Derry Area Senior High School
Senior? Yes
Elite top 100? Yes
Letters of recommendation: Letter of Recommendation 1, Letter of Recommendation 2
To be a volunteer is to be an intricate part of something greater than yourself. May it be going to a community food bank on a Sunday morning, visiting a facilitated living home days before Christmas to bring joy to those who wouldn’t usually have access to it, or stopping the girl crying in the hall to comfort her. Volunteering doesn’t cost thousands of dollars- just time & a desire to help others around you. Volunteerism has meant the absolute world to me, I know it sounds cliche, but I would rather volunteer my time to help someone else than relax or watch TV. When I volunteer, I am not concerned with my own life and things going on- just the task at hand that will help someone in need. Being a volunteer has allowed me to utilize the concept of Servant Leadership. Servant Leadership is a leadership philosophy where the main goal of the leader is to serve the people they represent. As a leader, you can not lead effectively unless you lead by example and this means to serve those around you. I am wholeheartedly committed to leaving the world in a better place than when I found it.
The only way to truly get the most out of life is to create relationships and connect to the world outside of you. Starting as a shy, mostly introverted ten-year-old, I gained the opportunity to develop and practice my social skills. As I progressed many members of the group commented on my increased confidence and ability to communicate. Of course, this affected my school and outside life as well. I wasn’t as scared or timid and eventually started talking to older and younger kids alike, becoming a leader and role model in the school community. I translated these elevated social skills to create unified teams in both Cross Country and Track as a captain. All of this wouldn’t have happened without volunteerism. I owe my character and leadership skills to the volunteering experiences I take part in.
As I continue volunteering in my adult life, I hope to make an impact on the community and the world I live in. It will give me an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself and use my civic responsibility to empower people all across the globe. Continuing to volunteer will facilitate real connections between myself and the people around me. Volunteering will allow me to meet people from all walks of life and give me a chance to form real relationships that can have a lasting impact on my life. Maybe I’ll meet my new best friend, future business partner, or spark a real change in my life. Along with the positive benefits, volunteerism creates for society, it is excellent for my health. By helping someone else it interrupts tension-producing patterns and replaces it with a sense of purpose, positive emotions, and high confidence levels. So, the more I give, the happier I feel.