What you learn as a volunteer by Tyler

What you learn as a volunteer by Tyler - May 2018 Scholarship Essay

For the past three years, I have volunteered to work with our area youth football players. These kids are age ranged from kindergarten to 6th grade.

When I was that same age, I was very vulnerable. My parents left me to my own devices and I had no one to help me find my way in life. My sports coaches were the one constant I had growing up.

During my time with these kids, I have seen that I'm not the only one in that situation. So many of the kids are in the same situation I was in. They desperately need someone to help them, to be there for them, to just listen to them and give them positive attention.

One boy in particular, I'll call him Dave, has asked to be on my squad every year. I had never seen Dave before the first day of camp but there was something about him that drew me. He walked to practice in worn out shoes. wearing clothes that were way too big. Seeing him that first day was like seeing little Me. Desperate to be a part of something. Desperate to be around people who wanted to help.
Dave wasn't the only little boy like that at those camps but he'll always stick with me.

Seeing so many of them living life the way I did has helped cement my decision to become a teacher and coach.