Helping People Changing Lives by Nicholas

Helping People Changing Lives by Nicholas - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

According to Dictionary.com a community is a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. There are a lot of ways people can be part of a community but I believe the best way to be involved is by volunteering. It gives you a better understanding about different people and helps bridge the gap with people you interact with on a day to day basis.
Being a volunteer in my community has always been important because I want to make a difference in the lives of others. I have always had a passion for sports and played football, basketball and ran track since the age of five. As a freshmen in high school I did a lot of volunteer work with my former football and track programs and served as a mentor for a lot of young athletes. As a mentor it’s important to focus on the academic aspects of sports. My parents always emphasized to me that I am a student athlete and if I am not successful in the classroom than I cannot be successful on the playing field. Combining my knowledge of sports and a desire to volunteer is how I got involved with Special Olympics.
My school has a program called Unified Sports. The goal of Unified Sports is to join people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Unified Sports promotes social inclusion. Some of these students are non-verbal, have learning disabilities or may be permanently in a wheelchair or walker but they are still so excited about learning how to play sports. Most people believe Special Education students are not like them but working with them you find out we have so many similarities. These students have as much spirit and the same competitive nature as any other athlete. The experience of getting to know someone that is not like you that has a completely different lifestyle makes you see things in a different light.
While playing with our Unified team I’ve had an influence on other members of the student body. Helping people creates a feeling of community. Many of my classmates are now interested in being part of this program and have forged relationships with our Special Education team. My classmates are learning that volunteering is more than just getting hours that is required for graduation but it’s the right thing to do and it’s an investment in their future, Not only are they making new friends but they are staying fit.
Playing sports with our Unified Team has been one of my most rewarding experiences as a student athlete. I feel like I have learned more from these players than they have learned from me. This group of students are not just teammates or classmates but they are more like family. I receive nothing but joy and satisfaction working with such an amazing group of students. I have come to realize that kindness and compassion can change your life and change the world.
As I am in the final year of high school and I think about the underclassmen at my school and I ask myself as a mentor how I can encourage them to get involved. The first step is to let them know that being an engaged student creates a special bond with the population being served, and increases social awareness and responsibility. As you get more involved in your community it’s also good to take on a leadership role. As young scholars we need to make our voices heard in a positive manner. We deal with a lot of social issues and we need leaders who are women, people of color, immigrants and people with disabilities because these are the people who have been told for years, they should not lead and they should follow others.
In conclusion, my peers and I are the future. To improve our society it is critical that we are an active part of our community to ensure we bridge the gap.