Chosen prompt: : Reflect on a personal accomplishment which has helped you develop your understanding of yourself or the world around you.

1. A Small Step To
A Big Change
Richelle Erica Conde - IE University Application
PROMPT: Reflect on a personal accomplishment which has helped you develop your understanding of yourself or the world
around you.

2. Hi! My name is Ica. I
am 19 years old and
currently live in Manila,
Philippines.
Growing up in the Philippines, I was fortunate enough to be privileged in the sense
that I had access to a comfortable livelihood. However, it is difficult to ignore the
poverty that is present in the same places that were involved in my life. Growing
up, I was constantly taught and reminded of the importance of giving back and
sharing my blessings. As a result, ever since I was a kid, 8 years old to be specific, I
have been volunteering in several feeding programs, fundraisers, donation drives,
and many more.
Everyone who has met me knows that I have a burning
passion when it comes to bettering the lives of other
people.
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3. 02
I have always wanted to start something small and work
hard to turn it into something big, but most
importantly, I have always wanted to make a change
and give back to the community which is why I
started ADLAW – A nonprofit organization that is in
the business of selling eco-bags that advocate for
sustainability.
Back in 2019, I came up with the idea of founding a
business focused on making the world a better place.

4. 100% of the profit earned from this endeavor was used to
purchase essentials needed by children such as diapers,
medicine, and school supplies which were donated to the
children of the Tahanan ng Pagmamahal, which is a home
for neglected children, and the Bacolod Street Kids
(another beneficiary of this small business which we were
able to include thanks to the overwhelming support of our
customers) during the Christmas season.
The feeling I felt almost two years ago while helping the
children was amazing & unforgettable and it's definitely
something I'd be delighted to feel once again. Seeing the
smiles on their faces brought me joy. Simply thinking
about how I was able to be of service to these loving kids
made me feel fulfilled.
Aside from helping others out, it was also my goal to
influence people to do their part in
conserving our home for the next generations to
come by switching to eco-friendly alternatives.

5. Starting ADLAW taught me so many life lessons and exposed me to
the realities of the world outside my comfort zone. It was a starting
point and I yearned to do more for the community. Being aware of
other people's situations made me want to come up with more ways
and initiatives to help people in need.
I would like to include this experience as one of my most memorable
ones because it gave me the opportunity to use my passion for business
in a way that could make a difference in other people's lives.
This experience of mine just proves that you can never be "too young"
to serve and make a lasting impact on others!

6. My 18th Birthday Fundraiser
During my 18th birthday, I started a donation drive for
the COVID-19 frontliners by encouraging family and
friends to pledge funds to Project Kamayan in lieu of gifts.
Knowing that I was just isolating and staying home while
frontliners were risking their lives during the pandemic
made me feel like I wasn't doing my part, so this birthday
fundraiser was a way of showing my appreciation for
their efforts. I was inspired be active in helping in my
own way.

7. Through this fundraiser, I was able to collect a total of
Php71,070 (€1,200). This was used to purchase meals for
almost a thousand frontliners which included hospital
staff, police officers, street food vendors, gas station
attendants, and the like.
Though it does not seem like much, I was glad to be
able to help even in my own simple way, and also made
my birthday feel more special. Everyone is struggling to
fight against Covid-19, however, frontliners are the
people who are at risk the most and are willing to make
sacrifices to be able to save others.
My 18th Birthday Fundraiser

8. Another thing I am passionate about is caring for all
kinds of animals. I believe that every stray,
abandoned, and abused animal deserves a chance at
love, a home, and a warm bed to sleep at night.
I partnered with the Philippine Animal Welfare
Society (PAWS) Animal Rehabilitation Center for
my birthday this year by donating goods and
spending time with the animals.

9. Living in a third-world country, I am constantly
surrounded by families who are not as financially
capable of supporting themselves making it
important to be a catalyst of change.
It satisfies me to see the heart-felt content and
happiness through the eyes of people whom I am
able to help. The self-satisfaction fills my heart and I
expect nothing in return.
We never know how significant our help is until we
see people doing better in their lives because of us.
You will be surprised at how your life changes when
those around you become self-sufficient, less
dependent, are able to provide for themselves, or just
suffering less — that is the effect of helping not the
purpose.

10. I was raised by a family that values humility and
taught me to always be open to opportunities that
will help me become a better version of myself. If I
am given the opportunity to study at IEU, I will
work hard to not only excel in the academic aspects
but also to uphold the values of the university. Most
importantly, I would like to apply my learnings to be
able to give back to the Filipino & Spanish
community.
These may be small things, but if we all took action
together, we can make a difference so big, it could
change the world we live in.