explain how your experience affected you as a person.
This experience has touched my heart in so many ways. Seeing how much love and support that the homeless community has for each other has truly inspired me. They helped me realize that you don't need a whole lot in life to be happy; that surrounding yourself with people you care about and people who care about you, is what's important. Passing out the care and food packages to them and seeing their reaction made me so incredibly happy!
How did you change?
I believe that through this experience, I changed for the better as a leader, individual, and as a member of my community. I was really able to practice my leadership skills by formatting and organizing the whole donation process, and helping promote my cause through social media. I noticed myself focusing on the details of the project, which is something I have never done before as a leader. Along with that, I feel that I became a better individual and member of my community through connecting with others and building new friendships.
How do you see the world differently as a result of your experience?
This experience has showed me that our world could be a much better place if people would just be kind to one another. All it takes is one person. One person to make someone smile. One person to help someone out. One person to inspire someone else to do something nice, then they could pass it on, and it could be a never ending chain of kindness.
How did this experience impact or reveal your character?
Before this experience, I was very shy and uncomfortable talking to new people. However, that's not the case anymore. This project has really pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to talk to people that I wasn't familiar with. Along with that, this project has helped reveal how dedicated I am to what I do, regardless of the challenges I face.
Was this a meaningful experience? why or why not?
Without a doubt, this was a very meaningful experience for me. Ever since I was little, I've had a passion for helping others, especially those less fortunate than me. It was so humbling to gather all the donations and put together over thirty care and food packages, and getting to pass them out personally to those in need. Seeing their faces light up when I handed them the items was absolutely rewarding. Not to mention all the support that I had with this project, which I am so grateful for.
what new knowledge or skills did you learn from this experience?
From this experience, I have learned what it really takes to be a good leader. Being a leader doesn't simply mean being good at telling people what to do, it means exhibiting moral and ethical courage and setting an example for others. I have also learned from this experience that you must be flexible when it comes to projects like these, because not everything is going to go as planned.
What would you do differently if you were to start over?
Honestly, I don't think I would have done anything differently because the project was a huge success. I had a goal of making eighteen care and food packages, and I ended up being able to make over thirty. I was even able to collect donations for cats and dogs, which was great because some of the homeless individuals have pets. In addition, I made loads of new relationships and learned a lot from the whole experience, so there was really nothing that could have been any better!