My Love for Helping Others by Madellyn

My Love for Helping Others by Madellyn - January 2018 Scholarship Essay

When I think of my future life, in college and beyond, a single word comes to mind: helping. By going to college, I will eventually be helping others, helping my family, and helping myself. I have a great passion for serving other people, and greatly wish to follow this passion in my future occupation.
My love of helping other people began at a very young age. I have been an active member of my church and community for quite a while. I have participated in many community service activities such as Vacation Bible School, Operation Suffolk, and even gone on numerous mission trips. Philadelphia, Baltimore, and even Haiti are all locations I have had the great opportunity to share my faith in. Although each was eye-opening, one trip was the most influential event in my young life so far.
In Montrouis, Haiti, my team and I stared into the eyes of poverty itself. Seeing the sea of poor, starving faces broke my heart. However, they did not look miserable and were not filled with hatred in the face of adversity. Instead, the Haitian people were full of love and joy and were concerned with our well-being over theirs. They understood the value of people over possessions, a value I have brought back into my ordinary American life. These astounding people not only opened up my heart for mission work but also helped me realize what I want to do after my college career.
In my heart, I see myself on a career path where I can continue to help people every day. After much consideration, I have set my studies on obtaining the certification to become a recreational therapist. I chose this occupation because I will have the ability to help people of all ages and from all walks of life every day. I know that I will excel greatly in this field because I will use all attributes my family has taught me over the years such as hard work, perseverance, and studious habits.
My success is so important to me because I wish to receive a great education, but I also wish to help my parents when I get older. I live in a very close-knit family, and my parents are very important to me. I will use my savings and money made from my new occupation to make sure my parents are living comfortably. The reason that caring for my parents is such a major factor for me is because of how much they have done for me in my life and my upbringing, and I would like to show them how appreciative I am of that.
Overall, helping others, my family, and ultimately, myself are all important factors in my life and describe my future college experience as a whole. Getting an education will help myself and my parents financially. I will then use my education to continue to help an insurmountable amount of people every day of my life. I cannot wait to attend college and make these dreams come true, helping as many people as I possibly can.