Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

I have dedicated countless hours to serving as a leader for my youth ministry. During this time, I planned and coordinated several church events, became head of youth community outreaches and began mentoring middle school students. My most important accomplishment as head of youth community outreaches was being a part of our churchâ€™s first youth group to go on a hurricane Katrina missions trip in New Orleans. The day after Christmas, we flew over to New Orleans and worked on houses damaged by the hurricane for two weeks. The experience of helping those victims is one I will never forget. With a team of youth I was able to help restore the damaged homes of several families through strenuous labor. I learned the importance of being humble, selfless and grateful as I saw the destroyed lives of the victims in New Orleans. As a mentor, I helped various middle school students with their personal issues. Through my personal experiences, trials and tribulations, I was able to give them guidance as a leader in my youth ministry, being involved is not just a volunteer job to me. It is a position of leadership, integrity and commitment to help others. With this experience I plan to become a recreational leader this summer, to help the youth of Lakewood. I will be a positive influence of volunteerism, not just safe fun, to strengthen the community of Lakewood though the youth, our future.