The document summarizes the author's journey to maturity from birth through high school in a collection of pictures and captions. It describes their early years learning basics, elementary school years learning to read/write and make friends, middle school adjusting to new settings and realizing boys don't have cooties. High school brought the most growth, including leadership roles that taught being genuine and compassionate, learning teamwork through lacrosse, and personal growth through charitable work camps helping the less fortunate. Graduation marked feeling mature and ready to handle college responsibilities.

1. MY STEPS TOWARDS
MATURITY
Kourtney Lynn Doherty Through The Years

2. This PowerPoint is a collection of pictures that
capture particular events in my life. I believe
that we mature by learning new things about
ourselves, and by acquiring knowledge
through experience. The events mentioned in
this PowerPoint have all helped me reach new
levels of maturity.

3. The time period between birth and sixth grade, for me, was not as much
a period of learning insightful things about life, but rather a period of
learning the basics of life.
THE EARLY YEARS…

4. NINE MONTHS
Obviously, every journey
has a beginning. This
picture represents the
beginning of my journey
to maturity.

5. PRE- SCHOOL
This is a picture of me showing
off my costume for a Halloween
party. By this point in my life I
have learned manners, how to
test my parent’s buttons, how to
act like a Disney princess, and
how to get my grandparents to
spoil me.

6. ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
This is a picture of me playing
educational games on the
computer. By this point in my life I
have learned how to read and
write, make friends, tie my shoes,
compete with others for grades,
and run around the playground for
hours without becoming tired.

7. MIDDLE SCHOOL
This is a picture of my first day of sixth
grade. Yes, having a bright orange
rolling book bag used to be the cool
thing to do. By this time in my life I
have learned how to adjust to new
settings, walk to the bus stop by
myself, take responsibility for my
actions, act like a young lady, and
realize boys don’t have cooties
anymore.

8. High school was the time in my life that I matured the most. Each of the following
events and activities helped me learn valuable lessons that I will cherish for the rest
of my life. The next set of pictures is a combination of experiences and people that
helped make me into the person I am today.
THE HIGH SCHOOL
YEARS…

9. GWINNETT STUDENT
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Gwinnett Student Leadership Team
(GSLT) was, by far, the best
organization I had the privilege of
being a part of in high school. I was
chosen as one of three students to
represent my school. GSLT taught
me a lot about becoming a
person other people want to
follow and how to apply
leadership techniques to every
aspect
of my life. Being a leader, I learned, is much more than being able to put
“President” or “CEO” at the top of your resume, it is about being a genuine
person who is passionate about the work you are doing and compassionate
with who you are doing it with.

10. LACROSSE
Being on the Varsity Lacrosse team
for three years taught me a lot about
working with others. My team was
composed of people who had many
different personalities and
backgrounds. I learned how to use
constructive criticism, how to
address conflict, and how to be a
part of a team.

11. CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
I was president of just about every club I was a
part of, which involved a lot of hard work and
effort. I learned how to
be open to new ideas, how important
punctuality is, and how to
compromise. One of my biggest
accomplishments was leading a
canned food drive titled “Tackle
Hunger”. After many hours of
preparation and phone calls, my
drive was the most successful
canned food drive my school has
ever had. I learned that when you
work hard to accomplish something,
it is so rewarding to see it fall
together successfully.

12. Catholic Heart Work Camp
Every summer for the past five years I
have attended Catholic Heart Work Camp
(CHWC), which has been one of the most
rewarding experiences during my high
school career. CHWC is a summer camp
that takes place at different locations
across the United States. Teenagers
spend one week during the summer
painting homes, planting gardens, and
providing company for those that are less
fortunate. I have been touched by all of the
residents that I have been able to help.

13. CATHOLIC HEART WORK CAMP
(CONTINUED)
This past summer for CHWC I went to Billings, Montana. My group’s
resident was named Nellie and she changed our lives forever. We had to
paint the fence around her barn, paint her shed, clean her yard, and
organize the inside of her house. She was more grateful than any resident
I had ever helped before. At the end of the week, CHWC invited the
residents to attend our nightly program to thank their work groups for their
service. The following is a video of Nellie’s message to us.
CHWC RESIDENT NIGHT

14. GRADUATION
This is a picture from my high school
graduation. I considered myself to
be very successful in high school. I
accomplished everything that I set
my mind to, and I also learned a lot
through my experiences. By the end
of senior year, I was mature and
ready to handle the responsibilities
of college.

15. "Don't waste your life in doubts and fears: spend yourself on the work
before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties
will be the best preparation for the hours or ages that follow it."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
COLLEGE…