A Presentation is Worth a Thousand Actions
The long pasty white hallway separated me from my dreams. The loud “click-clack” and the occasional squeak of my tennis shoes bounced off the hallways with an eerie echo. I kept hearing the receptionist’s raspy voice in my head, “Just up the stairs and the last door on the left.” My heart was pounding at the speed of Usain Bolt’s 100 meter time as the hallway got shorter and dimmer. My hands were covered with beads of anticipation filled sweat. The click clack of my shoes got louder. The air turned thin. I was as tense as a spider monkey on the hunt for some mouth watering wild berries. Violent gasps were escaping my mouth as I reached the old heavy wooden door. Behind this door contained some key elements that could shape my future. My eyes wide and with an awkward school photo smile, I entered the room. The room was pitch dark except for the low glow of a projector. All 100 pairs of white eyes turned and stared at me like I had committed an outstanding crime. I peeped “Is this the community service meeting?” A slow and shaky head nod confirmed my suspicion. Taking my cold, hard, metal seat, the presentation resumed. While sitting there on the cold hard metal seat, my mind began to race. The nerves soon overtook my mind and I contemplated leaving. I cleared my clustered mind and began listening to this wonderfully mysterious speaker. The more she talked the calmer I became and I actually became intrigued by her message. This group’s main mission is philanthropy. I hadn’t heard that word much before and my curiosity peaked. While the presentation continued, the speaker kept on repeating one phrase, ”Only all of us can make a difference.”. I had gotten a little annoyed at the phrase until I realized what message came with it. When we all work together to help one another out everyone benefits and it makes the community stronger. During the middle of the presentation, I had a major epiphany. I could make a difference in someone else’s life by listening, helping the elderly, mentoring a middle schooler or just by being kind to someone. When the presentation reached its end, I realized how engaged I’d become. I didn’t perceive how this one small presentation would change my life forever and for the better. Change Makers and many other forms of community service have changed my life not just by helping others, but by enriching me as a whole. I’ve gained so many more wonderful experiences through community service. I’ve become the person I want to be, a person who would rather go help another out instead of playing video games. The opportunity of doing community service uplifts me but that’s not the only reason why I do it. I don’t just do community service for the hours. I do it for the smiles I see on the faces I help. I do it for the overwhelming sense of accomplishment. I do it so one day I can say I was a part of something that mattered. I do it because I’m not forced, but because I want to. I do it because I and all the other soldiers of community service can change the world, one piece at a time. I believe in community service for those who can’t afford their next mortgage or even their next meal. But most importantly, I believe if we all come together we can help those families and others in need.