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At the Bush School, students often quote President HW Bush by saying, “Public Service is a Noble Calling.” This quote represents one of the primary reasons that I decided to pursue a career as a public servant - giving back to the community without seeking reward is one of the noblest careers that an individual could dedicate her life to. Below are a couple of the examples of how I tried to impact communities:

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Lovepacks (2010-2016), Blood donor (10 times), Service for Sight (2012-2016), the Big Event (2013, 2014, 2017),  Veterans’ Home volunteer (2010-2015)

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All of these activities differed, and as a result, they all impacted me differently. As a volunteer for Lovepacks, a group that provides food to underprivileged children on the weekends, my primary responsibility was setting up and managing the food. However, this experience was much more than that. While this was a relatively small responsibility,  I was able to have a direct impact on the lives of our youth.

 

I also volunteered for Service for Sight numerous times throughout my undergraduate career. This organization raised money for individuals who experienced vision impairment or vision loss. Typically, the funds raised would go to directly to adopting and training a dog guide for these individuals. During spring 2015, I met someone, a veteran, who received one of the dogs that we helped raise funds for. Meeting this individual and seeing her tears of gratitude and joy humbled me and made me appreciate the importance of my small contribution to this woman’s life.

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Throughout high school and undergrad, I often volunteered at the Veterans’ Home in Oxford, Mississippi. This experience influenced my life by introducing me to people who dedicated their lives to public service. I learned how much a simple conversation can brighten up someone's entire day. Whenever a volunteer walked into the room, the atmosphere would change. The veterans would smile, laugh, and not waste a second to tease the newcomer. This experience made me appreciate the extent to which Service is a truly a Noble Calling.

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