Ever since I was a child, my parents raised me to be courteous and generous to others. To reinforce her own own teachings, I was constantly made to participate in many volunteer programsand concession stands growing up. Looking back when I was younger, I remember thinking to myself if I'm actually making a difference. Surely even if I wasn't there, the job still would have been finished right?I had this mindset until I volunteered through my church to take a trip to Alabama to construct homes for some of the elderly during the summer.  At that time, I was a rising junoir. I simply wanted to go just for the college credit and the fact that I would be able to get away from my parents an entire week. While I was there, I began to realize that I felt some sense of satisfaction in my work, despite my arms feeling like jelly due to the constant lifting of wood.  I even grew closer to my church community! It was until that time when I realized that I am making a difference in the world.