Enjoying Childhood by Shelbi

Enjoying Childhood by Shelbi - January 2024 Scholarship Essay

According to the internet, childhood precludes psychology between the ages of 12-13. At the ripe age of 20, I find that statistic false. I grew up in the backwoods of East Texas in a small town called Mineola. The town has a population right under 5,000. My grandfather and father both work on the ranch. From the crack of dawn till the sunsets, they bail hay and work cattle. My childhood consisted of riding four wheels, playing in the mud, and working with my father on the farm.
Today, you find most young girls in Sephora obliterating the drunk elephant section or scrolling through inappropriate ticktocks comfortably on their couch. Our society has changed so much from when I was a kid. The respect kids once had for their parents and the innocence of being a kid is gone. I desire to have a family in the future, but watching how kids are changing makes me intimidated to raise a kid in a world like this.
I decided to start small and endeavored to make a change in my community. Last year, I held numerous volleyball clinics for kids ranging from 10 to 15. My intent for the camp was to teach them the sport, but I also wanted to show kids how to have fun off their phones. I want to be a role model for young girls in my community. I currently have multiple kids who text me weekly giving me updates on their lives; and I have witnessed them grow and develop into strong, fearless young adults. I plan to continue my summer clinic and reach as many kids to show them how to enjoy their adolescence.