Jacob Francis Tramp. I A Senior Chugiak

¶ … Jacob Francis Tramp. I a senior Chugiak High School Eagle River, Alaska. I 1 older sister 1 younger sister boy family. I live mother father. I Eagle Scout. My project building flower boxes kindergartens.

Personal statement: University of Fairbanks

If I were to describe myself in one word it would be this: Alaskan. To me, the word 'Alaskan' sums up all of the positive traits of my character: the fact that I am outdoorsman, adventurous, and undaunted in the face of adversity. I am currently a senior at Chugiak High School in Eagle River, Alaska. My goal is to attend the University of Fairbanks and major in Construction Management.

Most of my extracurricular activities revolve around my passion for the outdoors. Becoming an Eagle Scout was one of the proudest moments of my life, the cumulating effort of a lifetime of scouting. To earn my status, I had to engage in a number of community service projects designed to improve my locality. For example, to enable my local kindergarten to see local flowers bloom every year, I built window boxes outside of the schoolroom. As well as beautifying the classroom, this will also teach the young students about nature.

I have volunteered to collect food for my local food bank; engaged in various charitable efforts for the Lions Club; and for my Catholic Church. One of my most exciting efforts as a volunteer was my work for some local dog sledding events. This allowed me to blend my love for uniquely Alaskan pastimes and animals together.

However, the most meaningful service effort I have ever completed cannot be easily summed upon on a resume. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer this past March. Because of the difficulties her treatment has caused for my family's routine, I have had to make extra efforts to 'pitch in' to help my family. I have two sisters and am the only boy in the family. My mother's diagnosis has forced me to grow up quickly as I take on added responsibilities to help the family run smoothly so she will not have any extra stresses. Fighting cancer is hard enough: she should not have to see my sisters and myself engage in any typical sibling rivalries and fight over who has to do certain chores.

Living in a household with a parent fighting cancer means constantly having to act more mature than my years, and to take on many of the duties my mother used to assume. Getting my younger sister up in time for the school bus, checking to make sure we have food for dinner, doing the yard work, and other tasks have now become second nature to me. My mother needs to focus all of her energies on becoming well and keeping a positive attitude.

My mother's illness has enabled me to appreciate the little things in life, like the time we spend together as a family. It makes me appreciate my own health, and the emotional strength we have as a family. Before my mother was ill, I used to wonder why life was unfair to me, because I didn't have everything I desired, materially and socially in high school. The blessings of life are so much more important than a new pair of shoes or being the quarterback of the football team. Once, I used to idolize sports stars: now, my mother is my hero.