Giving back to my community by Chawka

Giving back to my community by Chawka - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

Little did I realize that volunteering as a tutor would teach me some of the most important life lessons. There is a student who immediately comes to my mind when I think of what tutoring is all about. Her name is Starling, a refugee from Somalia. She came to America knowing no English. With great courage and a keen desire, she came to me to ask for help, hoping to improve her English and her grades in school. Having been to foreign countries myself, I understood how hard it is to immerse in a foreign culture and speak the native language.
I volunteered to teach her, hoping to make her assimilation into American culture a bit easier. Sometimes, it can be a real adventure to teach a foreign language learner, and other times a great pleasure and cultural experience. By helping Starling with her homework, or even simply explaining basic grammar, it can lead to cultural discussions that help both her and me to understand each other's culture. For example, while I was helping her write an essay for global studies about Islam, I was more than happy to educate her because I am very familiar with the subject as a follower of Islam. After finishing her homework, we talked about our cultures and how they are similar in some aspects and different in others. Teaching another person also encourages the tutor to be patient, understanding, and sensitive to the student's needs. Certainly, I've realized the benefits of teaching, learning, and cooperating.
Tutoring has sparked an interest in me to continue helping others in college. I have come to realize that it has benefitted both me and the student being tutored because it strengthens my understanding of the material as I reinforce and teach what I learned in class.
After volunteering at North Side Learning Center, I have chosen to become a doctor because I can combine both what I enjoy, including biology and helping others. Being a doctor, knowing that small changes can be big, and working hard in a field I am passionate about will inspire me every day for success, professionalism, and motivation.
Through volunteering, I learned that I can help people by doing small things and that can change a lot. These experiences start to build up and create unique skills that I may possess soon after. Also, after volunteering at the Rescue Mission I learned valuable life lessons, that not everyone is happy about life and that a simple greeting and smile can change someone's life by them knowing that someone cares. I believe in the quote by Mohandas Gandhi “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Change happens through small actions as they are the base of the foundation for support. I plan on continuing to volunteer while in college and beyond at several different places to gain more experience and enhance my time management skills. Giving back to our communities is important because it teaches us to find compassion and to stay attached to values that are linked to the common good.