The Necessity of Reaching Out by Julia

The Necessity of Reaching Out by Julia - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

Nothing brings me as much joy as making connections with students who are typically quiet and reserved. As the president of Latin Club, I strive to bring new members out of their shell. Because I have so much enthusiasm for the subject, I am able to connect with others through it extremely easily. Studying Latin ultimately led to me becoming someone who loves to build confidence in the students in my high school.
What really drew me into Latin Club was that students who were usually reserved in other classes would come to life when they entered the Latin room. This was the result of the enthusiastic teacher and club officers who went out of their way to make these people feel included. The atmosphere was nothing but accepting, and as a result, students felt safe there. This is an extremely important thing to have for teenagers who are going through some of the most formative years of their lives.
I felt so drawn to this because I used to be someone who was too scared to speak up in class or try new things. I knew that I wanted to be that person who could give others the opportunity to be themselves and feel comfortable participating. That’s why I decided to become an officer of Latin Club during my junior year. I organized monthly meetings, assisted with everything I could, and worked really hard to connect with new members. It made me so overjoyed to see people become more confident and outgoing, just as I had.
Whenever I have the opportunity, I am always inviting people to come to our meetings. Regardless of whether they are involved with a foreign language or any club at all, I encourage them to come and spend time with us. At our meetings, I make a point of approaching all of the unfamiliar faces so that new members feel welcomed. You will never catch me without a smile on my face at these meetings because I am always beyond excited to lift up everyone in attendance.
I have been told a great deal of times that it is heartwarming to see someone so passionate about what they are involved in. At any given moment, I will be telling someone about my love for Latin Club and everyone involved. Being the president is truly the most important thing I have accomplished in my high school career. I believe I have impacted many students in my high school for the better as I have shown them the power of building relationships with students who may not have had that opportunity elsewhere. I hope that they learn from these experiences, just as I did, and reach out to future students to transform their lives positively.