The 2nd Place Finish That Changed My High School Experience by Michael

The 2nd Place Finish That Changed My High School Experience by Michael - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

Four years ago I remember hearing my name called for me to go to the front office. Fearing punishment instantly my heart dropped like a rock to my stomach. But as I walked to the front office with my heart beating like a drum out of my chest, I had no way of knowing that the news I was about to receive was going to change the path of my high school experience. When I opened the door the room resounded with “Congratulations!” It turned out that I had been elected by my peers to serve as the president of my class on student council. At the time I had no idea what the responsibilities of being president even were, but I gladly accepted the position and assumed the role. Unknown to me, this role was to be at the forefront of my life for the next four years. Student council at my school is in charge of setting up school-wide charitable events and fundraisers as well as organizing student involvement in events around the community. This includes planning school dances and being ambassadors of the school to school to new students and visitors. Since beginning my time in the organization, I have seen my mentality shift towards selflessness and community orientation. I have developed and understood the idea that a community is only as strong as its weakest link, and as a leader, I must attempt to uplift others in my community no matter what. Student council helped me realized how many of my peers need financial assistance. Upon seeing this, as president, I have attempted to change the focus of student council towards community betterment in which we donate to food drives, assist in local charity events, and we have recently begun buying Christmas presents anonymously for the students in financial need at our school. Likewise, being on the student council has taught me to be able to interact with many different groups of people in professional and social settings. In fact, upon giving a tour to a new student and helping him adjust to his new environment, one of my duties in student council, I met my now inseparable best friend. Student council has allowed me to learn the valuable skills of networking and cooperating with adults in my community to achieve a common goal. Through this, I have uncovered my ability to speak confidently to adults and my peers, a talent that I never knew I possessed. Ultimately my goal following the end of my days as the president of my class is for my involvement in my community to not stop upon my graduation day. Student council has molded me to strive to better my community, and I aim to volunteer and attempt to assist the people in need of my community for years to come through fundraisers and campaigns. My desire to help others sparked on that fateful day four years ago, and I owe it all to the student council.