Service
I seek service opportunities because I believe showing up matters. Everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. Service has taught me humility, perspective, and purpose. It's the way I stay grounded in what really matters, and why I want to build a future centered around compassion, connection, and change.
Fiji
In Fiji, service looked different than anywhere else I had served, and it felt different too. It wasn't transactional, but rather rooted in relationships, trust, and time. I worked alongside teenagers from all over the world to support village needs, but the most lasting impact wasn't in what I built or carried, it was in what I came to understand. I learned how generosity and reliance flourish even in communities with limited material wealth. The communities in Fiji were overwhelmed with love and gratitude, and the people were completely content. Fiji showed me that meaningful service isn't about stepping in as a savior, but rather stepping in as a learner. I benefitted much more from the lessons I learned than the villagers I served did from my involvement.
Friendship Circle
I stepped into Friendship Circle with the intention of showing up a couple of times per week, but it quickly became an integral part of my life. I learned the power of simple consistency. I watched as kids who barley spoke and didn't know how to express themselves - kids who had given up on forming peer relationships after being overlooked and excluded - start to open up to me. As the weeks went on, I began to hear laughter, see smiles, and feel hugs when I walked through the door. That kind of transformation doesn't happen overnight, but rather when you stay, show up, and listen. Earning the trust of the Friendship Circle kids taught home the impact of quiet leadership and the importance of meeting people exactly where they are. The experience shifted my view of leadership, from a focus on being seen, to one oriented around truly seeing others.
Carpenters for Christ
During the San Antonio mission trip with Carpenters for Christ, I learned that service is not always clean or comfortable, but always worth it. I discovered the reward of having a direct, tangible impact. There is something powerful about putting in the physical labor - drilling, cutting, painting - and then standing back to see the results of your work and the impact it made. I wasn't just donating time, I was building something real that someone would live in, rely on, and feel safe in. That kind of service leaves no question whether as to whether you made a difference; you can see it. Being on the ground, hands on, reminded me that meaningful change doesn't always come from policy or speeches. Sometimes it comes from sweat, teamwork, and showing up ready to work. That clarity is something I carry with me now, in service, in leadership, and in life.