In Front of My Eyes Anonymous

“When are you coming home?” I anxiously asked my mother over the phone.

Home for Christmas break, I grew tired of playing with my two-year-old brother while my parents worked. Glen was adopted domestically from a Bengali and Puerto Rican family, and though initially I couldn’t understand my parents’ reasoning for adopting him, I accepted him into our family. My parents believe in generosity, always teaching me to be open to strangers; thankfully, they practiced more than they preached, and bringing my brother into our family offered a valuable lesson in compassion. As my relationship with Glen blossomed, I understood that caring for others is its own reward – I cherish my memories of watching him grow. Now older, I fully understand and appreciate my parents’ decisions as they’ve helped guide my journey.

In high school, I actively sought opportunities to help others. As a member of the Mission Club, I assisted with various campaigns; as a volunteer for (town) Elementary School, I tutored third to eighth graders; and as a volunteer at (town) Library, I helped staff run activities for children and read books to our youngest visitors. While traveling to Mexico, my family visited Casa Hogar, a network of small orphanages to donate...