True Meaning of a Wonderful Teenage Life
The True Meaning of a Wonderful Teenage Life
By TT
Age 15
Ramona Stars
I've been involved in the 4-H program for seven years. I love every minute of it. In these seven years, I have witnessed so many wonderful experiences. I would like to share with you my 2017-2018 year in 4-H. Therefore, sit back and relax as I begin my 4-H story title "The True Meaning of a Wonderful Teenage Life."
Before I begin my 4-H story, I think I should give you a little background as to when I joined the 4-H program and why. My 4-H journey began when I was eight. I was the kind of girl who just wasn't comfortable in her own skin. Due to bullying, my confidence took a massive dip when I attended public school. Concerned, my parents pulled me out of the public school system and my home schooling journey began. I loved it from the very start; however, I would need socialization. The solution was easy and my 4-H experience began. My parents enrolled me in the Ramona Stars 4-H Club. Here I met lifelong friends and the rebirth of my confidence.
I only joined the poultry and cooking projects my first year. I enjoyed myself so much. Therefore, the next year, I added the sewing project to my list. By my third year, I had added the llama project. At first, joining the llama project made me really nervous because I'm a chicken farmer's daughter. I never dealt with anything that big before. I admit, I was kind of spooked by the massive creatures but soon I learned that llamas are just gentle giants. I began to notice changes in myself, all for the better, of course. I was gaining strength in the areas of my self-doubts, my competence and confidence began to rise. I really started to believe that I was worthy of this life. That I, with the help of the positive relationships I gained throughout these 4-H years, could make a difference in this world. I realized that I mattered, the world mattered and I, in some small way, was going to make this world a better place. Hence, the birth of my love for community service began to take flight. As the years in 4-H increased, so did my projects. By my sixth year, I was involved in nine projects. What a wonderful busy year I had.
My teenage journey, as a freshman in home school, began with a bang, no, more like an atomic bomb. I was shell shocked at all the extra school work I was responsible for. Boy, did my confidence take a hit as I pondered the question of "How am I going to get this all done by the end of each week?" You see, I met my home school teacher once a week to turn in my weekly work and talk about what I needed help with. My teacher is great. I still wouldn't have it any other way, but my 4-H experience was hanging in the balance. If my school work wasn't completed each week, my 4-H projects were downsized. "No!" I exclaimed, "4-H is my life." Nevertheless, I would have to find the will to get the school work done so that my 4-H experience wouldn't suffer. In truth, 4-H got me through my freshman year. How, you ask? The Ramona Stars 4-H Club means so much to me that I was not about to let anything get in the way of my 4-H projects, and so, the hard work began to make sure all my school work was complete each week.
My 4-H projects, although was downsize a little bit, began in October. My confidence began to return as I realized I could get my school work done and still have time for 4-H. My leadership duties as a Corresponding Secretary began to take flight as I wrote articles in the Ramona Sentinel and the Ramona Home Journal about our 4-H club and what our club had to offer the community. I stayed in the Cooking, Sewing, Llamas, Leadership, and Visual Arts projects. However, what I am most proud of myself for this year is joining the Beekeeping project.
Cooking is always fun. I made soup, among other items. By the way, who knew soup was so easy to make? I never guessed it to be that easy. I enjoyed making all the different kinds of foods this year; however, I found that the way we all worked constructively together, was most impressive to me. I felt a real kinship in our Cooking project team. We laughed as we prepared and cooked together, ate together, and cleaned up together. I enhanced my cooking skills this year but, most of all, my contribution as a team member in this group soared to great heights. From helping the younger members with the culinary tasks, to handling a pan full of hot oil, cooking popovers, I have the the confidence to cook a meal all by myself. Next year I would like to help in planning a cooking project meeting with my adviser, Nichole, who is my cooking mentor.
Sewing took me on a new journey this year as I worked as part of a team in the decision making of our senior project and as an individual in sewing a nightgown project. My first clothing project to date. I wasn't sure I could even do this project. However, I was excited to try. With the positive relationship I have with Helen, my peer, I was able to almost complete this project. She was a great help to me. I am grateful to have her by my side in the sewing project. Had I not gotten sick the whole month of April, I would have completed this project. I will finish it this October. I only need to sew on the sleeves. With Helen's help, in showing me how to sew them on, I will be done in no time with a higher self esteem through gained confidence. My only regret in sewing this year is that I hadn't tackled a clothing project before now. I always thought it . would be too difficult for me so, why try? I've realized that I have people around me in 4-H that will help me along the way. I never need to fear being alone, trying to complete a complicated task.
The llama project was a bit of a challenge this year because I didn't get to work with llama as much as I wanted to. At the beginning of November, we all choose a llama that we would be working with all year. Cheyanne was my pick. Although I had worked with her before, we needed to reacquaint ourselves again and gain trust in one another. With only a few project meetings, I had to concentrate hard on gaining trust and confidence in Cheyanne and she in me. Every minute counted.
Our llama project group went on a hike at the grass lands, in Ramona, which was nice because it gave me three hours to just be with Cheyanne. By the third project meeting, Cheyanne and I were old pals and she, in my opinion, was the best managed llama out of our group as she calmly went through each obstacle perfectly. I was ready for the Ramona Jr. Fair competition and was excited about it. My only regret in this year's llama project was that I didn't get to spend more time working with Cheyanne. Next year, I must organize my schedule a bit better so that I can dedicate extra time to this project.
Visual Arts is where I shine and my confidence in this project has never seemed to falter. I love being creative. In fact, I help plan the Visual Arts project every year, go shopping for the supplies and help setup the class each month. I enjoy every aspect of these preparations. Being creative, artistically, holds great value to me as my art design skills are strengthened more and more each year. The visual arts project allows me to grow, not only in creativity but self-awareness in my spiritual well-being. I create out of my imagination. That is so cool.
This year, the seniors did a group project that was so fun. We worked well together creating this piece. We each made a section of the design that, when put together, made one big complete design. Compromising, coming up with suggestions, listening to ideas from the other senior members and creating together was captivating and fun. Working together as a team creates positive relationships which is so important in today's world. I hope to do a project meeting like this one next year.
I was elected the Ramona Stars 4-H Corresponding Secretary for 2017-18. I had the task of sending out Thank You notes, informing the club about upcoming county 4-H events and writing articles about our club to the local newspaper. It was a wonderful feeling to see my articles in the Ramona Sentinel and the Ramona Home Journal while knowing I was responsible for getting the word out to the community about how great 4-H is.
Whenever I find the opportunity to inform people about how important 4-H is, and what a difference it can make in your life, I take it with enthusiasm. Therefore, when the county advisor, Mrs. McAdams, asked me to be involved in a video, advertising 4-H to corporate businesses that are interested in sponsoring the 4-H program, I was definitely on board. In fact, I was so proud of myself when I saw one of my articles about 4-H posted on the San Diego County 4-H website. Becoming the Corresponding Secretary office added to my love of contributing to my community by means of writing, which is one of my passions. I only wish that I had had more time to write more articles in our local paper about what the Ramona Stars 4-H club was accomplishing as I had originally planned to do in the beginning of my year as Corresponding Secretary.
Last, but certainly not the least important, the Beekeeping project. I have saved the best for last. Beekeeping had been encouraged by my father for many years. My response was always the same, "No way ever, and I mean ever, will you get me to be in the Beekeeping project. Are you crazy? Those little bugs sting you!" Nonetheless, a few of my very close friends were in the beekeeping project, thus, with their convincing ways, I was doomed to be forever more terrified, but did it anyway, and joined the beekeeping project. At my first meeting, being fully out of my comfort zone, my friends and adviser, Ms. Kim, made me feel so at peace with the bees and my love for them began to grow, as did my awareness of how fascinating and important bees are to the world. They are not my enemy, as I had always imagined. Within a short time, I was right in the middle of the hives, checking for honey. Oh, how I love the taste of honey!
It's ironic, really. I was so afraid of bees for so long. 4-H gave me the opportunity to experience this project and ease my fear. I am forever grateful for these experiences and the chance to grow as a person in character. Becoming a well-rounded citizen of this world is so important to me and this organization plays a huge part in this journey of my teenage life.
So why do I call this essay "The True Meaning of a Wonderful Teenage Life?" Because after experiencing all that I get to experience through 4-H I truly believe I have a wonderful teenage life. It is filled with friends, leadership, teamwork, caring for animals, and community service. My spark is 4-H and I'm so very lucky!