Giving Back to Those who Serve by Sophia

Giving Back to Those who Serve by Sophia - September 2019 Scholarship Essay

If I had the opportunity to create a high school extracurricular activity, I would create a club or group to help military families. We would raise money to help those who need it, especially families who may have lost a loved one in battle or are struggling, and we would meet to do small acts of kindness like writing letters and sending care packages. We could go as a group to put flags in cemeteries where deceased veterans lie. Ultimately, we would come together as a group and try to make military families feel as appreciated and supported as possible while thanking them for their contributions to our country.

This particular subject is a very personal one for me because my father is an Air Force Veteran. I grew up moving around the country and even the world, and went through periods where my father was away for weeks and months at a time. I am incredibly lucky that he is home safe and finally retired after 23 years of service. Being part of a military family has completely changed my life as well as shaped me into the person I am today. Uprooting my life continuously as a young child has forced me into situations that have made me become more adaptable, but also came with internal struggles and hardships within my family. From everything I have experienced, I understand that the effect that even having a family member in the military can have on a family is immense.

I’d like to branch out and help families in similar positions, and positions that are even more difficult. I am proud to say that my father served our country, and everything I’ve gone through has definitely had its benefits; however, I can’t even imagine how my life had changed if my father had not come home, or if anything had happened to him. I think that having the support behind me while so much uncertainty lay in the future could have helped me cope with my emotions and helped me throughout my childhood. For these reasons, I would love to dedicate time to help and support these families as best I can.