#11204: Zak

I'm Real Because...

I was socially awkward and a “follower” of whatever was hip or cool up until 8th grade. Becoming aware of the plight of the citizens of Darfur motivated me to take action and my success mobilizing a campaign against the genocide molded me into the leader I am today. I serve as President of my class, lead my school’s movement to prevent gun violence, intern at my Assemblywoman’s office, am an active member of the Student Government as well as in a wide range of community activities, and this past summer helped build a schoolhouse for poor children in Africa. I am not a straight “A” student nor a varsity athlete, but I greatly value my close relationships with friends and family and I derive great satisfaction from working to better the lives of others. By doing so I feel just as good if not better than the people I touch. It's the smiles on the faces of the school children in Africa, the victims of gun violence, my friends, family, and community that make me who I am. I am a real teen.