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When I was home for winter break I did my usual cleaning spree, tossing out old clothes & random things that were just accumulating dust & clutter. Deep in this sea of miscellaneous junk I found my old memory box from middle school. I have a memory box for each stage of my life, one from elementary school, one from middle school, one from high school, & I've recently been collecting items for my college box. These boxes contain various remnants of memories from my life, whether it be a pair of old glasses from when I was 7 years old, diaries, pamphlets from random trips, ticket stubs, I even still have the numbered sticker I wore when I tried out for cheerleading in middle school. Individually, many of these items are junk but they each represent a chapter, a day, or even a moment of my life that meant something.
As I was sifting through and reminiscing, I came across this beaded American flag pin. I had always vaguely remembered making these but never reflected on the magnitude of what it would later symbolize in my life. As I picked up this pin from the colorful mess it was hiding beneath, I felt a jolt of realization that perhaps everything I'm pursuing was fated for me.
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| Tiffany & I at age 11 |
My very first experience giving back was when I was 11 years old. After the attack on September 11th, my childhood friend Tiffany and I felt compelled to take action. Using the skills we had as little girls, we monetized a craft we enjoyed to raise money for the victims. With the help of our parents, we purchased bags upon bags of tiny seed beads and safety pins and crafted a couple hundred of these American flag pins. Our young minds went to work with ideas and full-fledged determination and desire to help. After hours of stringing these tiny patriotically colored beads onto each pin, we would sell them outside of grocery stores charging $5 for each. We donated all of the money we collected to the Red Cross. My father's girlfriend at the time snapped this photo of Tiffany and I sitting in front of our sidewalk chalk art and submitted it to the local newspaper with our story of how we took action (though I'm not sure if it was ever actually published). I remember how incredibly charged I felt by being able to create something that could help make a difference, despite how minor it may have been.
Nine years later, at age 20, I reconnected with the drive I had when I was this little girl- with just a simple idea, ambition, and a dream. Perhaps my path in life was always decided for me or maybe everything has been a mere coincidence. Either way I know where my passion lies & I'll never stop doing what I'm doing. I want to make a difference.
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