alayna06’s Blog

Volunteering is a huge part of my life, I have no idea the kind of person I’d be without it.

I’ve done volunteer work since I was eight years old. My mom and her best friend volunteered in the soup kitchen every Wednesday night. I couldn’t do much, being so young, but I did have the honor of bringing them their water. Sometimes, when it wasn’t very busy, I’d sit with them and they’d tell me all sorts of stories. About wars, their families, and the people that they were. It was such a great experience.

I’ve now done over 500 hours of community service. I’ve done everything from shoveling cow poop for soil, to working in a day care center. The people I’ve met have had a huge influence on my life. I’m sure it would have a big influence on anyone. You gain so much knowing that your helping other people not because you have to, or to get paid, but because you want to.

I would suggest volunteering to anyone. There’s such  a diverse range of volunteer opportunities.

P.S. It looks really good on college and job applications (:

Ever since my first trip to the Portland Zoo when I was three years old, I have been head over heels in love with giraffes. I remember wondering why they didn’t climb over the wall and run into the wild. In my head, they were tall, I was sure they could get a running start, jump, and leap right over my head. After that day, I watched the lion king every night, wondering why the giraffes didn’t get to be in the wild like the lions and elephants in the movie. I would love to see them, up close and personal in the wild. Its a goofy, little kid dream of mine, but hopefully it will come true eventually. Wild life safari is kind of a step in the wild direction, but it wouldn’t be near as cool and to see them running around, completely free. I want to see how they survive, what they eat, how they sleep, the whole big picture. But for now, I think I can handle driving two hours to Portland. It’s much easier than buying a plane ticket to Africa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27mxaePkYB4

Everyday, whether its something big or small, my mom makes a huge difference in this world. It doesn’t matter if she’s saving the world, or just picking up my little sister after she fell off her bike. She’s such a sincere person. I know, and am reminded all the time, that my mom would literally give the shirt off her back to help another person. It wouldn’t matter if it was a stranger, or me when I’m outside and getting cold. She puts everyone before herself. Apart of this I understand, she’s a mom, it’s her instinct to help others. But on the other hand, she goes above and beyond what I’ve ever seen anyone do. Whether anyone else sees her kind actions or not, I see them every single time.

I cannot wait for my friend’s annual trip to the beach this summer. Driving in my little beat up honda, with my best friends for a vacation sounds so good during these dark blah days. Ask anyone of the friends in the car with me, and they’d tell you that the ocean is my favorite place in the world. The sound of the waves hitting the shore sends chills down my spine. It’s been that way ever since I was little, except for now, twelve years later, the wind doesn’t knock me off my feet. Hopefully this year, the weather will be really warm.

Which brings me to my next topic, tanning. I try so hard every year, but I can never get as dark as my naturally tan younger sister. (She got the good genes). But hopefully,  I can achieve my goal this year without the deadly sunburns I normally get.

Finally, sunsets. It is my favorite part of the day, When I can sit back with my family, eating ice cream, still wearing shorts, and watch the sun slowly fade away. It’s so gorgeous.

So maybe if i’m lucky this year, I can get a tan, sitting on the beach with my best friends, watching the sunset. [: