Extraordinary Paper Essay Sample

Life teaches the most important lessons in life when one least expects it. I have been involved in social work since high school. I had volunteered to help the people affected by poverty in Jakarta, Indonesia. I was surprised to see the contrast in life; America was struggling against obesity and Jakarta had people dying of hunger. I was in charge of distributing food packets and giving essential medicines to an orphanage in Jakarta. The orphanage was full of kids surviving on only one meal a day. The very sight of food would bring smiles to their faces. I tried to mingle with them by singing and playing with them. After a week I got to know some children and was saddened to hear their stories. One of the kids Abraham was a victim of terrorism; he had lost both his parents in a racist attack. With nobody to take the boy home, he was put in the orphanage. After meeting Abraham my attitude changed towards life; I was filled with gratitude for having such loving parents. I decided to help the kid come out of his grief and to make him smile once again.
Abraham liked coloring and sketching; I encouraged him to draw. Abraham drew kites, balloons and toys. I gave him a drawing set, with colors and brushes. He started expressing his thoughts through his drawings and mingled with the other kids. I stayed there for about four months. On departing Abraham gave me a parting gift; a drawing of his family along with me in the sketch so that I remember him. It was the most touching and liberating moment for me. The most important lesson of life, being compassionate was taught to me by a little kid