[1] ((When I was younger, I used to play doctor and dream of the day I could help others.))
To me, a doctor had the capability to change all aspects of a patient’s life and represented a cure to all their physical and mental suffering. Recently, however, I have realized that my desire to help others is not just merely found in a need to help their physical being, but also in one to touch and change their hearts.
[2]((Healing a Hurting Heart))It is my belief that the heart is the key to the human persona, and often the part of the body that endures the most confusion and pain. Thus, I have decided that the medical field itself is not capable of fulfilling my ideal vision for my future. Rosabeth Moss Kanter once said, “A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more [1].” While I still wish to somehow empathize with other’s physical distress, my new vision is to do just that, connect with others on a deeper level and work towards change in individuals through example, boundless love, and the offering of hope in my community and the world at large.
Though I know that I will need to take some much larger steps in fulfilling my vision in the future, I have commenced on my journey this year my becoming a volunteer for Young Life.
[3]Young Life is a Christian ministry that focuses on introducing kids to Jesus Christ. I was recently placed as a middle school Wyldlife leader in West Austin, and have felt an abundant sense of compassion and love for these kids ever since. From supporting them at their sporting events to listening to them talk about what is important to them, leaders like myself are committed to being involved with kids' lives. We help kids consider the direction of their lives, and offer hope for their future by building relationships with them and sharing the Gospel in casual, non-threatening environments.
[4]By simply making kids laugh and enjoying life with them, we ourselves are secretly making a huge impact on the way they think, feel, and live. While many of these children struggle daily with things I could never even imagine, I am there to offer them support and guidance in their pursuit of Christ and of others. I plan to continue being a leader throughout my four years in college, and hope to get more and more involved as the year progress. Young Life has provided me with the opportunity to connect with kids on a deeper level than I ever thought possible, and has instilled me with an incredible hope of what my future in the pursuit of changing kid’s lives might behold.
[5]Although I already sponsor a child in Kenya, I plan to continue trying to make a difference abroad for many years to come. Sponsoring Nyamvula through Compassion International has already taught me the concept of solidarity, which is so important when trying to communicate with anyone from a foreign culture. Though our communication is
from two different continents, my love for Nyamvula transcends geographic borders.
[6] ((Children of an African children’s choir praying before a performance))My donation has provided her with the opportunity to go to school and to come to know and love God. Her letters beam of joy and appreciation of my sponsorship and encourage me to become more active in Compassion’s ministry. I plan to persuade others to sponsor a child, and hope to take a mission trip to Africa to work in an orphanage next summer. Also, I am looking into sponsoring another child from another country so that I might be able to change another child’s life in the same way.
[7]Similarly, a few friends and I began working with Children’s Hope International, an international adoption agency, our senior year of high school for a social justice project on the One Child Policy in China.
[8]Since then we have become junior ambassadors for the foundation, and have been able to raise enough money to fund several international adoptions for a families across the United States. Since adoption is already quite an emotionally draining process, eliminating the stress of having to supply the appropriate funds allows the child and its new parents to interact and connect more instantly. The adoption permits both parent and child to be part of a type of loving family that they have never experienced before.
((Offering hope and love across the globe))[9]I hope to continue to work with Children’s Hope International in order to fund more international adoptions and help provide both child and family with happier lives by giving them the opportunity to be in each other’s. I believe that by expanding my love across borders and trying to make a difference that others will be encouraged to do the same.
[10]Sometime in the near future, I would love to start a camp for kids of all ages to encourage mutual respect and support for one another. The camp would be would be a refuge of adventures and activities that would allow children to relate to one another instead of partaking in all of the temptations that are so easy for kids to get involved with these days.
[11]An outlet for creativity and mutual growth in Christ, it would allow students to be themselves among their peers without fear of judgment or mockery. With everything from sports to excursions to food to counseling, it would create a community of people who loved being with each other, and who would in return go out and love others. By concentrating on a few students at first, the camp would be able to spread the love of Christ the same way Jesus did.
[12]((Children forming a community and supporting one another.)In the Master Plan for Evangelism, Coleman states that, “though (Jesus) did what he could to help the multitudes, he had to devote himself primarily to a few men, rather than the masses, so that the masses could at last be saved” (29) [2]. The camp would take on the same approach that would eventually help change a community and hopefully the world at large.
[13]While none of my classes coincide with my leadership vision at the moment, I do believe that they will benefit me in the long run. My natural science classes such as chemistry and biology will be helpful if I decide to continue pursuing the medical profession. Though they appear an obstacle now, their benefits in my future will far outweigh the problems they are causing me. Plan II Math, Illness and Meaning, and World Literature all help me examine the world around me in new and exciting ways, and allow me to develop my own personal opinions on many matters in my life.
[14]World Literature has especially encouraged me to take a look at myself and my convictions and learn to apply them on an everyday basis. Though some assignments have been more beneficial than others, projects four and five have made me discover where my true passions lie and apply them in creating my own leadership vision. This assignment truly brought my focus away from all the worldly distractions I encounter each day and back to the children and how I can benefit them the most. Now, I have something to focus my attention and love on, and I cannot wait to put it into action.
According to Warren Bennis, “leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality [3]." Through all of the steps listed above, I hope to translate my vision of loving children and changing their lives into a reality and at last become a leader.
[15] ((Matthew 19:14: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."))By throwing my entire being into loving and caring about these kids, I know that I will be able to connect with that which is greater than myself and experience the power of infinite love such as Christ has offered me take hold of my life. I am ready to be a vessel of love that will bring this hateful world out of its darkness. I am ready to confront what lies ahead of me, triumph and failure alike, and meet it with open arms. The flame in my heart has been ignited and it keeps glowing brighter everyday.
[16]Word Count Including Quotes: 1,460
Word Count Excluding Quotes: 1,404
Text Citations:
[1]- Rosabeth Moss Kanter. http://thinkexist.com/quotation/creativity_is_a_lot_like_looking_at_the_world/149380.html. 29 March 2008.
[2] - Coleman, Robert E. Baker: 2006.
[3]- Beennis, Warren. http://www.quoteworld.org/quotes/1220. 29 March 2008.
Photo Citations:
[1]- Playing Doctor- http://www.thechildrenshospital.org/visit/type/surgery/siblings.aspx
[2]- Healing HEART- http://pro.corbis.com/images/S0536-19.jpg?size=572&uid=%7B3516795E-3638-4F1D-A288-E15816539EB5%7D
[3]- YL LOGO- http://wallawallayounglife.org/YL%20Color.jpg
[4]- Kids laughing- http://www.magicnorm.com/kids%20laughing.jpg
[5]- African child- http://www.worldofstock.com/slides/PCH5936.jpg
[6] Kid’s Praying- http://www.charismamag.com/images/choir-kidsnews.jpg
[7]- Nambia child- http://newmexiken.com/images/2006/02/_620.jpg
[8]- Chi- picasaweb.google.com
[9]- Globe- http://www.crossroadsadoption.com/Portals/0/images/International.jpg
[10]- Hoola Hoop http://www.vcss.k12.ca.us/Portals/VcssoPortals/afterschool/j0428516.jpg
[11]- Diversity- http://pro.corbis.com/images/RF4467343.jpg?size=572&uid=%7B9FA215B9-7763-44A6-9A9F-2B80C0C5E3A7%7D
[12]- Community- http://www.suzylamplugh.org/files/images/Training/community_pic.jpg
[13]- Kid’s Playing- http://thefuntimesguide.com/images/blogs/harry-potter-quidditch-game.jpg
[14]- World connection: http://www.balancedweightmanagement.com/World%20Connection.jpg
[15]- Jesus and Children- http://www.youarelovedchildcare.com/jesus_w_children_600.jpg
[16]- Flame: http://tinypic.com/8wcqqh.jpg
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