Be-YOU-tiful by Heather

Be-YOU-tiful by Heather - March 2017 Scholarship Essay

Everyday I strive to be a better person than who I was yesterday. I try to be a light in that dark place. I want others to see a difference in me, not by my words but by my actions.
I grew up in a Christian home and attended Island Christian Preschool and went to the VBS’s there for many years. It was not until a National Youth Conference called “Challenge” that I began to feel the need for God’s hand in life and that I want to make a difference in other people lives. That Conference changed me. I had heard sermons my whole life but none touched me in such a way as that conference did. It has been since that conference 4 years ago that my real walk with Christ began.
Three years ago I had the opportunity to visit Nicaragua with my church- Dix Hills Evangelical Free Church. I stayed at the Villa Esperanza. Working with the girls at the Villa Esperanza and also with other ministries in poor communities we shared the love of Christ. We helped everyday at a feeding center set up in a very poor community right in the city dump. This community is known as Cristo Rey (Christ the King). Thousands live there and search for trash daily looking for any scraps of food or materials for survival. A teammate and I noticed how dark and dreary it was. It was void of color and cheer. It looked hopeless. I was only 14 at the time so instead of joining the older team members building houses I stayed at the feeding center serving and helping there. My teammate (around my age) and I brainstormed one night on how to bring color and joy to such a place. We came up with a plan to paint a mural on the entire side wall of the feeding center. We only had two days to do it and very limited materials. We decided and were successful in painting a huge Noah’s Ark with a big rainbow and cross, complete with tons of animals. Many in the community came to watch, curious as to what and why we were doing such a thing. The mural is still there to this day and I pray it brings hope and joy to the people there.
On the same trip to Nicaragua, I also finally met a girl named Ana who lived at the Villa Esperanza. She was a girl my sister Sarah had become close to and my family packed her Christmas gifts every year. I knew “Heather” is not a Spanish name and the people maybe could not pronounce it, she simply called me “Estrella”- “star”. Also, a little boy at the feeding center who did not know Ana called me the same. I asked Ana why she called me that. She sweetly answered, “You are like a bright star shining in my dark world”. We stay in touch on Facebook and through letters. She sends the letters through any Long Island team that visits to the Villa Esperanza. They somehow found their way to my family’s church mailbox. I have saved every one of them. These are just a few areas in my life where I stepped up to make a difference. I believe everyone can make a difference if they stay true to their faith and are confident in what they are doing.
I attend Northport High school. It is not easy place to be everyday and is certainly NOT Christ centered. However, this makes it the best place to evangelize and share my faith. I have been invited to many parties and invited to events in the past where I knew there would be alcohol and other substance abuse. However, I never attend them. With my strong faith and morals I know this is not right. I have lost many friends- some I considered to be like sisters to me, because of all this partying. It hurts me to the core to not hang out with the people I used to anymore but I know God is my healer. I am working through it and using it as a learning experience and growing stronger in my faith because of it.
My future is taking shape but I know that at any minute God may change my direction. Where he leads I will follow. God never promised his followers an easy road. In fact, it might be a tougher road but with God before me I have no fear!
I want to inspire people to not be scared. To be who they are meant to be. It is okay to be different. I had to do step way outside of my comfort-zone in order to stay true to who I am. I encourage you to just be you, to not change for anyone. Be-YOUtiful. Beautiful things can happen when you just be yourself and step up.