After adjusting to life in college my freshman year, sophomore year became a time for me to become more involved in the Seattle community outside of the University District. I wanted to push myself into trying something I had never done before in a setting I had never been in. As it turned out, I landed a job working with kids at the View Ridge Boys & Girls Club that October. Being the youngest in my family I was never surrounded by children and was always curious as to what it felt like to have someone look up to me as a role model. At the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, their mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as well rounded citizens. This experience served as by far more than a job by allowing me to do just that. I not only influenced a younger generation but was influenced by them in return.
Working at the Boys & Girls club quickly became more than just work but a chance to learn how to recognize the potential in all people despite what they appear to be on the surface. It was one of the first steps to realizing my passion for one of my main core values—good health and well-being in myself and others. This, in turn, led to my decision to pursue public health and nutrition in college with hopes of working in the field of health policy or promotion after graduation. As a result of this experience, I now view myself as a better leader with a positive influence. That has carried over into my education and confidence to try new things without fear of failure or scrutiny from others. What I gained...
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What I Did...
"The main hope of a nation lies in the proper education of its youth" -Erasmus The biggest lesson that this experience has taught me is that anyone in life, no matter how old or young, has a lesson to teach you if you are open to it. Through guiding others, I have better learned how to solve conflicts in group settings whether that’s in the classroom or at work. My actions and words are what gained me respect from 50+ kindergarten through fifth graders. If I can do that, I believe I have the potential to get that from anyone. By being granted the leeway as a new employee to plan group activities centered around the importance of health and nutrition, I became even more confident that I chose the right career path to follow. I felt as though the work I was doing for these children was promoting positive change in their lives and nothing had ever made me feel better and more valued. Although my passion for advocacy work was pre-existing, this job solidified that I was heading in the right direction.
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