Meet Vanessa

Dear Eternal Smiles Foundation, my name is Vanessa. I am 13 years old and am currently in 8th grade. As you know, a new chapter of my life is just beginning. Can you guess it? That’s right, high school, and as many new phases, change and opportunities are very much needed. For me, braces could change my life, and here are the reasons why. 

All my life, I have always been a silly, talkative, caring, loving little girl. I would always talk to my friends and still do. I love Facetiming my friends and hanging out with them. It’s some of my best memories. However, there was more to that. I was very self conscious of my appearance. And I always have. I was so shy, I began hiding my true feelings and personality. Because I was afraid of what others would think or say, this not only impacted my self esteem but also what I was willing to do in the future. I became super shy when trying out new things, especially in my new environment, and so I made a vow to myself: no matter what, I keep trying. Me getting braces is me trying. Trying to change my life for the better. It wouldn’t just be me either, it would help countless people. 

I aspire to be a doctor in the future, specificially a dermatologist, in which I was already accepted into a pre-med program which would greatly help me with my future path. I strive to be able to repay this favor with the happiness that my clients would receive after I treat them. People don’t always need the latest fashion clothes, sometimes what they need is better self esteem and good confidence, which I dream of being able to give others. 

In addition, I’m very active in my school community. I’m in many clubs and teams, like piano, choir, etc. I’m also in a lot of team sports: some are cheerleading, ballet, tap, tennis, and figure skating. One of the things I have noticed between them are how I always have a lack of confidence, as I was never brave enough to show my smile to laugh big. Braces wouldn’t just fix my teeth, it would change my life, my future. It would boost my confidence, start a new path, and help me see how I can overcome obstacles that seemed impossible years ago. 

Some goals seemed impossible for a long time. However, with braces, it could help me shoot for my goals. I wish to open my own business in the future and show how someone like me, embarassed to smile, was able to completely transform themselves. I also hope to enter a top university in which I have to save everything. Part of the reason why I can’t pay for braces, despite the struggles I had, I firmly believe that with braces my whole life could flip around. And these are the reasons why would braces change my life for the better. 

Another thing I would like to share with you: when I was 9 years old, I lost it all in a big fire that burned down everything. In the span of a couple minutes, I lost my house, my memories, my photos, and all of my beloved toys and belongings. Although they didn’t have very much physical value, they meant a lot to me as a person. After that, I never thought I would be able to smile again. I thought it was the end of the world, but I was proven wrong. As I grew, I learned that I could overcome my difficulties and learn from them. With this experience, I truly believe that a smile could truly change how you see the world. And that is why I believe I would be a great candidate for the benefits of this program. 

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Vanessa