Whether it was holding the door open for the person behind me or simply telling them to have a nice day, my favorite thing to do has always been to make people smile. In elementary school, more often than not, I assumed the role of class helper. This entailed staying after class parties to help clean up messes or spending extra time at recess to make sure all of the kickballs were in their specific spots. As Ive grown up, it only makes sense that my love for helping people in any shape or form has translated into a love for volunteering. Whether it is tutoring elementary school children or helping run a clothing drive, the numerous altruistic tendencies that have been instilled in me through volunteer work will forever shape who I am as a…
Every week at a nearby elementary school, I tutor children from kindergarten to sixth grade as a part of their YMCA after school care program. Typically, I work with the same group of students to finish their math homework, work on a project for social studies, or help them sound out new words. By watching them thrive in a positive environment and develop a love for learning, they constantly teach me new things. After being at school all day and dealing with ample amounts of stress, their innocent and bright minds cause me to ground myself and realize what is at the core of all of my hard work in academics: a thirst for knowledge. Perhaps the most rewarding thing has been witnessing them improve dramatically, such as being able to read a word with ease that we sounded out multiple times the previous week, with a smile on their face and a new sense of confidence and accomplishment. Steadfastly teaching them that by working hard and not giving up they can reach their goals, it leaves me with such a proud feeling when I see them putting it into action. Tutoring has been a two-way street: the children have impacted my life in a positive and meaningful way just like I have impacted…