Be the Captain! by GRANT

Be the Captain! by GRANT - July 2018 Scholarship Essay

"Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm," stated Publilius Syrus. As I think about all the times I have been out boating with my dad, fishing the deep waters of the Gulf, that statement becomes more clear and meaningful to me. Especially as I recall the day my dad first taught me to drive the boat. The boat was at first simple to manage in the calm morning waters, a breeze to direct its path wherever I chose to steer. However, as the day progressed, the weather changed, and the waves began to build. As the winds and waves pushed against my efforts to control the boat, I realized that this wasn't going to be so easy. Could I do this? Should I just let dad do it? I began to let fear and doubt creep in, and I had to make a conscious choice to not give up. I had to work twice as hard to stay the course, never taking my eyes off of the intended direction, gripping the wheel and never releasing the tools that must be used to achieve arrival to my destination. Success was achieved that day, as we returned safely to our dock, with a new "captain". A feeling of pride and sense of accomplishment filled my soul knowing I had battled and persevered!
I want to inspire my classmates to know and embrace...perseverance. So many I see everyday walking these halls are faced with challenges, and difficulties that are far beyond the winds of the Gulf. They seem to lose hope so fast and give in to the obstacles that hit them. Many suffer from depression, anger, and suicidal thoughts. I want to help my fellow classmates become empowered to overcome the hardships that face them. I want them to stay the course and holdfast to the tools and resources that are here to help them achieve their dreams. As class president, I would choose to design counseling programs, invite motivational speakers, and plan school spirit events that would allow my classmates opportunities and resources to develop perseverance! It is my hope that as their leader, I could help many personally know the sense of accomplishment and pride that I felt that day, and they too could wear the title "captain", and know they are more than they thought they ever could be!