A smile worth a thousand words by Kalie

A smile worth a thousand words by Kalie - November 2013 Scholarship Essay

In my 4 years in high school I have been privileged to meet many wonderful people. From the all-star football player to the all-state saxophone sensation, I have come in contact with students who possess potential beyond their belief. There is one student in particular that I have had the utmost humility in meeting and becoming their friend. Seth Walker is a fellow senior at Station Camp High School who is the manager for the boys basketball team, fellow senior leader of Fellowship Christian Athletes(FCA), and a fellow member of the National Beta and National Honor Society due to his grades and community involvement. This well rounded student may seem like the typical hard-working student you will find at any high school, but what you don't know about Seth is that he has cerebral palsy. His ability to make his limitation his motivation inspires me to put aside my miniscule problems and set my goals high just as Seth has done. The lesson I have most gained from him the past four years is that a one moment in the present can affect a lifetime.

The first time I realized this amazing lesson Seth had shown me was one morning at FCA my sophomore year. I attended regularly, but made it a point to attend when I heard that Seth's testament of Faith was to be read. Because of Seth's cerebral palsy, he cannot speak clearly but can make sounds which can be deciphered into words. His main form of communication is through a sensor on his head which he can move as a cursor on a computer in front of him. This way he can type letters and form words on the computer screen. As his testament of faith was being read it showed me how blessed I am for the ability to walk, run, and to go through school easily without barriers in front of me. He showed me in one moment how the rest of my life I was not supposed to worry about the small things, but to take what is the obstacle and make it a blessing. His testament allowed me look down into the student, Christian, and human I wanted to become.

This lesson of enjoying each moment for its lifelong impression also involved Seth Walker. This senior year I was nominated to be one of 3 of the senior homecoming attendants for the football homecoming game. As one of the attendants, I had the chance to ask any boy to escort me for the parade that Friday morning along with the game that Friday night at the football game. My first choice; Seth Walker. I decided to ask him by surprising him one morning before he went to church with a sign and his favorite food donuts. As his dad wheeled him around the corner to where I was standing, his face lit up with a smile worth a thousand words. I don't know whose smile was bigger, his or mine. Thankfully he said yes. That Friday night at the game the winner of the Homecoming Queen was to be announced from the 3 senior attendants. The Friday festivities were fun as me and Seth enjoyed our moment of royalty, but the moment I will never forget is the moment when my name was called as the Queen and I look to Seth and see that same huge smile on his face. From his cerebral palsy he can't control his body correctly. So as soon as my name was called his hands were shaking, his legs were kicking, and his smile shined brighter than ever. These two moments with Seth in one weeks time gave me a sense of happiness I had never felt before.

Seth Walker taught me a lesson most students in high school don't have the opportunity to learn. His lessons of seizing the moment, living for the blessings in the present, and being happy because the future is always bright will forever be imprinted on my mind and heart. The value of his lesson can not be expressed through this essay alone, but if you ever meet Seth, you will see that his smile is worth a thousand words.