Team work really does make the dream work by Cecilia

Team work really does make the dream work by Cecilia - April 2022 Scholarship Essay

One of my more recent volunteer experiences is the one that has taught me the biggest lesson. In Spring of 2021, I began picking up trash along the road in my town. I did this alone, but quickly realized how time consuming it is. And while that is okay and I continue to take time to pick up trash along the road, I discovered the importance of team work. I am an extremely independent person, I am pretty strong willed and feel a sense of accomplishment when I do something alone, something I didn't think I could do. I don't like asking for help most of the time, which may be a fault, but like I said, I'm independent and I don't like to bother people. When it comes to the environment though, I am okay with not being independent. That is something that I cannot do by myself, a place too big for me to take on. And as much as I wish that it would only take myself to help and change our environment, I know that is simply not true.

So, fast forward to 2021, I conducted a trash pick up on a larger scale. I grabbed some friends and students at the University I attend and we went to a local lake which is notorious for having lots of trash. To say the day was a success would be an understatement. I would not have been able to do that alone, or it would have taken several days, several trips to the dumpster, and an aching body. I always knew that team work was important in things such as sports and the work place, but in my opinion, even more so in volunteering. Together, we can create a change and accomplish all the good things in the world. In many more ways than just the environment, such as donating, making quilts, volunteering at homeless shelters or humane societies, and so much more. Earth is our only home, and it is pretty important to do what we can and to work as a team to help it. So much more can be done, so many new ideas, and even new friendships can be made.

I think the important lesson to take away from this is that we can't be heroes alone, but we can be together, which is more than okay. Alongside this, a lesson I learned is to help and volunteer whenever you can, because maybe that group or that person needs a team. If we all had that mentality, the positive change would be endless. It takes a team, so we do our part and volunteer together. Volunteering isn't about doing something good or to feel good about yourself, it's about making a difference. Making a difference in someone's day or for someone's life, making a difference for the future generations, for our planet, for animals, for each other. It isn't bad to feel good about volunteering, but that isn't the point. The point is bigger than that.