This article is one of the winning entries in an essay contest held by the American Legion.
The pledge to “our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor” reflects a transition from looking inward to looking outward. For a long time, my world was small and bound by my own needs. I remember being five years old, crying in frustration in Japan because there was ketchup and mustard on my McDonald’s burger when all I wanted was a plain cheeseburger. Having moved from Texas due to my dad’s military orders, I felt trapped between two worlds. I found myself trying to take comfort in the little things that reminded me of home, yet even a simple meal was out of reach because of a language barrier. Looking back, I laugh at the small inconvenience, but at that time, it felt like my world was falling apart. This early experience was my first encounter with the wall that exists when we cannot communicate, but it was also the spark that eventually led me to a commitment to others.
Years later, on a school trip to Spain, I found myself in a McDonald’s again. As I ordered in Spanish, I no longer felt frustrated; I felt a sense of thrill. This eagerness for language and connection eventually brought me to Guatemala on a church mission trip, where I made a commitment that truly reflects the “shared responsibility” mentioned by the signers of the Declaration. While walking through a thick, green forest, I visited a small house where a widow and her five children lived. As I sat there and listened to her grieve over the emotional and financial strain she faced trying to keep her kids in school, her story stuck with me. Her words came from her soul, the soul of a grieving mother who had been carrying everything for years.
I walked away changed. I realized that a commitment to something greater than oneself means advocating for the unheard voices in our world. I decided to dedicate my “fortune” and effort to this cause, raising over $3,200 independently through my church and local community. I traveled by myself back to Guatemala to continue supporting the organization. This donation was not just a number, but a gift of recognition and care. I helped provide beds for children who had never had one and resources to educate the public on sexual abuse and homelessness. This was my “sacred honor,” a promise to return and serve a community that had opened my eyes to the reality of global citizenship.
This sense of responsibility is not limited to my international work; it defines how I lead at home in my school community. As a cross country captain, I have learned that being a leader is not just about the title but about the mentality and struggles a captain has to face and persevere through every day. I brought this same drive to my peers when tried to start a boys’ volleyball club. Even when we were denied gym space, my friends and I were undeterred. We put together weekly meetups so we could play the sport we love. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that a leader must have the drive to encourage others and the ability to stay positive and hopeful through any role.
I now think beyond a world bound by order and steadfastness. This shift in perspective shapes how I interact with others today. -I have learned that empathy is the bridge that binds us together, not just through language, but through compassion, thus making us human. Without a common source of empathy to connect us to each other and this earth, there would be no true meaning to anything we do or the world we live in. Whether on the bus, in class, or in a foreign country, I am ready to bring this same sense of accountability and integrity to the rest of my life.
My Community Service
I have always given my all in the activities that I commit myself to, whether locally or abroad. In my own community, have supported youth programs through my church and provided year-round lawn care and snow removal for elderly homeowners since 2017. However, my sense of civic responsibility reached a turning point when I traveled to Guatemala. After visiting a widow and her five children in the forest, I realized I needed to do more than just show up as a participant; I needed to lead. By independently raising over $3,200, I was able to travel back solo to continue building homes, teaching VBS to over 150 children, and acting as a translator for those in need. These experiences, combined with my work at Granby Memorial High helping to reboot the Model UN club and serving as a media volunteer at my church, have taught me that service is about active advocacy. I’ve learned that being a citizen means using my skills, from Spanish translation to event coordination, to give a voice to those who do not have one. I hope to use this drive to better the world and bring greater communication to the international community.