Describe a Significant Opportunity in Your Life and the Impact That It Has Had on You.

I was an addict. I needed to sing. On July 11, 2001 I was forced to take an opportunity that would forever change the course of my life. At 14-years-old, what I wanted most was to spend the summer taking singing lessons, but was denied the opportunity of becoming one of the world's best songstresses and was sent off by my father to build roofs. I thought it was an end to a dream.

I was that young woman. Reluctantly I stuffed clothes in a bag while still yelling out to my dad, "I don't want to go. Why do I have to go?" At the moment I felt my father had become my own sworn nemesis, forcing me to go on the youth group's trip and striping me of music. My cries and shrieks were fruitless and furiously I boarded the bus that would take me to a far away land 10 miles away from my home. I felt like a man being escorted out to serve a life sentence. Finally Kenny Cheshier, the youth minister made me breaks my solemn silence, by explaining to mewhat "World Changers" was and what we were to be doing. He eloquently informed me that I was to get up at 5:00 a.m. in order to eat breakfast and be ready to leave at 6:30 p.m. to replace a roof. He seemed unaware of the fact that we lived in Texas and it was summer.

The sun blazed, beads of sweat began to form on my forehead and it was only 8:00 a.m. The strangers around me notwithstanding, I sang to keep from going insane. We worked all afternoon and the owner of the house had not come out to thank us or even say hello. It finally came time to pack up and leave when a woman called from inside the house.

"Hey, girl with the black shirt" I looked around and I was the only one foolish enough to wear black outside. I didn't know what to do. I was signaled by Kenny to go ahead, frankly I was terrified. I slowly entered the aged house and saw an ebony woman in a wheelchair. Her face was a testament of time and its harsh effect upon our souls and bodies. It was a sea of tiny ripples. She called me to her side and kissed my hand. I was speechless. She asked for me to thank the group for their hard work and confessed that she had heard me sing. Having time to recuperate from the shock of the sincere gesture I said that I would thank everyone for her and decided to leave. Before I could walk out the door I heard her say that my singing made her feel good.

The next morning brought about great expectations I awoke at 4:30 a.m. and was eager to get