Improving the World One Service Hour at a Time by Hannah

Improving the World One Service Hour at a Time by Hannah - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

During high school, I have dedicated over 440 hours of community service and plan to graduate with 500 hours of service. This achievement has special meaning to me as it has impacted, not only myself, but others along the way. Freshman year, I was a leader in my church working with preschoolers at vacation bible school and Wednesday night AWANA. Furthermore, during the summer, I facilitated a discussion group for a sixth-grade girls bible study. Because of these experiences, I developed a passion for helping kids and decided to coach both a kindergarten and first/second-grade basketball team at my local YMCA. Later in the year, I became a peer tutor for a high school student. I would help him for hours on end with his homework and, eventually, he would have that “lightbulb” moment; I truly loved that moment and the exhilaration of it. Because of the pattern I established early in my high school career, I made helping others my new way of life. Consequently, I continued to volunteer in any way I could. By the end of my freshman year, I knew I wanted to work with kids and help them in any way I could. That is what I desired for my career and for my life’s work.
In the years that followed, I continued to volunteer both in our school and community. I also continued to develop my leadership abilities. I joined FFA, serving as the secretary, acted as our class vice president, joined the leadership board in key club, acted as an officer for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and also participated in Academic Decathlon, Youth Connect, Quiz Bowl, and National Honor Society. During my participation in these clubs, my volunteering ranged from serving a tailgate meal at a football game to organizing teacher appreciation gifts.
At the end of my junior year, I went on a short mission trip to Denver, Colorado. While on this missions trip, I served the homeless in many ways. This was yet another event in my life that had special meaning to me as it opened my eyes to the crisis of poverty, and fueled me to take a stand for those that are silently struggling for their very existence. When I got home, I organized an annual winter clothing drive so no one in our community would go without a coat through the long winter season. I volunteered at our local backpack program, which provides, packs and distributes food on a weekly basis, to those families in our community who need assistance. Although my contributions may be small, I know I have made a difference in the lives of the families within my sphere of influence. Simply put, improving the world one child, one person, and one family at a time is an accomplishment I am proud to continue pursuing in and out of school.