Get Involved! by Kayla

Get Involved! by Kayla - November 2014 Scholarship Essay

The beginning of high school is exciting because you are finally apart of the “big kid” totem pole yet also intimidating because you are at the very bottom of the totem pole. Your goal, by the time you are a senior, is to reach the highest part of the totem pole possible. In order to do this, you need a solid foundation, and that solid foundation derives from your freshman year. My advice to you as a young freshman is to simply get involved. High school is overflowing with opportunities--clubs, organizations, activities--made available to almost everyone. Join various clubs and participate in multiple activities. A busy schedule can be stressful, but the benefits are definitely worth it. Four years later, you will be able to look back at your totem pole of memories, look around and into the faces of your genuine friends, and look up towards your inviting future.

Whether you are an athlete, a musician, an artist, or all three combined, there are so many opportunities for you to get involved in high school. However, finding your place in the world is one of life’s greatest challenges. Hopefully after joining different clubs you will be able to determine which ones most interest you. The phrase “time flies when you’re having fun” is completely true, especially in high school. If you get involved and enjoy what you are involved in, then you will be graduating in no time with memories that will last a lifetime.

Remember, you are not the only one trying to find your place and the best memories are shared moments with others. If you are an athlete then you some of your most cherished memories will be with your teammates, which is true for any and all groups. As the years go by, your fellow team or group members will become some of your closest friends. They will be the friends who will be there during the fun times but also during the hard, adverse times. If you stick by them, they will stick by you. When you finish high school, you will look at them as if they are your family, and that is truly a beautiful connection to have with somebody.

With good memories in your mind and true friends by your side, you will be content with your high school totem pole, yet you will also be ready to move on to a new, bigger totem pole. This is the time when your extracurricular activities will really come into play: scholarships. The more money you get, the easier your future will be. Sure, many scholarships are academic based--the higher your GPA and ACT/SAT, the more money you will receive--but there are also scholarships for community service, music, art, and sports. The list goes on and on. Colleges and employers want skillful and intelligent leaders, and if you get involved as a freshman, you will much more likely fit that description.

As previously stated, the advantages of getting involved as a freshman far surpass any of the disadvantages. You will not regret having a stressful and busy schedule because of all the memories you share with the friends you make and the rewards you will eventually receive. So build a solid foundation and try out a new club or a unique organization. The worst that could happen is you do not enjoy it so you decide to quit, which is perfectly okay. High school is a place for self-discovery, and the best way to realize who you are is by getting involved and striving for the apex of your totem pole.