Personal Statement

The shrill ring of the telephone interrupted my thoughts amidst that quiet evening in March. “Is this it?” I thought, looking up from my homework. An exchange of words with my mom confirmed my notion, and within 10 minutes were on our way. During the car ride, my mom talked incessantly, even when my quiet, contemplative mood made it a largely one-sided conversation. I could see the hospital from the freeway, lit up against the night skyline like a lighthouse with a million lights. Upon our arrival, I was struck by the square, sterile rooms and hallways of the hospital in contrast with the organic beauty of a new life about to come into the world. The birthing room was softly lit and quiet. Not long after…“here she comes!” “there’s her head!” “you’re doing great Heather” “there she is!”… Moments later I was “Auntie Grace” to a small, blue, fragile, crying life. Words cannot describe the sense of wonder that accompanied witnessing my niece’s birth!

One thing I came away with that night was the simple fact that life is a gift. Every moment of it, from those first cries in our mothers arms to our last breath. We have been given the opportunity to think, to feel, to love. Often we get so caught up in worrying about the future or regretting the past that we forget the intrinsic value of the present moment. For me, my stumbling block for a while was school; I had tendencies toward perfectionism and would get easily stressed out by homework or my long to-do list. I would get so overwhelmed that all I could think about was how much I didn’t like school and how depressing my life was. However, in the course of witnessing my niece’s birth and several other eye-opening events, my eyes were slowly opened to the pointlessness and ungratefulness of this mindset. Yes, school was hard, but why was I putting off enjoying life until it was over? Stress and worry certainly weren’t helping me! From that point on, school did not get any easier, and yet I found the stress slowly melting away and being replaced with joy. Instead of merely “enduring” school, I began to embrace it as a part of the gift of life! It’s true that my grades have fallen slightly from that point, but the truth is I’ve still worked hard and done my best. The reason for this change is that I’ve lost my need for perfectionism and have become more of a balanced person, focusing on a wider range of things besides merely my schoolwork.

Not only did this realization of the value of life allow me to truly enjoy it, but it also allowed me to more readily invest in others lives. Once I wasn’t so wrapped up in my own stresses and concerns, I began to see more of how I could be a help and an encouragement in the lives of my friends, in my school, and in my community. I joined the cross country team my junior year, which has led to some amazing friendships and opportunities to bless the lives of others. This past season has been particularly rewarding, as I had the privilege of being the team captain for eight amazing girls. I’ve also been involved in student government the past two years; junior year as class secretary and this year as ASB treasurer. Both of these positions have allowed me to be a servant to others and have also taught me some important lessons about what it takes to work as a team. I’ve also continued to do various acts of community service, from serving in the nursery at my church to volunteering in my local hospital over the summer.

As I held my little niece in my arms for the first time, I was struck by the beauty of that new life. Only a couple minutes old, that tiny baby had her whole life stretching out before her. I’ve been alive for 17 years, and I think I’m finally beginning to understand what it means to appreciate the gift of each moment. As a young adult, I have the amazing opportunity to spend the rest of my life living out this lesson. No matter what I might encounter in the future, I know that I can always find joy in the simple fact that I am alive and can make a difference in the lives of others.