Norwin High School
Senior? Yes
Elite top 100? Yes
Letters of recommendation: Letter of Recommendation 1, Letter of Recommendation 2
Volunteering is ultimately about helping others and having an impact on people’s well being. Volunteering reflects and supports a complete picture of me, and gives real examples of my commitment, dedication and interests. I want to show people what I am passionate about and maybe inspire them too.
This is my picture:
For me, volunteering is the direct translation of tragic experiences into highly positive initiatives. While growing up, my great grandmother was my world. Seeing her suffering at the hands of cancer shaped my life’s priorities. I had two options- spend the rest of my life mourning about something beyond everyone’s control or rediscover myself to alleviate the pain of cancer patients and their families. I chose the latter.
The pain of my great grandmother fueled my motivation for volunteer work. I affiliated myself with the American Cancer Society and initiated the “Purple Fighters” a community group to honor my great grandmother. That community service eventually turned into my personal growth as I took the lead in fundraising campaigns for this noble cause. Perhaps, the best moment was witnessing the Purple Fighters grow along with me and gather approximately $30,000 over the years to fund cancer research. I also got opportunities to cheer up cancer patients through the Boy Scouts of America. With extensive efforts for my Eagle project, I managed to gather donations of various items to distribute 150 “Hope bags” to cancer patients without family or community support at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh.
All this work had a significant impact on not only the cancer patients fighting for their lives, but also on me to recover from the loss of my great grandmother. Although I could not do much for her, her suffering eventually inspired a relief for many. I am sure that if she was around to see my volunteer work, she would add more value and stand beside me as a constant source of motivation.
I have also been able to excel in my academic career while being involved in community work. Not only have I managed to surpass a majority of students to be considered amongst the top students in the batch, I have upheld my status as an honor student. Moreover, I am fairly acknowledged for my proficiency in the music field, particularly for my participation in the Norwin Marching Band as a percussionist. My passion for faith is evident from my involvement with the Ardara Church where I am involved in the youth group and music programs.
It is my goal to become a capable adult, a responsible person and show to myself to be a valuable leader within my family, community and school. Carrying these values further, I eagerly look forward to continuing my volunteer work in the domain of health and faith. Hopefully, my efforts will contribute to making the world a more tolerant, connected and peaceful place to live. I am positive that with the acceptance of this scholarship, I will be able to extend my passion on a much wider level at Waynesburg University.