Learning a New Language by Kayla

Learning a New Language by Kayla - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

I have been involved in community service for as long as I can remember. I have volunteered in many ways throughout junior high and high school, including hours at my school, my church, and the area community theatre. Over the last four years, I have accumulated over 275 service hours, and I plan to continue serving others throughout the rest of my life.
Last year, I had the opportunity to teach Spanish to elementary students at my school. I have been studying Spanish for several years, and I loved introducing the children to the language. Getting to work one-on-one with younger students was incredibly rewarding because I was able to teach them something that they may not have been exposed to until high school. Each week I would go to their classrooms with a different topic. We covered colors, numbers, parts of the body, animals, foods, and so much more. The children were always very excited when I came to teach them, and it was the best part of my day. We played games and sang songs to help them learn and understand the new material. At the end of the year, many of them had an extensive Spanish vocabulary and were eager for the opportunity to learn a new language in high school. Being around this high level of energy and enthusiasm taught me how important it is to be excited about learning and to take advantage of every opportunity for growth life gives you. There were difficult topics that many of the children struggled with, but they were always ready to face the challenge and overcome it. This shows a level of perseverance and determination that I admire and implement into my own life and education.
Being in service to others makes me appreciate the blessings I have in my life. Whether I am helping out with a fundraiser, teaching kids about theatre, or participating in services at my church, I always feel accomplished and excited for the next opportunity I have to serve. When I volunteer, I am put in a situation that allows me to make a difference in someone else’s life, and this makes me feel like I have done something that matters.