Personal Narrative: The 365 Venture

Humans are not just specks in the universe. Our lives have purpose, and we have to make a decision every day to pursue that purpose. All too often people diminish the impact a single person can make by rationalizing that our lives represent less than a blink of an eye in the greater scheme of eternity. However, our actions, words, and accomplishments do not die with us. We leave a legacy that impacts others. And this inspired me to create a senior project that would last even after I graduated. I not only wanted to create a project that left a positive impression on my community, but also changed my heart to focus on others. Ultimately, I decided to create the 365 Venture, where I committed to volunteering 365 hours in the year 2016 and document
my journey on the website the365venture.com. Starting off, I resided timidly in my comfort zone, but as time went on, I began to find new organizations and causes to serve that inspired intellectual and personal growth.
Since eighth grade I have volunteered regularly at Prodisee Pantry, a local food bank that gives out boxes of food every week. Prodisee was the first place I volunteered on my venture. Then I started to serve at my old middle school on Tuesdays, usually in the science department where I could offer the most assistance. From there I began leading a small group for middle schoolers at one of my churches on Wednesday nights. However, that was the extent of my service for the first two months of the year, but soon I did something completely new to remind me of the purpose of the 365
Venture. In March I decided to completely submerse myself in a new environment where I focused solely on volunteerism: I went to Kanab, Utah, home of the world’s largest no kill animal sanctuary. I volunteered over a hundred and fifty hours at Best Friends where I learned infinitely more about animals and their behavior, I coached the local high school drama team, and I adopted a puppy that I would train as a service dog. When I came home, my idea of service changed and I started to tackle new service projects. I became a 5ifty6ix (fifth and sixth grade) leader at my other church, served at Light of the Village where I grew in community with inner city children, and delved more passionately into leading my small group on Wednesday. No longer did I simply stick to the known. As time progressed I became bold in my pursuit of service. Though some people might view life as insignificant and fleeting, they are wrong.
Our lives can change the world and we do not have to cure cancer to make a difference. Truly, I like to believe that maybe what I am doing with the 365 Venture changes lives in a positive way. I know it has changed my life by altering my perspective from inwardly to outwardly. Everything has become an opportunity to serve and bless others, from smiling at strangers to picking up trash to giving a homeless man a meal. The 365 Venture showed me that my life does not revolve around me and my happiness, but rather it revolves on how I can use my life to serve
others.