The Importance of Community by Madison

The Importance of Community by Madison - March 2019 Scholarship Essay

There are many pieces of advice I would give to incoming freshman, but there is one central idea that really sums everything up: find a community. Being a part of a healthy group is essential for the quality of a student’s academic, social, and personal life. The best way for students to find their group and their niche is to get involved with their school.
Getting involved in extracurricular activities and school organizations allow for students to surround themselves with other students who have similar interests and priorities as themselves. This is critical for freshman entering a new school environment because it exposes them to a social group that will make the transition from middle school to high school easier. It shows these students that they are not alone, and that everyone is experiencing the same anxieties, insecurities, and stress that comes with this transition.
Joining school organizations also allow for students to make connections with upperclassmen who have already been in their place and often have words of encouragement or advice, if new students are confident or willing to seek them out. Approaching an upperclassman can be intimidating, but some of the pressure is relieved if the two students share a hobby and are in the same organization. Making these connections with upperclassmen is extremely beneficial, as they have already been in the shoes of the new incoming freshman. They can offer academic help, as well as a more mature, experienced social outlet to help make students more included and comfortable in their new environment.
When students find their niche and embrace being part of a community, the benefits are monumental. The connections that they make are extremely valuable as they help facilitate success. Being rooted in a healthy social group as well as being connected to academic resources via one’s peers can help improve the mental health of freshman students as they have a reliable support system to help ease the stresses of transitioning to high school that, if unmanaged, can cause students to develop anxiety and depression. Getting involved can make life as a student extremely more enjoyable, but it isn’t always easy to find that community.
Oftentimes, there is a multitude of organizations to join in high school, but not every student falls in love with every organization. Students need to be open-minded when searching for their community. Sometimes the groups that students assume they will love turn out not to be fitting for them. Additionally, the groups students hardly give second thoughts to may be a perfect fit. I implore students to find their community, but in order to do so, students have to try everything to find their community. It’s not always the group one expects!