Out of the Ashes We Find Purpose by Isabel

Out of the Ashes We Find Purpose by Isabel - January 2024 Scholarship Essay

In 2018, Butte County experienced the tragic Paradise Camp Fire. My hometown, Chico, CA, became a refuge for people fleeing the fire. Five years later, the people of Chico, myself included, continue to support the residents impacted as Paradise works on rebuilding the infrastructure and healing broken hearts.
The Red Cross arrived in Chico, following the fire. I was determined to help, so I joined their efforts to help support those who were risking their lives to help the community. I got busy preparing food for the emergency personnel who assisted in the disaster. I also took up the opportunity to help Paradise Elementary School, my assistance shifted from organizing food donations to sharing my love for books at the only elementary school left standing. I categorized, organized, and took inventory of the hundreds of donated books in preparation for the school's reopening.
In the wake of the fire our town’s homeless community increased significantly due to the thousands of homes that were lost in Paradise and the lack of affordable housing. Our 6th Street Youth Center for homeless teens became an adolescent sanctuary. Knowing people my age are in need, I actively prepare and donate meals to the center. This opened my eyes to how many individuals who lived in my community were facing homelessness and experienced struggle to get basic necessities like food. This led me to donate and serve food for local resources like our Jesus Center and Torres Shelter which have dedicated their organizations to helping those in need, many of which are adults who were never able to get back on their feet after the tragedy.
Most recently, I volunteered as a camp counselor at a science camp for Paradise Ridge Elementary School. This environmental camp was an opportunity for 5th graders to experience a week of camp with songs, learning, and fun. For me, it was a rewarding experience full of growth and dedication to help. This proved to be the most meaningful of all the ways I supported the victims of the campfire. For a week, I lived in a cabin with five 6th-grade girls and was responsible for their safety, schedules and helping them have a positive experience. This made me so grateful to have the opportunity to be a positive impactful adult in the lives of the Paradise kids. The impact I feel I had on them was bigger than just an environmental camp. As I transition into adulthood, I feel inspired to continue offering service with a spirit of altruism.
In today's society I feel I am faced with many challenges and issues I see in our society with little I feel I can do to help. As I witnessed many of my friends and classmates experiencing unimaginable hardship in their lives, I struggled finding a place for myself to make an impact and help these individuals. In the end I found that in many cases even the smallest support can be of the biggest impact and there are many ways one can be of help and support those in need.