My Bucket List

            There are many things I want to do before I die. Some of these things are for my own benefit and others are in the interest of those around me. These are not things that I have to get done every week like most of my lists but rather a list of goals. They are meant to inspire me and drive me to my full potential.

            Some things on my bucket list are just general goals for my life. These include becoming a veterinarian, getting married, having children, and being a kind person. Other goals I have are more specific, such as get a 4.0 in college, challenge myself, be a respected student, be well known, make an impression, and be a remodel.

            I also have a list of things I want to do for my own sake. These things are more inspiring, and fulfilling, in my opinion. Things such as climb a mountain, build an orphanage in Honduras, change someone’s life, master a different language, visit our family farm in Germany, go horseback riding on the beach, swim with a dolphin, ride a motorcycle, be in two places at once, see a shooting star, learn to play the guitar, find a cure for a disease and run my own veterinary clinic.

            These goals may be more far off but I figure if I don’t accomplish them who will?

Remember that one time?

            We all have a time in our life that shaped us and helped us become who we are today. That moment when we felt like we were in the right place at the right time.  Do you remember that one time? The time you knew you had done your best.
            Looking back on my life, there have been many times where I knew I had done all I could. Some of those times things panned out for the best, some of those times they didn’t. There is one instance in my life where I know I made a difference. I know that through all my hard work I finally got my message across to people.

            My senior year I held a prayer service for my entire school that was meant to commemorate all of the children killed since the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize abortion in 1973. In order to emphasize the reality of abortion I asked one person born every year since 1973 to symbolize every person born that year. That person then walked up the aisle carrying a rose. The rose symbolized all of the children that had been killed that year due to the legalization of abortion.

            I wanted everyone to realize what a big deal abortion was. I wanted them to be able to picture their life without one of the people who walked down the aisle. The people I chose as representatives to walk down the aisle were people from the community; people who the kids at my school knew and had seen on a daily basis. They were fortunate enough to be born. Not everyone has that chance.

            From that moment on I knew that I could make a difference. Abortion has always been an important issue in my life. I see myself as a voice for the voiceless. I continue to be strong in my opinions at college. I know that not everyone is strong enough to stand up for what they believe in. I also know that it is easier to stand up for what you believe in when you aren’t standing alone. At that moment in my life, standing in front of everyone at that prayer service, I knew I had done my best. I use that feeling to push myself to do my best in everything I do.