Breaking Down Walls by Lauren

Breaking Down Walls by Lauren - March 2017 Scholarship Essay

Varsity Tutors Essay

Lauren Bodnar
03/12/2017

Instead of picking on the new kids in school, or ignoring them – why should you reach out to them? That is the topic I’d like to talk about.

In my junior year of high school, I noticed a girl who seemed out of place. She was in the Media Center eating lunch alone which was unusual. When I approached Hershali, her face lit up. I first talked with her a little and tried to make her feel comfortable. Next I asked some questions about her culture to express my interest in her. I learned she had recently moved from India to our rural town of Hampstead, Maryland.

I noticed a couple weeks later that she wasn’t making any friends and seemed quite lonely. Each day when I would see her in the hallways or cafeteria, she was alone. I began to feel sad at the thought of other students just passing her by and not attempting to make this new student feel welcome. Yes, our school is less diverse; there are few minorities. This young lady with slightly dark skin, jet black hair and an unusual accent may not have been what the other students were familiar with. However, I made a choice to make a difference.

First I offered to sit with Harshali at lunch every day. Then I introduced her to some of my closest friends and invited her to my home. I also visited her at her family’s business where she worked part-time. Eventually she invited me to dinner to meet her family. She asked me to attend a cultural event where I was offered to wear an Indian sari. Also, Hershali’s parents asked if my step-father could teach her how to drive as they did not yet have their drivers’ licenses. Before long she was able to obtain her license and help her family get around as needed.

Despite some of her cultural struggles at our school, Harshali managed to make some friends and obtain excellent grades. I had heard and read a lot about diversity in school, but never realized what it meant until Hershali became so important to me. She has also found a friend in me, someone she is comfortable confiding in. She shared that she had been unable to connect with anyone as her life was quite different from the other students. It is funny looking back that I not only learned about another culture, but made a new best friend. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to step outside of the comfort zone I’d known in my rural town.

You see, I helped someone adjust to a new school and a new culture that first day. Then as our relationship grew – I helped her learn about her new community and make friends. She helped me learn more about myself – about why reaching out is better than ignorance. You might think I helped her more – but I say you are wrong, she helped me far more than I did her.