The Leader in Me, The Leader in You. by Nash

The Leader in Me, The Leader in You. by Nash - May 2024 Scholarship Essay

I was in fourth grade my school counselor challenged us to create a “pay it forward project.” I had a deep sadness for homeless in our community and wanted to give them hope.

When I was two and a half years old, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and developed sort of an underdog spirit- pushing myself to have a significant impact and practicing empathy for others, realizing that I am a product of my adversity and also that everyone is working to manage through circumstances, struggle, and that we are better when we help each other.

I founded the “Care Package Pals” food and winter supplies donation program for the homeless in Hendersonville and Asheville, NC. I partnered with Ingles Markets (who allows me to fill up two entire shopping carts with food) Friends, family, and neighbors also donate! Every year, I deliver fifty massive care packages to people downtown, and to the shelters of Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, Hendersonville Rescue Mission, and Helpmate (that serves battered and abused women and their children). I have continued the program for eight years and I am grateful to enjoy the simple reward of helping others.

Every year I look forward to laying out an assembly line of food and winter supplies on our dining room table. “Care Package Pals” and the connections with the people I help, has changed me.

I work two to three days a week as a rehab tech at Southeastern Physical Therapy and the experience has even deepened my passion for serving others. Antonio is a bilateral amputee patient who lost both of his legs to diabetes. Naturally, we developed a close connection, and I helped him learn to walk with recently engineered bilateral leg prostheses.

Like the insulin pump provided me an independence from the eight injections per day, I seek to be a similar tool in helping others improve their quality of life.

I have realized that school nurses, teachers, coaches, friends, teammates, etc., helped prick my fingers and gave me injections even when it was outside their comfort levels. I founded the “Find Ease with T1D” mentoring program allowing me to meet weekly with kids recently diagnosed with diabetes and provide them with encouragement and advice on making healthy choices with their diabetes management.

I feel like helping others is just a symptom of being human.

After the 2020 election, our family noticed the significant division in our community and country. In 2022, after donating toward a vision that we felt we could hole heartedly adopt with no hesitation, we decided to meet JT Thompson, responsible for the official philosophy of Key West, Florida. He simply believes that “All people are equal members of our ONE HUMAN FAMILY.” He shares that, “like fingers on a hand- we are all different and unique, are of equal value, are created to work together, and although we appear separate, we are all linked to- and a part of- each other.”

I have founded two impactful community service programs and believe that it should be HUMAN NATURE to seek out ways to help others. I have noticed that modeling my passion for service has motivated others and JT Thompson and I have demonstrated that it only takes one person.

Leadership is finding something you are passionate about and taking that leap of faith in order to inspire others. Leadership is connecting, collaborating, valuing others. Leadership is a belief in others, even when they don't believe in themselves. Leadership is modeling a drive, hunger, and spirit that can impact one person. A belief in people. A care, concern, and want to do something about it.

Anyone, everyone, is capable of leading.

Tag, you’re it.