My volunteer group called TAPS held a carnival and clothing drive at a women’s shelter called Love-a-Child, which is for mothers and their children undergoing a rough patch in their lives. As I spent time with the families, I saw they were ecstatic when receiving stuffed animals and baked goods, as this event was a treat for them. These observations made me more aware of the ignorance I had been seeing the world through. I and countless other teens have been shielded from world struggles with an illusion of endless luxury and indulgence. In our everyday lives, we are so focused on our next math test or the latest gossip, that we are blind to all the global issues impacting people, animals, and the environment. Although this volunteering experience
