Making My School Grow by LAUREN

Making My School Grow by LAUREN - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

My name is Lauren Hendrixson, and I am currently a senior at Johnsburg High School. I am writing this letter in regards to this scholarship. As a high school student, I have had the opportunity to be involved in many activities, in and outside of school. Outside of soccer, tennis, and basketball, I spend my time as a member of many high school clubs. I have continued to find new volunteering opportunities due to being in our schools National Honor Society (NHS). Most athletes have used after-school sports as an excuse to not be involved in other school activities, but I have always tried to get as involved as possible and make the most of what I have here.
Taking time away from a busy schedule to volunteer at nonprofit organizations, school fundraisers, and sporting events does not always come across as exciting to students going through high school experiences. Fortunately, I have experience from the student clubs I am involved in at Johnsburg High School. Being involved in CARES (Council of Activities Responsibility Education and Spirit Club) allows me to find amazing opportunities that always end up making positive impacts to our student body. This club focuses on fundraising and volunteering to provide support to others in my community. Over the years, we have made community change and volunteerism a priority in CARES.
Along with the council of students, I plan many activities throughout the school year, whether it be directly involving the school or the community. One of the most recognizable impacts we make at Johnsburg High School is the week full of events during Homecoming. We organize activities that bring the students together as one such as any activity from Comedy Night to our Student Pep Assembly. We end the week off with a community parade and fireworks, in which we fundraise thousands of dollars in order to make happen. Knowing that all our hard work during the weeks prior to these events is being appreciated by our school gives everyone in our club the most accomplished feeling. Our students’ spirit throughout this week is a major reason I have continued being a member of this club. Every high school student plans on remembering moments like Homecoming for the rest of their lives, and it is our job as an organization to make this possible.
CARES is also a training ground for students to learn how to handle responsibility and to become responsible individuals and citizens. In this organization, the students involved have many opportunities to lead and serve others. Throughout the years, I have helped with events like blood drives, food drives, troops drives and have participated in nursing home visits. Every semester we organize a blood drive at our school for anyone in our community to come in and donate. Along with this, our organization is involved with our local Feed My Starving Children, and we recently just made a visit to this nonprofit organization on November 4th. Our constant visitations are what I have become extremely passionate about throughout my high school career, and I plan on continuing these trips after I graduate in order to continue giving back to people. CARES members also like to have a hand in the educational environment of our school. In addition to leadership and responsibility training, we have become concerned about improving the appearance of our school, seeking changes in policies, encouraging curriculum themes and rewarding teachers who reach out to students in special ways.
I have constantly been recognized for the hard work and determination I put into organizations like CARES in order to better our school and community. It is not always easy for a student-athlete to become involved with school organizations other than sports. Yet, I never try to use soccer, tennis, or basketball as an excuse to limit my possibilities to make a difference in society. I am an enthusiastic individual involved in a wide variety of social groups that come together in an effort to make our school a great place to be at every day of the school year.