Personal Narrative: Breast Cancer Service

As I motioned for the pink fire trucks to park in the middle of the pink-themed festival, I could not help but feel pride in what the team and I had been able to accomplish. After months of planning, designing, and promoting; Naperville, Illinois was about to witness their very first Guardian of the Ribbon fundraiser for breast cancer survivors. Cheering and supportive crowds gathered around the stage set in front of the fire trucks as those who had been afflicted with breast cancer shared brave stories about their roads to recovery. It was during this time that I began to reflect on my own journey and how service had become such an important aspect of my life.
My first experience with service was at a church fundraiser when I was seven years old. I was volunteered by my parents to help out during the dinner portion of the event as a food runner bringing heaping plates of pasta and meatballs to tables scattered throughout the Church hall. Service proved to be a rewarding experience, and one that I desperately wanted to do again. I …show more content…
The perfect opportunity soon presented itself when I was asked to volunteer for a fundraiser for Breast Cancer survivors through the Guardian of the Ribbon Foundation. Adhering to my new resolution I went to the meeting, and all my fears about working with new people and new projects melted away as I finally realized that service is more important than my personal fears. Working with the Guardian of the Ribbon proved to be even more rewarding than all the other service projects I had been doing. The team and I was able to plan a pink celebration of survival and hope by listening and learning from one another. By stepping out of my comfort zone I was able to expand my service and successfully plan a fundraiser while also gaining great insight by interacting with different