Making Hospitality More Hospitable by Grace

Making Hospitality More Hospitable by Grace - June 2020 Scholarship Essay

“To whom much is given, much is expected” is the adage I live by. I appreciate the gifts I have been given and feel a responsibility to use them to be an ethical leader for good.

During the past five years that I have been working in the hospitality industry to put myself through college, I have encountered many fellow young employees who have not had the luxury of a stable home life. Due to their circumstances, some have come to work wearing the same uniform they wore the day before, not always being very clean and sometimes, even arriving hungry. The best leaders I have worked with understand not everyone is coming from the same place. As a result, they have provided a safe zone where employees can shower, shave, get a clean uniform and eat a free, hot meal during working hours -- all as part of the job, no questions asked. And what a difference that can make to a teenager struggling to help care for their family and just finish high school.

My intention is to become the kind of leader I hold in high regard – one who is ethical, moral, communicates well and is unbiased. To work for the common good and always look to build up, not knock down, those I will employ – especially those who are most in need and vulnerable.

My goal after college is to start my own event planning company. From my current internship experience, I already know that many of those whom I hire will not be highly educated, skilled or experienced. However, as part of my commitment to give back, I plan to follow in the footsteps of those employers I most admire by making training and education opportunities available and paying everyone well. Allowing each person their dignity is the first step to making the world a more fair and ethical place for all of us.

I am motivated by the idea of developing large-scale events that resolve hard issues and make the world a better place through creative solutions that work. Events like Live Aid, Special Olympics and The Susan Komen Race for the Cure are just a few examples of how special events have the power to change the world.

I have chosen to major in event management in college because I believe with this career I can make a difference that can change lives for the better. I intend to run my own business so I can be a force for change in the industry.