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On Friday I was walking to school across here,
and it was really icy.
All of a sudden, I ...
and I fell in the middle of the street.
I was sopping wet because it was like slush.
My name is Lisa Adachi. I'm 18 years old.
I love ice cream and yoga.
I love basketball boys. And basketball.
I'm kind of like the mom of the group
because I know a lot of things
and always have tissues in my purse.
Everyone always says, "Oh hey, Mom."
These are my nieces, my sister's kids, so
we cook a lot of food. How many cups of flour did I put in?
I'm pretty sure it was three.
My parents got divorced when I was in second grade.
And everyone else had two parents,
and I just kind of only had one.
So I felt left out at the daddy-daughter stuff.
But I've learned that that part of my life
is over, and I've gotten past it.
I feel comfortable with just being myself, and
that's the most defining thing that has helped me become
empathetic with others, and also just being
really grateful for the things I do have.
I've kept a journal for about two years,
and it's one of the best things I've ever done.
When I'm really sad about something,
I've been able to look back and see how a few pages down,
it always works out. It's OK.
So journaling is one of my favorite things to do
'cause I think it helps me a lot in my life.
I was just finishing junior high
and felt so overwhelmed and inadequate,
so I really wanted to find something I was good at.
I felt like everyone had sports or like, an instrument
or something. That's when I found Operation Smile.
It's a children's charity, and they do reconstructive
cleft lip and palate surgery all over the world.
In 45 minutes, which is shorter than my lunch period,
one thing can be corrected to change someone's life.
I went on a medical trip with a bunch of doctors and nurses
to Amman, Jordan, in the Middle East, next to Iraq and Syria.
We were to educate kids and families about things
like dental care and nutrition.
One of my favorite experiences in Jordan was when
I was sitting on the ground with kids surrounding me.
I was so dirty and so tired.
But these kids just smiled up at me, and in that moment,
I'd never felt happier in my entire life.
I knew it was so worth it,
just for maybe even one kid smiling at me,
just saying, "Shukran, shukran," "Thank you, thank you."
I was like, "I'm not even doing anything."
But it was so life-changing at that very moment.
I knew I wanted to keep that in my life forever.
Service is not just a series of acts, but a lifestyle.
I believe that ice cream and yoga
and brownies can make anyone smile.
My name is Lisa Adachi. I'm a high school senior.
Sorry, sorry, sorry. I'm a klutz.
I'm a humanitarian, I love to smile,
and I am a Mormon.