Overall, my involvement in community activities this past year has been transformative. From assisting with ACAN events like the Turkey Trot water station and Christmas gift wrapping, to sharing my musical talents through Project Melody and serving as a volunteer at Teen Court hearings, I have witnessed the profound impact that individuals and organizations can have on local communities. Additionally, my time at the animal shelter taught me patience and the joy of bringing happiness to animals in need. These experiences have shown me the power of people coming together for a common goal, and inspire me to continue making a positive difference in the future.

Both my parents are 1st generation immigrants to America, which means that I grew up in a family with a heavy Chinese cultural background. One of the core principles of Chinese tradition is the utmost respect and care for seniors, which encouraged me to participate in Project Melody for the past year and perform piano for various retirement homes around Austin. This incredible opportunity presented me with the freedom to fully take advantage of my musical skills and engage with my community. What truly sparked my appreciation for the impact that I made along with the organization, however, was seeing the smiles on the audience members’ faces as each successive performer played their part in the program. This result, above all else, is the greatest reward for my countless years of practicing piano. While performing for the residents at retirement homes, I also frequently chose to play Chinese songs on the piano. I was especially surprised to discover how well these classic Chinese tunes translated from traditional to Western instruments. Quite a few times, my playing prompted some of the audience members to ask me for more details about the Chinese music after the concert ended, and I happily explained to them all the various details and knowledge that they wanted to know.

Outside of music, I frequently made trips to the Cedar Park Municipal Court where I participated as a volunteer attorney and bailiff for the Teen Court hearings that took place every month. This opportunity presented me with hands-on experience in the legal system of our country, and I also learned an important lesson. The ultimate goal of our nation’s law is not to punish; it is to correct the misconduct of its offenders. I got to play my part in maintaining legal justice for the community, as well as establishing positive connections with the administration to ensure that I made a deep and societal impact through this program.

In a totally different vein, I also have a great fondness for animals, particularly cats and dogs. So, when I heard that a local animal shelter was looking for people to help with their facility, I instantly put my name down as a volunteer. Once there, I assisted with the maintenance of the animals as well as their living areas. This included cleaning the enclosures, walking the animals as needed, and overall just providing the cats and dogs with a companion to ease their boredom. Of course, the benefits of my experiences with this shelter were not only the happiness of the animals; I also learned the significance of things such as patience, especially when dealing with a particularly excitable cat or dog. The most memorable part of my experiences with the shelter was the palpable shifts in the dogs’ demeanors as I stepped outside toward their pens, where they’d transform from a state of constant monotony to bounding up and down with their tongues lolling out, ready to finally have someone play with them.

Overall, my involvement in community activities this past year has been transformative. From assisting with ACAN events like the Turkey Trot water station and Christmas gift wrapping, to sharing my musical talents through Project Melody and serving as a volunteer at Teen Court hearings, I have witnessed the profound impact that individuals and organizations can have on local communities. Additionally, my time at the animal shelter taught me patience and the joy of bringing happiness to animals in need. These experiences have shown me the power of people coming together for a common goal, and inspire me to continue making a positive difference in the future.