, an achievement that would grant me a special certificate to put on my college resume. However, as I volunteered at different places, I discovered a purpose outside of myself and grew so much as a person. I began my journey at Hope Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center, the barn where I also take riding lessons. I had always loved horses, and the community at Hope Ranch was incredibly supportive, so when I heard that they needed volunteers, I jumped at the opportunity. Although most of the work included sweeping or mucking stalls, I didn’t mind. The barn became my safe space - where I felt most at peace. When I was able to volunteer with lessons, I loved being able to help the therapy riders enjoy horses as I do. Volunteering at Hope Ranch taught me patience and mindfulness, as working with horses (and people) forces you to be present in the moment. My positive experience at the ranch inspired me to find other ways to help my community. Once the school year had started, I volunteered as a mentor at the Boys & Girls Club. Every Tuesday, I would go there to lead the program for the kids, which helped me realize the value of forming genuine connections with people. Although the mentees and the other mentors started as strangers, by the end of the program, we had all become close to one another. My problem-solving and communication skills were also tested, as dealing with a rowdy group of elementary schoolers isn't easy. The leadership role I took as a mentor gave me the confidence to pursue other leadership roles and make a larger-scale impact. I became vice president of Youth Impacting Community, a community organization responsible for distributing grant money to non-profits. It was eye-opening to research all the different non-profits and discover all the areas of need within our community. This experience again pushed my problem-solving and communication skills, as I had to work with the other committee members to make difficult decisions. Through volunteering, I have learned so much about myself. I've come a long way since last summer when all I wanted to do was get enough volunteer hours. Focusing on the lessons I had learned and my ability to serve my community made meeting my 100-hour goal easy. However, I'm not stopping there. Next year I will be the president of Youth Impacting Community, a mentor at the Boys & Girls Club, an ambassador for the Flint Hills Volunteer Center, and of course, I will always return to the barn. I will continue to do whatever I can to positively impact my community - never forgetting how much I have learned through volunteering. I am incredibly grateful for my community and all the opportunities I have to make it an even better place.