Go Beyond by Mireya

Go Beyond by Mireya - September 2017 Scholarship Essay

Start. Spirit. Serve. Shine. These are the four seasons 45 other Tulare Western high school leaders and I live by. At Tulare Western, ASB is given a whole new definition. ASB stands for Associated Student Body and we are the campus leadership. However, leadership is the bare minimum of what the program stands for. In the class, students are divided into 4 teams: SOUND, OUTREACH, DESIGN, and ACTIVITIES; aka S.O.D.A.

I'm on the outreach team. Being on, not only this team but the program itself, has impacted my life greatly. Actually, it has changed me as a person. In ASB we reach out to our students, teachers, staff, and community. We believe it's important to make everyone feel the worth they contain. On a daily basis we shine the spotlight on the students on campus who are usually left in the shadows.

Each student in leadership has a staff member they chose and make weekly visits with them. Doing this creates a connection between student and teacher that makes them feel involved with the school. In the months of November through February, we do many community service projects for our city. Leadership students raise enough money to buy a box of pizza for every homeless person in town and collect a surplus of warm articles of clothing to give out along with the pizza. Also, money is raised to purchase a pair of shoes for each student at one of Tulare's elementary schools.

Being on the Outreach Team, planning and doing these activities comes easy. Given the opportunity to be able to experience the feeling of helping others and putting them before myself has become something I have a passion for. For a week at the end of the year, our leadership dedicates a whole week to our Special Education students called "Mustangs in Training". The title correlates to the Special Olympics that takes place that Friday of the week. My sophomore year was the first year we held this activity and I was in charge of planning it and making sure it happened. Holding the responsibilities of this week taught me a few things: always finish what you start, always go above and beyond what is expected, new ideas aren't bad ideas, and being a leader means never go alone; always bring (teach) others with you.

This leadership program has hugely impacted my educational experience. A new maturity level is shown throughout the students not only in life, but in the classroom. Talking to teachers on a more mature level and exchanging an equal level of respect with them has come about. Speaking in front of a classroom while giving a report or presenting a project has become a piece of cake. MY life is busy and my schedule is hectic. However, I have acquired the ability to utilize every second my time to complete school work and still be involved with my school. Procrastinating is not even close to being an option.

Being a leader has actually has changed the whole plan for my future. I love giving my time to others who need it and I have found my true self while doing so. Getting to experience being apart of this leadership has not only helped me discover who I am but it has also taught me amazing life skills. I've learned how to network, communicate business, work well with others in a team, and how to manage my time. I love doing what I do with the program and hope to continue with it and bring my learning experiences with me throughout my life and education.