Make a Difference by Carla

Make a Difference by Carla - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

You may have heard or read the story called ‘The Star Thrower’ by Loren C. Eiseley. The story is about the little girl who walks along the beach throwing washed up starfish back into the sea; when a man told her she couldn’t save all the starfish as there are too many to try and save. The girl explains to the man that even though she can’t save them all, it made a difference to the ones she has thrown back already. The man is inspired by the little girl and joins the her to save as many starfish as possible.
I tell you this story because it relates to some of my life experiences. During high school, I volunteered as a Junior Girl Scout leader. Currently, and for the past seven years, I have been volunteering, as an adult leader, with the Boy Scouts of America program. My hope is that I can make a difference in the lives of today’s youth, along with my own two children, and help to guide them on their journey down the path of their choice. I want to help our youth and my children, to be committed, successful, and productive members of our community, their social environment, and their families.
Along with my volunteering experience, I worked at a gas station offering everyone a smile and a simple hello in hopes to make their day better in high school. Currently, I work with clients everyday through my current employer. The clients I work with are living in a long term care facility or admitted for a short rehabilitation stay. People come into our facility struggling with a debilitation such as an amputation, joint replacement, unable to continue to live alone or with family. Residents within these facilities are sometimes sad, lonely, discouraged, or heartbroken when they don’t have visitors come see them.
Through my current profession as a certified occupational therapy assistant, I work with clients to help them gain strength, confidence, and knowledge, so they may be able to return home. I help them to see that things may not be as bad as they seem. I help them realize that it is possible to live and function with whatever medical condition dealing with. I do this by demonstrating a positive attitude and showing them I care. I do my best to help every person I encounter feel loved and at home by offering them a smile, a hug, or a simple hello. I hope I make a difference in each person’s life in order for them to live the best quality of life as possible.
I want to continue to grow in my professional career and make a difference in everyone I meet. My plan is to return back to school to obtain a bachelor's degree in conjunction with my current associate’s degree. I want to better myself in order to continue to make a difference in my community. It is important to me to make a difference in my community. There is a lot of negativity in the news and a lack of positive role models within society. I want people to look back on my life and know that I did everything in my power to help make this world a better place. I want people to say “I want to be like her and make a difference too.” I want my family to remember me as someone who was always there to help, someone who wore their heart on their sleeve, someone who always loved and cared for them. I want my community to look back on my life and live the example that I have set and be inspired and encouraged to live a legacy of love, peace, and hope for the future of our generations. I want people to question themselves. What is my legacy? What will I do to make a difference? How can I turn this negative situation into something positive? The time is now, go and make a difference in someone’s life!