Pine-Richland High School
Senior? Yes
Elite top 100? Yes
Letters of recommendation: Letter of Recommendation 1, Letter of Recommendation 2
For most students, we go through high school trying to figure out who we are, but I believe the more important question we should be asking is, “Who can we be for others.” This outlook has driven me to make a difference in my school and community. While volunteering has opened me up to serving people from all walks of life, I believe my volunteerism is more about what it means to those I am helping rather than how it affects me. Growing up in a Catholic school system, the fundamentals of charity work have been instilled in me from a very young age. My biggest takeaway is the idea that I am here to serve and not to be served. It feels good to help others and know that I am making an impact in their life, but my hope is for them to turn around and pass it forward. I believe in living in such a way, that if anyone ever spoke badly about you, no one would believe it. Good works can often go unnoticed, so it is easy for people who volunteer in the hope of recognition to feel defeated and give up. However, when one lives by the code of selfless service, a lack of reward does not deter them. As I look to the future of my volunteer work, I hope to continue to grow from my past experiences and allow them to shape the way I help others. The more exposure I have to serving others, the better I will meet their needs. I have been accepted into the Honors College at the schools where I hope to continue my education. The Honors Colleges are all service oriented, both locally and globally. I am excited to learn about all of the different ways I can serve others on campus, in the community, and hopefully on a national and international level. I will continue to volunteer for leadership positions and share my passion for service with others. The question I posed in the beginning of this essay requires an ongoing answer that can only begin to be explored through my future volunteer endeavors. I think the answer will constantly change as I grow and learn, but I am excited to discover “Who I can be for others.”
