What do I think of the events that happened a year ago today (September 11, 2002)?
I think that it is a very sad thing that anyone could do this to another country. Before they hit the Twin Towers, we used to think no one could touch us, but I guess they proved us wrong. Everyday people across the United States think about these events because it effects all of us. It doesn't matter if you live a thousand miles away in a small town, just like me. Americans have become stronger people that are ready for anything. We are proud of who are are. In our hearts, we want to grasp those that harm and take them off the earth, but it isn't that simple Our symbols that used to just be there now stand for something to me. Why? Because it is who we are, what we stand for and what we are recognized by. I realize lots of people and countries hate us because we step in and help out. We have to make them remember that it isn't the millions of people doing things to them, but it is the government. In my opinion, there are somethings we are at fault for. One of those is the fact that we thought we were intouchable so we let our defensives down. The second reason is stepping in on business that we aren't involved in. History has already happened and can't be changed, therefore we need to learn from our mistakes to keep history from repeating itself. The people that died will always be dead no matter how much we want them to be living. We will never see the towers standing in New York City's skyline. Last but not least, children will remember this and tell the next generation all about it.
Describe a time in your life when you gave something up for someone else. How did this make you feel?
I have this friend who has had a pretty rough life. His family disowned him and he is living on his own, trying to make it by getting paid minium wage. Sometimes that involves him not eating for a couple days because of the lack of money. He had to give up his education, at least for the moment being, so he could continue to pay the bills. I've watched him struggle for over a month between paychecks. I realized that once you're out on your own, money will be needed, but I'm not to that point yet. Money still means absolutely nothing to me. All my money I earn from my job usually ends up being used to buy things I don't need, plus gas and food. One day I coudl tell he hadn't eaten in a couple days, so I offered to take him to the grocery store to buy him something to eat. At first, he refused because he didn't like to take handouts, so we talked for a couple more minutes and I finally said, "Whether you want to admit it or not, you know you need to eat something." I drove him to the store, told him to pick out anything he wanted, and handed him five dollars. Being as hungry as he was, he picked out a microwave dinner, dessert and a pop. Being able to use the money that I once spoiled myself with to help one person really brought happiness to my heart. It is definitely something I would like to do more often as long as people don't start using me. Helping people get back onto their feet, keep healthy and live a happy life will always be something of importance to me.
Scholarship Essay
Throughout my life, I have had to watch my parents struggle to pay the bills because they had no set income since they were both self-employed. The only difference now is that during the week, aside from being an antique dealer, my mom is a shift supervisor at Dairy Queen in Jefferson, Iowa. On weekends, my parents still participate in antique shows throughout the Midwest. I used to travel with them to shows and help customers by either giving more information on the item of their interest or take their money, package the item and give them change back. I have a lot of experience of doing research and finding things in books because my parents always had me look up prices, patterns, and anything they needed to know about the item they were going to sell. My father helps my grandpa on the farm in return for living in their old house and the electricty bill, but that is really the only help they've received.
Finally, I got tired of never having money to go out and do things like a normal teenager, so I went out and got a job working as a waitress in Family Table in Jefferson, Iowa. I have now worked there for six months. It helps pay for the expenses I have as a senior (pictures, graduation, college application fees, etc.) and gas to continue to participate in my extracurricular activities. Just because I am able to go out and have fun now does not mean that my education isn't still important to me. For the past four years, I have studied and worked vigorously to keep my grades above my standards I have set for myself. A letter grade of C seems like an F to me. I strive to better myself every chance I get. Every year, I've tried my best to take challenging classes so that I would be pushing myself to a better education as well as getting myself prepared for college. Since I am taking challenging classes, I sometimes find a problem area (i.e. taking math tests) and I learn what I need to work on to strength myself. Just because something gets complex and difficult, I refuse to give up my fight. I will not quit and it will make me work with more effort.