My Most Memorable Volunteer Experience by Maya

My Most Memorable Volunteer Experience by Maya - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

Virtue: Girls With a Passion proved to be one of the most meaningful volunteer experiences of my life. Over the course of three months during the summer of 2017, I met with and mentored middle school and high school aged girls. We would have discussions about college planning, school obstacles, sisterhood, and other sensitive topics that built our trust. In doing so, I created personal relationships with the girls and helped them to invest in their self-esteem. At the same time that I was advising the girls, they were advising me. Since I was responsible for showing leadership and setting an example to people who otherwise would have been complete strangers, my own confidence grew also. In addition to building trust with the girls, I also built it with the other mentors. They have become my sisters and my own mentors in a way, since many of them are older than me. My overall favorite part were the indestructible bonds created.
Overall, my service experience at Virtue taught me how to be more open and a better listener. Helping girls who came from all types of backgrounds and lifestyles, with their questions, helped me with my communication and understanding skills. The entire experience was impactful, memorable, made me more extroverted, increased my confidence, and reminded me that it is human bonds that enrich my life the most.