We're Really Not All That Different After All. by Brooklyn

We're Really Not All That Different After All. by Brooklyn - March 2024 Scholarship Essay

Even as a young girl, I always had the gift of compassion. Throughout my growing years, this manifested through always lending a helping hand to a friend in need, lending a listening ear to those around me, and even carrying a first aid kit with me through elementary school just in case someone scrapped their knee.
My compassion hit a new time high in the 11th grade, when I joined my school's PAL program, becoming a mentor for children ranging from kindergarten to 8th grade. I became heavily involved in the service and impact my presence had on my Palee's lives, being a true role model and friend to those who needed it most. This new perspective I was given truly gave me the opportunity to become a key role in their lives, but just as much, they became one in mine as well, shaping my values and pushing me to put helping others on a higher pedestal. My 12th grade year, I was recommended for our Peer Assistance program at the high school, a joined PE class with our AA students. Through this school year, I've embraced both programs with open arms, opening my eyes to the career path of Pediatric Occupational Therapy. Within my PE class, we have learned how to adapt activities to better fit the needs of what the students around us can do. It's not only been a physical change of looking at things through a more compassionate lens, but additionally, a mindset change of pushing the fact that everyone on Earth deserves a fair opportunity to exist within their capabilities. I was able to see that the AA students were truly just like me, but they just face unique struggles that I personally may never grasp. Seeing their personalities grow throughout this year has been such a rewarding aspect of interacting with a population that maybe I wouldn’t have the opportunity to without our Peer Program. I think that with the compassion I have strengthened through both my peer programs, I could make a real difference within my community of helping those who may need just an extra helping hand. I have always known that I wanted to work with kids in some capacity, but through my involvement with such meaningful programs, I truly have a new spark for helping the kids who need that extra person believing and standing behind them.
Ultimately, without my opportunities to help my peers and younger children around me and the new lens I was able to see life through, I wouldn’t have discovered my passions on such a deep level as I have now. The PAL program has also allowed me to gain compassion and a more loving, open heart, teaching me that you can never judge a book by its cover. The PE program has allowed me to be a positive figure in helping the students around me in a meaningful context, allowing a new-found fire to ignite within my heart. Without the chances I've had to immerse myself in these opportunities, I truly would not be standing where I am right now. While I'm still trying to work through the uncertainties that come with the future, I can sit comfortably knowing I have found my passion and will be in a career that opens doors for me to help others, especially our younger generation.