Discus Award Winner
Winners Gallery
Melissa Lopez
12th Grade, MN
ATTRIBUTES
Academics
My school is another home for me. I love to learn about different things everyday. My favorite subject is math because it always works. I find math therapeutic, which I think is something very unique. I work extremely hard to make sure I understand new concepts that we are learning. As soon as I understand something I get it. My friends and fellow classmates ask me for help when they don't get it. Sadly, I am a much better student then teacher, but I do think that by teaching others I begin to understand it even more and am more confident with my learnings. I stay focused and am open to the material. I have read Tolstoy's less known novels about poverty. I am looking forward to college level novels that I can depict and find meanings.
Community Service
I have done lots of community service for my elementary school. I work at social events and I also coach volleyball and softball for 5-7 grade girls. I have done Leap for Children and Habitat for Humanity. My spectrum class (a class made up of English, Social Studies, and Religion). Once a week, instead of having class, we chose a service site, and I choose the St. Matthew's Daycare and Preschool. I help with 3 and 4 year-olds and give them the attention that they wouldn't get elsewhere. I also am in National Honors Society and our group is discussing what our big service should be this year. Most likely we will be volunteering at Feed My Starving Children. I also am looking forward to volunteering at Dorthy Day'f food shelter soon.
Work
Two summers in a row I was an Intern at Alliance Bank. Last summer, I didn't return but nannied. My most remarkable work is three nights a week I take care of an elder woman named Carol. Carol is in her seventies and has Parkinson's Disease. THe three nights I work, I make sure she takes the right pills, get her to bed, and then sleepover incase anything happens. She usually wakes up a few times, and more often then none, she falls. We've had a few bad falls, but mostly she tells me she is fine and goes back to sleep. This experience has been good for me because I am very shy, and working with Carol has forced me to be moreoutgoing. I started working for Carol when I was 16. I am now 18 and I am thankful I get to take care of Carol.
