I am blessed to be part of a family with a long history of volunteerism. The women on my mother’s side have/had all been active members of Royal Neighbors for many years and were known to quickly volunteer to help those in need.
My great-grandmother, Mae Sawyer, my grandmother, Mary Jane Sawyer Gates, and my mother, Amy Gates Cameron, have significantly contributed to their communities. They embody the importance of giving back to communities and being mindful that it is always better to give than to receive.
I hope I have many years ahead of me to make a difference, but I feel I am off to a good start. As a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, I volunteer to help host fellowship after church and serve as an acolyte. Because most of the congregation members have known me since birth, I have been able to branch off into other groups and gain valuable experience in a variety of fields.
A huge obstacle I overcame was dealing with my diagnosis of Tourette’s Syndrome. Although this will never go away, I have found methods that help me positively deal with this condition. I have a workout routine that includes boxing, weightlifting, yoga, and meditation. Through this fitness routine, I can keep my tics at bay while focusing on a strict nutritional diet. I am extremely dedicated and organized in this pursuit and have found that this has also helped me learn how to prioritize my whole life schedule. Despite earning good grades and making the honor roll, I have never considered myself an “academic student.” School academics do not come easy to me; I have always had to work extra hard to earn grades that were seemingly easy for others to obtain. Through this perseverance, I now have skills I routinely use to be an effective leader and member of my community.
Moving forward in my journey as a plumber, I am excited to see what the world has to offer. One of my main goals in life is to seek first to understand people rather than needing to speak first. In this life of “busyness” and social media saturation, I believe this skill is relevant in all life pursuits and essential in being the best human being you can be.
Demonstrating empathy and learning to compromise are two valuable traits the world needs to see now more than ever. I desire to make a positive change whenever and wherever I can, all while continuing to follow my moral compass.
