Personal Narrative: American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Camp

Life at Valley Forge Brave, have no fear of someone or something. American soldiers represent bravery. The huts of the soldiers were very long and wide. The fireplace was in acceptable condition. No beds in the huts just straw and mud.

Many did not remember to text or call me, I was forgotten by most and it hurt me because all this time trying to fit in with them has gone to waste; I now had to start all over and create my journey once more. The most challenging part was saying goodbye to the people I grew up with. I lived in Victorville for over 10 years,

I had traveled a long distance from Ethiopia in order to be with my parents who had been here for four years, hoping America would help my future. Anxiety started taking over. I was on my way for my first day of school in America. I was scared, nervous words can’t describe how I was feeling. I didn’t know anybody.

It all began after my first semester here at A&M. I was somewhat disappointed because I had hoped to meet lots of new people and make new friends but that wasn’t exactly the case. You hear how people make some of their truest and lifelong friends in college however, after my first semester I still didn’t have any friends here. It was hard because I moved here from Idaho so I was completely starting over and also because I was fairly shy. So here was my first summer in Texas

Last summer, my family decided to move to Oregon from a small town in Maine. Throughout high school, I was motivated to try new things. Nevertheless, moving across the country to a school where I knew no one would be the biggest change I ever endured. I was terrified of the unknown. It felt like I was going to a party I wasn’t invited to.

This was a tremendous transition for me. I was required to leave my friends and classmates that I had known for the previous seven years in Palmyra, Pennsylvania. Soon I realized that I needed to overcome my introversion

I’ll never forget how I felt the first time I walked into Prairie Ridge High School. I was surrounded by approximately sixteen hundred other students and I knew exactly none of them. I had never been that alone before and when I walked through the cafeteria doors, I felt the first seed of doubt that maybe I should have stayed in Union, with my mom. At that moment, I wanted to turn around and run out of Prairie Ridge, hop in the car, and drive the four hundred miles back to my friends, my teammates, and the majority of my family. Instead, I took a deep breath and sat down.

I was expecting it would take them some more time but I was mistaken. When I heard that I was starting school the next day, the butterflies in my stomach returned and I was afraid. I felt as if running away would be the only option because making new friends was a task I was never good at. I was very uncomfortable by being surrounded by all these people I didn't know.

The transition from childhood to adulthood occurs when an individual is able to recognize the impact he or she can leave upon their community, gaining life skills doing so. An accomplishment that marked my transition from childhood to adulthood, would be best demonstrated by the process and completion of a leadership responsibility when I performed my Eagle Scout Project. I joined the scouting program when I was very young, and have been very active since ever. Becoming an Eagle Scout has many challenges that a young Boy Scout must undertake, including the completion of a community-based project, which is an important step in obtaining this notable rank. The Eagle Scout Project is designed for the scout to learn different leadership responsibilities. The project allows the scout to have practice with difficult situations to give the young man experience in life lessons. My community-based project was

A second paid opportunity I have had serving children has been working as summer camp counselor for the past three summers. Each summer since May 2013, Warren W. Willis United Methodist Summer Camp has provided me with the opportunity to mentor a wide variety of children ranging in ages from rising fourth grade to newly graduated high school seniors. Here I have taken on many roles of mentor, advocate, listener, friend, small group leader, activities facilitator, etc. Here I have interacted with children and adolescents of all backgrounds and cultures. I have been greatly challenged and rewarded by the campers I have interacted with here. One of the greatest challenges I have faced while serving in this role is finding a healthy balance between focusing on the needs of other and focusing on myself. Throughout the summer, I am constantly focusing on the emotional, spiritual, mental and physical needs of campers. There is little time and

The first day I went to that big building I was a bit intimidated. Finding all of my classes and new people everywhere convinced me that I was such a small person. At the midway point of my day, I arrived at lunch. A couple people sitting at a table in the center of the room were talking about video games. I knew that I could fit well in with that group immediately.

My time at Camp Green Lake has made me realize the unjust actions of this place. There are many things that need to be fixed and changed. I want to make sure I can convey what’s going on in camp Green lake.

Two weeks before going to a Boy Scout camp, Camp Emerald Bay, in July of 2016 I had to complete the PADI prerequisites to be able to acquire my PADI scuba diver certificate. After flying down to California with my troop and my longtime friend, Brendan, we got to Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island. I have never really been that big into boy scouts I’ve only stayed with it for so long to obtain my Eagle Scout but I’ve always loved going to the summer camps every year. This year I was especially excited because it would be first time going scuba diving, also this wasn’t a normal boy scout camp for me as I didn’t have to stay in the same cabin as my troop which was really a blessing for me. All the people taking the scuba merit badge and the scuba diving certification stayed in their own campsite near the waterfront. Every morning throughout the week we would scuba dive in the mornings and evenings. The instructors there were great and really helpful to Brendan who is a bigger person making it harder to dive.

I was born in Vietnam, a small country in Asia. My family was ordinary and similar to the two millions of Vietnamese refugees, who have fled the country after the Vietnam War. My country is known for its rice fields, its beef noodle soup called “Pho,” the civil war between North and South, but Vietnam has four thousand years of History. It has always been a small country colonized by larger nations, such as France, or China. Yet, the inhabitants have fought to keep their territory. Thus, my family has inherit the courage and determination of our ancestors, and during the Vietnam War, these notions were as strong as ever. Indeed, my father was captured and imprisoned in the so-called “Reeducation Camp” for eight years long. So, my mother has to work to feed her four children (I wasn’t born at that time yet), and her mother-in-law. It was only after my father was released that they managed to escape the Communist regime by boat, and their faith was just as any other “Boat People” lost in the Pacific Ocean. My parents and sibling have been separated into three countries, France, Switzerland, and Vietnam. In fact, my mother stayed in Vietnam with me at that time, as “back up”, in case my father and siblings couldn’t reach a safe place. Then, my father sponsored his wife and youngest

I’ve been friends with Carson for 13 years, and he is as close to a brother to me as one can get. Throughout these 13 years, i’ve seen him grow and gain skills that I think will help him excel at Dartmouth.