Side By Side by Hope

Side By Side by Hope - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

My school, East Lawrence High School, offers students a chance to interact with our special needs students. We have a facility on campus called The Lawrence County Developmental Center where kids/young adults have the opportunity to learn basic skills, then graduate at 21. Our club on campus that organizes events for the kids is the Side By Side Club. I had the chance to be the Vice President of the Club once, which opened a gateway of opportunities for me. and it was truly the most humbling experience I have ever had. Little did I know it would lead me to choose my major two years later.
The Side By Side Club has given me endless amounts of opportunities from helping with their prom to organizing their graduation to random functions throughout the year. The one on one time with the students was my favorite part. It created strong friendships I never knew I needed. Seeing their eyes light up at the sight of me in the hallway was the most heartwarming thing I have ever felt. I even got the experience of taking one of them to prom. It was truly one of the best times.
Later on, I visited a college campus I was interested in and listened to current students talk to me about their major. I was in a room full of current elementary education majors, but one of them said they were doing a collaborative program. Elementary education with collaborative is a program the university offers after your first year so you can also get your degree in special education. At that very moment, I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do. With the help of the Side By Side Club and the wonderful students apart of it, I know that this field will be perfect for me.
I cannot wait to experience the pure joy of these kids once I graduate and finally get to pursue the exact thing I feel like I have been called to do. The Side By Side Club has offered me an endless amount of opportunities to get the full experience of what my future will be like.