(Freshman Advice) It's Only Impossible When You Think It Is! by Colin

(Freshman Advice) It's Only Impossible When You Think It Is! by Colin - March 2019 Scholarship Essay

When I was entering my freshman year in high school one of the older scouts in my Venturing Crew said that if I can see it happen, I can make it happen. This was never more evident through my high school experience as when I achieved my most significant accomplishment when I was planning my Eagle Scout Project. It was a one-and-a-half year project where I constructed a beautiful 9/11 Memorial in my hometown in front of our oldest fire hall. The project brought the whole town together to not let the victims of the attacks be forgotten. To construct the memorial I sent a request to the New York/ New Jersey Port Authority to receive steel artifacts of the former Twin Towers. I was informed six months later that our municipality would be receiving 13 artifacts when originally I was guaranteed only one. This helped expand my project to be larger than originally planned and I conducted multiple fundraisers to support the cost. Though the project was very lengthy with the amount of paperwork and permissions I had to receive to construct my ideal memorial, I persevered. After several City Council meetings I worked with local businesses which donated much needed supplies and materials like two 12-foot I-beams. I set these I-beams in a poured concrete pad and welded the artifacts to them constructing a sculpture commemorating the former World Trade Center towers. I had a black granite monument placed in front of the sculpture dedicating the project to all first responders who died in the attacks, and those who carry on those jobs today. I held a dedication ceremony after construction was finished and I’ve been working with the fire hall ever since to hold remembrance events. I will always be able to come back to my town and see what my hard work resulted in and continue to hear about how much it means to those who visit it every Patriot Day.