Self Sacrifice by Susannah

Self Sacrifice by Susannah - April 2022 Scholarship Essay

Hello, my name is Susannah Church. I am a graduating senior at Iowa Connections Academy. I will be attending Lindenwood University this fall in St. Charles, Missouri. I have had lots of opportunities to serve my community through my church. The main lesson I’ve learned through all of my volunteer experiences is that the discipline of self sacrifice keeps me focused on the needs of others and away from my own selfishness.

Growing up I have been inspired by seeing my parents dedicate their lives to helping others. It is hard to pick just one experience that impacted me the most, but disaster relief tops the list. My church is a part of a disaster relief program that helps people who do not have the means to help themselves after a natural disaster hits. It is hard work but so rewarding. We also get to talk with and encourage the homeowners who feel devastated and sometimes hopeless. I remember one elderly lady who lived alone and had a massive tree that fell in her backyard. It destroyed the special flower garden that meant everything to her. The tree was so massive it covered her entire back yard. She told us that the night before we showed up to her house she stood on her back deck crying and holding her hands up to the sky saying, “God, I can’t do this. I need your help!” The next morning we showed up asking if she’d like help. She cried and hugged us and told us how we were an answer to her prayer. It took us five days to get the tree fully removed with about fifteen people working full time.

She wasn’t the only one. We helped many people who felt broken from the tragedy they were facing. Seeing this brokenness in people changed my view on what’s important in life. Coming together to make a difference in other people's lives helped me gain a new perspective on the most valuable way to spend my time. Instead of getting caught in the selfishness, self centered, and self absorbed lifestyle a teenager can have, I've learned there is more value in setting aside my needs for the sake of someone else's.

I believe that learning this discipline in life has set me up to be more successful in college. I know I will face challenges that will make me question the best way to spend my time. Juggling academics and athletics will definitely test my ability to support my teammates and classmates.There will be times I need to set aside my own needs for the sake of those around me. I am grateful for learning the impact of self sacrifice and look forward to taking that with me as I start my new chapter as a student athlete at Lindenwood university.