All about me!

         Hey there, My name is Sabrina Andrews! Involvement has always been a large part of my life, I cannot remember a time in my life when I wasn't doing something. I completely credit my character, passion and leadership skills to being involved. I learnt to appreciate my community  at a young age, before I could walk my parents would bring me out to activities with my brothers and I loved to follow their footsteps...that is until I could make my own path. As a child I attended church activities such as praise kids, Sunday school and band. I was also involved in the Bel Canto choir and in the girl guide program, in sparks and brownies. Every summer as a child I attended The Twin Ponds Salvation Army Music Camp, growing up this place felt like home and it was where I learnt to be myself. However, my leadership really began in 2007 when I joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. It is a great feeling to have someone to look up to, but the best feeling in the whole world is to know that someone is looking up to you.
         At 16, in my cadet squadron I am Band Major, Flight Sergant, on the public speaking team, first aid and Duke of Edinburgh, at church  I am a member of senior band, junior band, 4real, teen cell, and divisional youth band , I instruct the preschool Sunday school class, I also take piano and voice lessons, I have a paper route, I work at the Arts and Culture Center as an Usher, I am a member of the Celtic Spirit Dancers performance group and I attend a regular dance class, Children's Wish Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation and I attend youth group. At school, I am on leadership/ student council, Social action and Social action executive, drama club, tutoring for tuition, relay for life, public speaking team,and  band and choir. Sometimes when people hear my schedule they can't understand how i can do so much, still keep high grades, keep everything straight and enjoy it. I don't see it the same way they do, if I'm not doing something it doesn't feel right, and I truly believe that if you're doing something you love it doesn't feel like a chore or something you have to do, because its something you want to do. As for school work, I work better with a schedule, I know exactly know how much time i have to do something and that pushes me to do it, if i had more time i would procrastinate. I consider myself to be a well rounded person and that is the kind of person I want to be.
         Joining the cadet program was one of the greatest decisions I ever made. I joined as soon as I turned 12 and immediately got involved in the squadrons diverse activities. Through cadets I competed in my first ever speak off, from the very moment I stepped behind the podium I fell in love. Public speaking became my passion, and in June of 2010 I competed and represented the province in the national effective speaking competition in Regina, Saskatchewan. When I turned 14 I started the Duke of Edinburgh award. Originally there was four of us working towards the bronze level, but I was the only one from that group to complete it. I caught myself up to the silver group and now I am finished my gold award and waiting to meet the age requirement to receive it. This international award recognizes my achievements, promotes involvement and a healthy lifestyle. In my eyes it is one of the most prestigious awards a person can have. Last year at the Annual Ceremonial Review I was awarded the Legion Medal of Excellence for my citizenship and my involvement, not only in the cadet program but in the community. The cadet program offers camps in the summer, the lengths range from 2-6 weeks and 7 weeks for staff. The first camp I ever attended was general training but for the last 3 years I have attended a 6 week band camp. Through these camps I have achieved my advanced musician levels and made friendships, with people all over the country, that will last forever. I take great pride in being able to say I am a leader in my cadet squadron. 
         Last year, I was named Youth of the Year for my community, this was a great honour for me, not only did I see myself as a leader others did as well. After being named I was a participant in the 2010 and 2011 Miss Teen Achievement Newfoundland Labrador Pageant. In 2010 I won the Community Pride award and this year I made top 10 overall and top 5 in Community Pride, I was also given the honour to spend a weekend with some of the provinces most amazing young ladies, who like me are passionate about what they do. I was also nominated by my town for a UROCK volunteer award. It is a great feeling to know that your community supports you and that your province recognizes you as a youth who is a role model and who posses strong leadership qualities. In grade 9 I was awarded a Horizon leadership Scholarship and became a Horizons student. This was an awesome opportunity for me because I was permitted to attend a leadership development weekend with the other students who had been recognized leaders as well, this was a great weekend and also an amazing learning experience. 
         In the future, I'm not 100% sure what I want to do yet, but I have ideas. I would like to become a music teacher, or enter the Canadian Forces. Those may seem like they are on two completely different sides of the spectrum, and I suppose in a way they are. However, both contain things I am very passionate about. I love music, with all my heart and I love children and when I am in front of a class and I can feel like I am making a difference or that people are learning and interested in what I am saying, there are no words to describe how I feel, it's as if I'm home. The Canadian Forces has been, in my heart and in the back of my mind since I was 11 or 12. I would love to be a peace keeper, posted somewhere across the world. Places like Afghanistan have been devastated, and the Canadian troops have done an amazing job in rebuilding and aiding this country. I feel more than honoured everyday that I am from a country that people are willing to sacrifice themselves for strangers. They are making a huge difference in the world and I would love to be able to do my part. Whatever I end up doing in the future, I am positive I will do something I am passionate about and be where I know I can have the stongest impact! Recently I watched a movie, I don't remember what the movie was or even what it was about, but a quote from the movie stood out in my head and now it's become something I live by, "Truth is the world is going to tell you who you are...until you tell the world!"