My name is Abigail Meikle and I am almost 18. I have spent almost five of those almost eighteen years in Naperville Illinois, five in Hudson Ohio, and the beginning eight in Detroit Michigan.

I belong to a family of five, with three sisters (I’m the middle), my mother and my father. We are sarcastic and competitive, but ultimately all is forgiven over my Dad’s chocolate chip pancakes. Every week we try to have a family night, where we rotate who picks what to do. The popular options are movies, board games, Mexican Train and Mario Cart, which can be truly frightening if the race for first is a close one. Two years ago we took a trip to Greece which resulted in my favorite family vacation, a few sunburns, and the photo you see to the right.

 

I belong to other families as well, including my guard family. We laugh and we love to be silly, but we really put a lot of effort and heart into what we produce. My four years in this family contain some of my most important and impactful lessons from high school. Guard has taught me how to fail and shake it off, how to work hard and play hard, and how to have patience when someone is driving you crazy. Guard has encouraged me to have more confidence and self respect, and I hope to promote that in my team along with my two other co captains and best friends, Mikayla and Shannon. 

I not only co captain, but also work with Shannon and Mikayla at Pump it Up, where I spend my Saturday’s slinging pizza and singing happy birthday. I love seeing the children have a good time, although some of the parties I’ve worked have been truly terrifying (one kid bit another on the shoulder for taking his seat.)

 

In the summers, I work at Camp Cedarbrook of Ohio as a Camp counselor and archery and riflery instructor. This past year I finally graduated from the three year camper in leadership  training program to take that role, and I can honestly say that was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I got to make my torch and give my testimony of faith in front of the whole camp (that’s me on the far left) and thank goodness I did not wear makeup because I was crying the whole time. I now go by the name Flame at that camp for the flame crested tanager (all the counselors go by bird names) following my sister and mother, the Summer and Scarlet tanagers respectively.

All these people and experiences have helped to form the person I am today. My family communicates to me that I am kind, I am loving, and I value respect. Guard reassures me that I am strong, I am confident, and I have the ability to encourage and build up others. My work reminds me that I am diligent, a perfectionist and a leader. My faith teaches me to love above all else, to always be aware that I may not know others backgrounds, and to trust in God. But even with and despite all those things, I am my own person. I am willful, I am empathetic, and I still cry at the beginning of Finding Nemo when the mom dies. I am a feminist, I am intelligent, and I want to do something that changes people’s lives. I am a binge watcher, I am stubborn, and I want to travel the world. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am me.