Looking for some help to improve my essay, thank you!!
I'm a Portlander, without a doubt, the most beautiful parish in Jamaica. I was born in Buff Bay, but I spent a great deal of my younger years in Orange Bay, and my later teenage years in Buff Bay. My father left Jamaica for the US before I finished primary school, and through his efforts, I was able to migrate to the US in 2002 as well. I resided in Bronx, NY upon my arrival. I spent a couple years in NYC working as a carpet installer with my father. It was fun traveling from house to house, installing carpet with my dad, I believe it was a great opportunity to catch up on the many years that we spent apart. However, my dream was always to acquire a college degree, a milestone my parents never achieved.
Not fully understanding how the school system worked in the US, I randomly came across an Army commercial on TV, the commercial talked about how the Army would pay for anyone's college tuition if they would simply join the forces. Needless to say, the next day I was at the recruiter's office signing all the required paperwork, and was shipped off to the Army the following two weeks. I had an excellent 4 years in the military, it is one of my greatest experiences in life, and I would definitely do it again. However, my dream finally came through after I separated from the army to pursue a degree in finance at The University of Texas, at Austin, and became the first in my family to attain a college degree. I worked as an investment banking analyst after college, until I decided to go back to school for a degree in dental surgery.
The time I spent in Jamaica volunteering with JAAC, was beyond anything I could ever imagined. I felt as if I was in my hometown, helping the people that I grew up with and others that I knew all my life, even though I had never met anyone I treated before. I felt great pride to see the smile on my patient's faces when they realized that I was one of them. Though I helped to relieve many people from pain, the highlight of my trip occurred the first day I stepped foot in the clinic in Islington, St Mary. While I walked pass a mother and her young son, she pointed in my direction while saying these words to her son, "You can be just like him when you grow up, look". Those words made me feel as if I was an inspiration to at least one person on my trip, which I believe is the epitome of giving back. My goal is to continue to volunteer with JAAC, hopefully for many more years.
Giving back to my country
I'm a Portlander, without a doubt, the most beautiful parish in Jamaica. I was born in Buff Bay, but I spent a great deal of my younger years in Orange Bay, and my later teenage years in Buff Bay. My father left Jamaica for the US before I finished primary school, and through his efforts, I was able to migrate to the US in 2002 as well. I resided in Bronx, NY upon my arrival. I spent a couple years in NYC working as a carpet installer with my father. It was fun traveling from house to house, installing carpet with my dad, I believe it was a great opportunity to catch up on the many years that we spent apart. However, my dream was always to acquire a college degree, a milestone my parents never achieved.
Not fully understanding how the school system worked in the US, I randomly came across an Army commercial on TV, the commercial talked about how the Army would pay for anyone's college tuition if they would simply join the forces. Needless to say, the next day I was at the recruiter's office signing all the required paperwork, and was shipped off to the Army the following two weeks. I had an excellent 4 years in the military, it is one of my greatest experiences in life, and I would definitely do it again. However, my dream finally came through after I separated from the army to pursue a degree in finance at The University of Texas, at Austin, and became the first in my family to attain a college degree. I worked as an investment banking analyst after college, until I decided to go back to school for a degree in dental surgery.
The time I spent in Jamaica volunteering with JAAC, was beyond anything I could ever imagined. I felt as if I was in my hometown, helping the people that I grew up with and others that I knew all my life, even though I had never met anyone I treated before. I felt great pride to see the smile on my patient's faces when they realized that I was one of them. Though I helped to relieve many people from pain, the highlight of my trip occurred the first day I stepped foot in the clinic in Islington, St Mary. While I walked pass a mother and her young son, she pointed in my direction while saying these words to her son, "You can be just like him when you grow up, look". Those words made me feel as if I was an inspiration to at least one person on my trip, which I believe is the epitome of giving back. My goal is to continue to volunteer with JAAC, hopefully for many more years.
