What is the most important lesson you've learned from a teacher? by Zeenat

What is the most important lesson you've learned from a teacher? by Zeenat - July 2016 Scholarship Essay

The most important thing I've learned from a teacher is the tremendous benefit of volunteering. My Social Studies teacher in middle school always started the week by reminding us about the benefits of volunteering. She told us that volunteering affords one the opportunity to help others and in doing so, you are richly rewarded by learning some important life lessons. In between baby-sitting to earn extra money and sport activities in my middle school days, I never gave volunteering a serious thought .
Things changed during my high school years. I was lucky to be accepted into the Rowan County Early College Program for my high school. The program is designed to allow students to earn both high school and college credits. The academic program is very intense and there are no sport activities allowed. Without the sport activities from my middle school days, I joined the Junior Civitan Club, American Red Cross Club, and the National Honor Society. When the issue of volunteering came up, I remembered what my middle school teacher taught me about the benefits of volunteering. I quickly signed up to volunteer. Through these clubs I got involved in local, city, and county wide volunteering activities. I have performed numerous hours of volunteer activities as a member of the Junior Civitan Club. Most recently is the city of Salisbury “Make a Difference Day” project in 2015. The year’s Block Work neighborhood improvement project covers a two block area of the city. I actively participated in carpentry work, repairing and painting porches and walkways, and made improvements to landscapes. On this day we successfully converted an abandoned lot into a neighborhood Park. It was a very proud moment for me when I saw how an abandoned lot was transformed into a beautiful park. As a member of the American Red Cross Club I have also had the opportunity to volunteer in many city wide projects. My most memorable volunteer activity was passing out Christmas greeting cards to our military veterans at the Salisbury V.A. Medical Center this past Christmas. I feel greatly honored to meet these heroes that have fought for our freedom. I am particularly happy that I have the opportunity to personally thank them for their services to the country.

Volunteering has benefited me in so many ways. I have had the opportunity to meet and learn from matured adults. Knowing the intricate process of planning and executing these activities had really helped me to appreciate my teachers more than ever before because they have to do the same type of things for an entire school every day. Volunteering has increased my confidence in my leadership skills and improved my interpersonal relationship with my peers by teaching me the importance of team work. The spirit of cooperation that I learned during my volunteer activities has greatly helped me at school to be a more matured communicator and a better listener. I have employed this sense of maturity when communicating with my fellow students. I find myself to be very cool, calm, and collected and much better at making a persuasive argument during group project discussions. Being involved with school and community organizations has had a very positive impact on my education. I feel very proud and honored whenever the name of my school comes on the evening news for the good volunteer activities that we are involved in.

Through the volunteering program, I have met a lot of people that are less fortune than I am. More than ever before, I am most grateful for the blessings that God has bestowed on my family and me. I probably wouldn't have been involved in any volunteering activities without the lessons from my Middle school teacher. I am most grateful to her for all I have learned through volunteering.