My Future. by Payton

My Future. by Payton - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

Sat on my dresser, between life-changing and brain-numbing books, rests a hardcover of my favorite assignment: my autobiography. The crayon-colored covers hide chapter 7, titled “The Future”. In that chapter, my third-grade self wrote that my future career would be the President. The President is a person who, in the eyes of a 9-year-old, is selfless and dedicated to helping. A helper for all. The root of my elementary-age goal was to help people on a large scale. In high school, I flooded my schedule with social science courses. I decided to pair my study of politics with an issue that caused debates around me—money. For this reason, I’m seeking to Major in Economics and Political Science. Be the voice for the voiceless and the light in the dark. Additionally, I have begun to expand myself into political involvement.
They often say the first 100 days of a presidency are the most important, setting the tone and effectiveness of a leader. Becoming the first president of my school's Civics Club forced me to assess how I envisioned my first 100 days. Even after graduating, I wanted to make a school-wide impact that would affect the club's future.
With the help of the League of Women Voters, the Civics Club organized my school’s first-ever voter registration drive. Posters were made and displayed throughout the school, announcements were broadcast each morning, and reminder emails were sent.
The work was done, and the results were impressive: one-fifth of the senior student body registered during the drive. This portion of the senior class was a significant achievement, as most students were not 18 during election season, heavily affecting the number who could register. Additionally, the drive attracted faculty members and a construction worker who was improving our school. After hearing about the success, my mom registered to vote for the first time, extending my movement beyond my school.
The drive sparked my passion for politics and solidified my desire to pursue a career in government, advocating for greater civic involvement. In my community, more students participated in the election than ever before. The student body became invested in what is often considered an "old man's" government, and I was a part of bringing a new and diverse generation to an old idea.