Keeping My Thank Yous by Aubrey

Keeping My Thank Yous by Aubrey - April 2022 Scholarship Essay

“Always say thank you.”
The words that are so simple to say but so difficult to acknowledge. The saying your mother instructs you to say in order to instill politeness. The phrase “thank you” is used to express gratitude for another’s service and has always been an easy roll off the tongue. But I’ve come to understand “thank you” more so as a promise for a later act of giving back.
Growing up, I’ve been exposed to many joys and opportunities that have helped form who I am today. From enjoying breathtaking sunsets at the beach to watching spectacular theatrical performances at the Straz, each of these experiences ended with a “thank you.” But at the time, I didn’t fully understand the phrase's weight. It wasn’t until I started participating in beach clean ups that I understood the importance of “thank you.”
This past February, I was scheduled for an early morning cleanup, where I managed to pick up nearly ten pounds of trash. As I lugged my bucket down the soft, uneven shores, I felt my arm get heavier with each piece that I picked up. The bucket finally became so heavy that I decided to stop to give my arm a rest. As I sat on the quiet beach, I saw a family of four playing on the clear, sandy terrain. Their laughter bounced across the arenose surface, echoing in my ears. Watching the two small children play in the sand, they reminded me of my own adventures on the beach. Running through the sand and splashing in the water, purely enjoying the beach’s beauty. Looking down into my overflowing bucket of litter, I see all of the possible dangers and waste that may have polluted and spoiled the innocent scene that unfolded in front of me. I acknowledged the luxury of being able to see miles and miles of tan dunes, having not a single worry of running into a displaced broken glass bottle. Picking up my bucket, I felt the soreness in my arm, but instead of thinking of the pain, I thought of the future families who may visit the beach.
In my life, I want to keep my promises (my thank yous) and give back to the world that has given me so much. I plan to make art and preserve the natural arts so others may enjoy the beauties that I already have.