"I learned the value of hard work by working hard."
- Margaret Mead
Growing up I was always inspired to work hard because of my great grandpa's story.
My great grandpa grew up in a poor family with an alcoholic father in Louisiana. With only a gourd as a suitcase and no money to his name, he left and moved to Arkansas. He worked for almost nothing at a company called Terminix and was so hardworking and good at his job, that he eventually owned several franchises. Not only did he work his way up from the bottom, he revolutionized pest control. His franchises were the first to offer both termite and pest control, before it was only one or the other.
Kindness
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
- Plato
If you want the world to be the best it can be, you have to make sure you are the best you can be first.
My grandma used to read me a story about a world where you carried a bucket everywhere and if you were nice to someone, you would fill their bucket a little. But if you were mean, their bucket would empty a little. The story talked about how you should be a bucket filler, not a bucket dipper, and even though the writers wrote the book for little kids to teach them to be nice, I think everyone can use it as a reminder to be kind.
Service
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
- Gandhi
During my sophomore year of high school, I became a part of the Sweetheart Organization, which gives tenth grade girls the chance to learn about heart health and to volunteer in hospitals.
I volunteered at the Baptist Health NICU Unit, which cares for premature babies, or babies who need constant supervision due to complications or other reasons. My experience volunteering helped me develop more awareness and sympathy for families going through rough spots. It also helped me know that someone at Baptist Health decided that not having an ICU for infants was a problem, and people helped make the solution become a reality.