A quote that really influences me and resonates in my own path of service is by Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Usually when people say they do service, or any type of volunteering, people see the act of helping others; however, often the self-discovery is overlooked. Volunteering creates the opportunity to learn more about yourself and your own passions, and learn about who/what you are serving. Service has as much of a reward to ourselves as it does to those whom we serve; it is an act where both parties receive something. To me I value this knowledge and self-development, desiring to serve to experience more and widen by perspectives. I view service as a rewarding and mutually beneficial opportunity, not myself going “above and beyond”, but my responsibility as a citizen. Humans are equal, and I am no better than anyone else is. Being more educated and wealthy does not translate to knowledge and talents; every single person has something unique that they can share and teach. I serve because I believe it is my opportunity to exchange “goods” with a community or person, helping while also learning. Service provides the chance to share and hear a person’s story. I serve because I think everyone deserves the chance to be helped and heard. The best way to continue to discover my passions is through service, creating opportunities for vast varieties of service. By serving, I can expand my passions and develop a deeper appreciation and interest, along with learning more. Serving through my passions, I will see different varieties of this passion and can learn about everyone’s personal story that may involve this said passion. This will cause a deeper connection and love for the passions. Personally, I have a passion for the environment, where I can serve my community and other areas to keep it clean and livable. My major, wildlife conservation, is connected to this passion, and serving I would be able to help something I care about, but also gain experience and knowledge for my own career path, aiding me while serving. Another service type I am interested in is food related service. I have done service in soup kitchens, and I thoroughly enjoyed making the connections with these people because everyone has vastly different backgrounds. I am passionate about making sure everyone can have a meal too. One interesting aspect about service is the fact that one of my passions I can use to serve, and another passion I developed by serving. Service gives me the opportunity to discover my own self-interest and my passions. One of the best aspects of service is that fact that while helping a community, you are also helping and discovering yourself. Serving you give, while you receive unreplaceable knowledge about yourself; it is mutually beneficial. One of the reasons service makes people “feel-good” is because of what they are able to take away from serving. When I use my passions geared towards service I am able to get the most out of service. When people feel connected, then they will work harder and more passionately to help this area of service; while talking the time to develop relationships with the people they serve. Service gives me the chance to help while self-discovering, an opportunity that is irreplaceable and cannot be achieved through other activities. I enjoy serving others because I have the tools and ability to help others, so I want to use these skills. In addition, I learn about different cultures and backgrounds that provide insight into the world, and affects myself. I serve for these opportunities to help and gain knowledge, and the experience that widens my perspectives and opens my mind. Serving provides endless opportunities to experience different cultures, people, and places, which help enrich our minds and helps us connect to these people. I want to serve in areas that I am knowledgeable and passionate about so I am able to use my strengths to provide help. I serve, as Gandhi said, to lose myself in service while having the ability to find myself along the way.