My Impact To Society and Their Impact on Me by Taylor

My Impact To Society and Their Impact on Me by Taylor - December 2013 Scholarship Essay

Becoming a senior in the small town of Big Horn, Wyoming makes you a legacy in the high school, and it also makes you think about you and your future more than ever in your life. This year, I became a legacy, but instead of thinking about me and what I can be, I had been blindsided by a shelter that had been set up in my town. This animal shelter took in cats that were going to be euthanized because their previous shelter had become too full. In Gillette, Wyoming, so many cats had to be killed that they ended up shooting a majority of them to save time and euthanasia. Hearing this, I knew I had to do something. I spent 50+ hours in a span of 3 months helping out the shelter has much as I could. Between cleaning the floor, scooping out the kitty litters, or bottle feeding the rejected kittens, I knew I was doing the right thing. After months and months of volunteering at this shelter, the owners told me they had enough volunteers if I want to pursue to volunteer at a needier place. They provided me with a very generous recommendation letter so I could volunteer at our local hospital with the patients.

During my high school career, I had been dedicated to my key club where we did very non-direct volunteering such as highway cleanups and fundraising for local groups. But after 4 years of doing this, nothing prepared me for the wakeup call that came with working directly with the people and animals of my town. Even though my classmates are taking the year off, I don’t think they understand how much our town needs help!

As cliché as it may sound, I haven’t change these places as much as they have changed me. After spending countless hours on my Saturday nights, early Sunday mornings, and after school, I feel motivated to do so much more! When the owners of the shelter look me in the eyes and thank me for what I have done, I feel a sense of belonging because I have done something for the world, like I have a place. If it hadn’t been for the key club at my school, I would never have found this shelter and felt as good about myself as I do today.