Wisdom through Leadership by Amanda

Wisdom through Leadership by Amanda - April 2022 Scholarship Essay

As a student in the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, I volunteer in my community as part of my educational experience and preparation for college. During my Freshman year, I volunteered at Glazier Elementary School as part of the After School Education Program (ASES), which is a partnership with public schools and communities to provide academic and literacy support, as well as a safe after-school environment for students. My role at the school was to serve as a tutor for third graders for language arts and math. Three days a week, I would assist the ASES teacher by helping students comprehend and complete their work.

As a volunteer tutor, I learned how to communicate with young children and help them with their homework. I remember one particular student asking me to help him do division, so I sat down with him and worked with him step by step to understand and complete his math homework. From this experience and others, I have learned the importance of effective communication, patience and positive reinforcement in teaching children and building their confidence in their abilities. However, I also learned that it is important to build relationships with children in order to develop trust and make them feel cared for. This is why before beginning to help my students with their homework, I would ask them, “How’s your day going?” “What did you do in school today?” “Are they excited about the weekend?” Then I would help them with their math, reading and writing. As a mentor and leader, I continually try to develop my communication skills in order to better understand where people are coming from, what their needs are, and what their gifts and talents are, so we can work together more productively. From my volunteer and leadership experiences, I have developed more self-confidence, self-esteem, and social skills. The ASES program has made me realize I enjoy working with students, so, in the future, I would like to pursue a career where I can continue to work with young people.

Furthermore, with my busy schedule of doing volunteer work, participating in other extracurricular activities, such as AVID and Link Crew, and my keeping up with my schoolwork, I have learned to stay more organized and be more disciplined about managing my time by using an agenda, planning my daily, weekly and monthly schedule, and attending tutoring when I need extra help with my class work. As a result of managing my time and setting my priorities, I feel much more prepared for college and my career where things will probably get even more hectic.