Tatums Garden by Vanessa

Tatums Garden by Vanessa - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

It never occurred to me that kids who have physical disabilities do not have access to the same playground activities and structures as children who are able-bodied. Starting my freshman year, I participated in building a playground for children with physical disabilities, somewhere where they can get on the swings and feel the air moving through their hair and ramps with larger pathways for their wheelchairs or walkers to fit in order to access the fun. Helping build this park was one of my greatest accomplishments because until that moment, they couldn’t participate in playground activities that didn’t have handicapped accessible ramps. The park makes all of the kids with physical disabilities in our community feel welcomed, and it gives them a place to play and have fun. That experience motivated me to do more community service and get involved. Since then, I have earned over 300 community service hours when my school only requires sixty.
It is important for me to be involved at my school as well as my community because I get to meet different people, create friendships and develop leadership skills. I have been involved by being an active member in eight clubs and an officer of four clubs. Being an officer in multiple clubs makes people look up to me because they see me as a role model and I believe that I have made a positive impact on my school and classmates by showing them my leadership skills. I enjoy being involved in all school activities because it gives me an insight on all the different activities going on at school or in the community. Sometimes my clubs at school are going into the community and asking for donations or just having them get involved in our homecomings by bringing their classic cars to show off or just by bringing their families out to watch the parade. Knowing that I’ve helped my community by spending a few hours of work daily really pushed me to do more. I enjoy having an impact on my community and seeing the outcome of all my hard work.