Mt Pleasant Area Junior/Senior High School
Senior? Yes
Elite top 100? Yes
Letters of recommendation: Letter of Recommendation 1, Letter of Recommendation 2
My experience with community involvement stems directly from the home. As one of six siblings living with only my father, I took on a mature role at an early age when my parents divorced. Their separation taught me to be a leader rather than a follower, and to always help those in need. Three of my siblings have learning disabilities and require extra care, which I am glad to extend at any time. They have truly given me the gifts of patience, kindness, and understanding beyond anything that I have learned throughout life. As I grew older, I transferred these efforts, qualities, and characteristics from the home into the community. In school, I strive to learn and absorb every piece of information that teachers, coaches, and administrators have to offer. After all, these are the people who simply want to see students succeed. I have volunteered with local organizations, such as Westmoreland County Special Olympics, for as long as I can remember. This past February, I took part in the Pennsylvania Special Olympics Winter Games at Seven Springs, a three-day overnight event, which I can easily say has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Watching the athletes perform and seeing the joy in their eyes is something that I would not trade for the world. I am honored to have made so many incredible friends through volunteering opportunities such as this one, and I hope to continue these efforts in the future. When asked to volunteer, especially with regard to children with special needs, most of my superiors tell me that I will be changing a life for the better just by talking to and listening to someone else. I am led to believe that I am the one performing the great deed, but I feel just the opposite. The people that I meet through these occasions ultimately change my life for the better. I have extended time to much broader associations as well, such as the American Red Cross. This major organization strives to benefit a large community, and I am grateful to play in just a small part of it. As president of student council and National Honor Society in my high school, volunteering has simply come naturally. I have volunteered for a variety of animal shelters, food banks, alcohol and substance abuse committees, churches, and juvenile diabetes events. I continually work to organize and encourage other students to become actively involved in the community as well. I have always walked away from volunteer experiences with a full heart, fortunate that I was able to help and meet so many people (and animals). My main goal for the future is to inspire others in the ways that they have inspired me. Each opportunity has taught me to be humble and grateful for everything that life has to offer. Volunteering truly means the world to me, and I plan for my future to hold an endless amount of these life changing opportunities.