A New Family by Ashley

A New Family by Ashley - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

At the age of seven, my mother immigrated from Taiwan and experienced difficulty furthering her education until a bilingual friend helped her adjust to America. Knowing her childhood, I recognized the benefits of being a California native and noticed the parallel hardships that my school’s foreign students face: they were hesitant to ask questions, unable to participate in class, and failed to recognize their mistakes.

With inspiration from my mom, I attempted to allow these students to stand on equal ground with others by becoming President of American High School’s L-Connection Club. Along with other officers, I introduced American standards and took steps integrating foreign students into the community through bonding and tutoring. I ensured that each member received one-on-one help by gathering enough capable students who evinced that they were willing to share their exceptional academic skills. At the bonding events, we played classic games such as Uno, Charades, and Mafia, and everyone would participate with genuine smiles from cheek to cheek. As a result, students gained more confidence and became comfortable in school, knowing they had friends and familiarizing themselves with American High School's environment.

Personally, I gained unforgettable experiences, memories, and friends that not only helped me grow individually, but also developed the skills to effectively explain strategies so that those unfamiliar with American culture and language would immediately understand. I additionally learned the significance of patience, realizing that frequent reminders combined with gentle encouragement can help others learn effectively. My service in community-oriented clubs is meaningful to me because of the lasting difference I make on other lives. Partaking in honest social interaction among students from all types of backgrounds is contenting, and I hope to continue establishing communication for lasting friendships and experiences.

However, I believe my actions as President of L-Connection Club have also benefited AHS and its student body by spreading positivity. Although the club seems to be focused on English Language learners, I actually encouraged anyone who needed a bit of extra help to attend the club meetings and ended up creating a diverse group of students who welcomed and sympathized with one another. The tutoring sessions evoked an inner urge to help others, inspiring me to go out of my way for others, and I am sure the members felt the same. L-Connection Club grew into one large family capable of inspiring and connecting with other students to make school a happier place.