The Brightening of My Vision by Micah

The Brightening of My Vision by Micah - April 2022 Scholarship Essay

Our hands scrape the bottom, trying to find any form of a grip. He nods at me, to which I respond with a wink. We are ready. With enormous strain, the muck of the riverbed releases its victim! Here we stand, tired and gulping lungfuls of air, but victorious nevertheless. This is our biggest prize yet.
Baylor University resides along the bank of the Brazos River in the heart of Texas. With the campus and sports utilities divided by the river, many students enjoy the beauty of the river from the large bridge spanning both banks. Birds fly, fish jump, and students kayak along the tranquil waters. However, the scene remains marred. Remnants of trash, waste, and forgotten belongings dot intervals along the banks. Fortunately, an opportunity fell into my lap to help institute a change in the scarred scenery.
The Honors Residential College at Baylor University provides service activities and projects year-round for students. One of these events involved cleaning the river and was titled "Brightening the Brazos". I jumped at this opportunity and, along with several other friends, ventured down to the marina on a sun-heavy Saturday in March. Two guys and I jumped into a canoe with two empty trash bags and a few fragile, yet necessary, trash-grabbers. After an hour of meticulous scouring in the shadow of the football stadium, we returned to the shore to break from the warm wind, tall reeds, and floating styrofoam. However, we did not stay long. Within a few short minutes, we reloaded with extra bags and departed once more. We continued through the tall grass and thick moss near the river banks until something caught my friend's eye.
The lettering of a rubber tire was seen just above the surface of the gentle waves. Exhilarated by the idea of removing a tire, we approached it with hope in our eyes. For twenty tireless minutes, we toiled with this tire. We emptied the unseen muck from the middle of the tire with our hands, dug around the outside to find room for our fingers, and strained to pull this mammoth mass from the clutches of the riverbed. Finally, our time to return to the shore arrived. Desperate, we resolved to launch one more attempt at detaching the tire. Our determination paid off! The riverbed relented, and we victoriously heaved the massive ring of rubber into our canoe. Although the process of removing the tire filled me with adrenaline, I found more satisfaction in knowing that a fraction of the Brazos River is now dazzling again.
This hot yet satisfying day taught me an impactful lesson. I realized the power of small acts of service. Service is not limited or restricted to organized projects or activities. It is best utilized when individuals engage with consistent, small actions. I, myself, can perform small acts of service anytime and anyplace. When I glimpsed a whole tire buried in the Brazos River, I realized that many people lack this mindset. Thus, I am obligated to fulfill my duty and my part in serving others and my community. Because of this new mindset, I look at the world with new eyes, from walking through the science building on campus and grabbing the shredded newspaper on the floor to throwing away the abandoned cups and burger wrappers in the parking garages. I constantly seek new ways to lend myself and my time in ways both small and large. The "Brightening of the Brazos" ultimately led to the brightening of my vision.