Earth without Art is just "Eh" by Hely

Earth without Art is just "Eh" by Hely - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

I always thought that as an individual, I would not be able to make a difference that mattered in our world. However, an unwelcome experience helped me realize I could, all while developing a magnified view of the world we live in.
Every year, Art Club hosts an event at The Makery (an open art studio that holds art classes for the community) called Create for a Cause. Adults and kids enjoy art activities for a ten-dollar admittance fee, of which the proceeds go to a good cause. The important thing about Create for a Cause is that Art Club, as a whole group, decides where the funds should end up. Last year, we chose to send them to the construction of Mother's Mercy Orphanage and Children's Center located at Arusha, Tanzania, in Africa.
It was also a stretch for me because it was originally an "A day" but later switched to a "B day", which was a heavy course day for me. When I found out the days had switched, I was frantic. I repeatedly went back to the calendar to make sure I hadn’t miscounted the days. For four days, I constantly thought about how much I would fall behind, especially since it was the middle of the year. I was so focused on how many difficulties I would have, I missed the fact that I was privileged enough to have an education at all. I admit I took this opportunity for granted, but as soon as I realized what mattered, I didn’t care that I would miss two classes. Those two classes were worth the service my team and I were offering.
I missed my advanced math and chemistry at one o'clock to set up at The Makery along with my peers. As the secretary, I needed to be there to make sure all the groups had everything they needed to get through the night. A little after eight o’clock, we cleaned up and breathed a sigh of relief. There were donations in every single tip jar. At that moment, I knew my teams' planning and hard work did not go to waste as we realized the night was a success. We collected a total of $500, of which $250 was donated to the development of the orphanage in Tanzania.
Now that I know that my actions—no matter how small—can make a difference. Even though I had to miss two major classes, it wasn't as grand as the feeling I got afterward. I realized that my mere seven hours would give generations of education, healthcare, and food to the youths of Tanzania and Africa. Schoolwork can be missed and made up, but this microcosmic action to help children halfway around the world does not come often.