It doesn't have to be this way.

When I look around me, I notice the less unfortunate around me and it really inspires me to want to give back to my community. Thinking about all of my talents and what I’m capable of doing really gives me the upper hand at giving back and really putting my all into helping other people.  Most people are on board with my decision because having I feel having a party and someone having fun and being around people can touch them and makes the really think about getting their lives together. 

Along with me just wanting to be an event planner, it also ties in with me wanting to help the youth by keeping them active in their community. I want to provide a space for them to have fun, get off the streets and give them a safe place to party and have fun. Looking around in my community and just watching the news is very depressing. While watching the news all people really hear is someone getting killed at a party or seriously injured. Nowadays, the youth really can’t go to parties without something bad happening and I feel with my help I can try to prevent that from happening.

I really feel that people feed off movements and trends, I want to be the one of many people starting a safe party trend, by trying to promote nonviolence at events. Instead of having very expensive events, I want to have quality events that are affordable to everyone in the community.  I don’t think that people should have to pay a ton to have fun, that’s how people start up trouble because their bored, on the streets, and can’t find nothing better else to do.

I’m just really glad that I’ve actually met some people that share the same dreams as mine and really want to change the community and shape them to be the safe citizens that we know they could be. No one deserves to get over foolishness that could’ve been prevented.

The Pre-Writing to my Essay (FACE)

In Common

1.      Adult Youth

2.      In College

3.      Love partying

4.      African American

Problems

1.      Miscommunication

2.      Unorganized

3.      Clashing personalities

4.      Couples in the group

Likes

1.      Come together

2.      Great Ideas

3.      Debates

4.      Meetings

Successes

1.      OMN

2.      2 Huge parties

3.      Members

4.      Fundraiser

5.      Reputation

Dislikes

1.      Don’t like some members

2.      Clashing schedules

3.      Some not doing their part

Plus	Delta
·        Handling tough situations	·        Selective hearing
·        Blogging	·        Organization
·        Participation	·        Not being enough of a leader
·        Effort	·        Side Talking
·        Positive attitude	·        Not sharing the spot light
·        Getting through tough assignments	·        Not performing to best ability

It really wasn't my fault, it was my neighborhood.

Born and raised in Oakland, CA, growing up out there for me was very hard. If you were to visit any of my neighborhoods, all you would see were crack heads or people fighting outside. I attended two elementary schools because I had to fight my way through school and grow thicker skin than the average kid. Living in Oakland was definitely not a place for a child to be raised properly, especially with a mother that was absent half of the time because she had to work.

I would say that being brought up in Oakland just really made me into a stronger woman today because I learned that fighting is only necessary when trying to protect your life. I had to grow up as a fighter because kids were always picking on me and my cousin.

When I moved out of Oakland, I think that was probably the best feeling of my life! My mom finally had enough with my rough upbringing and really wanted me to succeed in life. While living in Antioch, I no longer had to fight anymore, but my attitude stayed with me because I was so used to protecting myself at all times that I just felt like the world was out to get me, but all people wanted to do was help me become a better person.

I definitely would say that living in Oakland was the cause of that because if I haven't had to fight all of my early years, I probably wouldn't have been in so much trouble in school. When I was in middle school, I really think I spent more time in the principal office than I was in my actual classes because if I felt like a teacher was attacking me, I would attack back verbally. I'm not proud of my behavior, but it made me a better person.

Making the best with what I have

Coming up from a rough neighborhood and tackling the problems that came my way, I never thought I would be the person that I am today. I found myself growing into a leader and never a follower. In almost every situation I always wanted to be the leader of the pack because I found myself to be a great motivator of any group I was a part of. Saying that, I do think that is one of my growth areas because I would love everyone around me to be a great leader as I’ve grown to be. 

As I become more of an adult, my goals and expectations of myself are growing. I never want to be at a place where I’m just settled, I want to continue to grow and help others around me to exceed their limitations in their life. What motivates me is that I know that I can help others as soon as I help myself get to the place I need to be to help them. In a way, I think I live my life to help other people because when people are happy, I think I’m at my happiest when I’m helping others victoriously achieve their goals.

What really helped me in becoming the person that I am today and having the motivation, courage, and leadership skills is volunteering my time to different committees and continually involving myself with others. I would love to see myself owning my own event planning company just to see people smile and know that I put that smile on their face.