Ligonier Valley High School
Senior? Yes
Elite top 100? Yes
Letters of recommendation: Letter of Recommendation 1, Letter of Recommendation 2
Out of all the volunteer opportunities I have been presented with throughout high school, there is one, in particular, I refuse to miss each summer. At the end of my freshman year, I was encouraged to attend my first mission trip down in South Carolina through a non-denominational religious youth group, located in my home town. The projects throughout the week required diligence and hard work which was a challenge the whole team faced. After seeing the fruits of our labor and the purpose of the struggle, I was convinced I always wanted to be a part of a mission trip.
The summer of 2016 was the year I discovered how much I love to serve others as a volunteer. Back when I was in middle school, I thought the events I chose to participate in were simply fun and gave me a sense of accomplishment and humility afterward. It wasn’t until high school that I realized what volunteerism truly meant. Most people define volunteering as the act of giving someone’s time and effort to help other people; however, my definition of volunteerism is much broader than that.
To be a volunteer, from my perspective, means to provide individuals with a chance to become a part of something bigger. It means to offer one’s time and effort with a humble mindset to impact and influence other people. It means to make a difference wherever help is needed. No matter where or how one volunteers his or her time, the reason and motivation is to affect an environment that is one tiny part of this huge world.
Having been hooked from my first mission trip, I have been blessed to be a member of two additional mission trip teams. My third international mission trip this past summer to the Dominican Republic was an experience very dear to my heart. A few eye-opening moments I had was when I witnessed sincere gratitude from unknown faces after I gave them their weekly supply of eggs and rice. Another time was when I received a crushing yet comforting hug from a tenderhearted girl I met just two days prior. These two flashbacks remind me how volunteering offers immeasurable love and compassion, sometimes even to strangers. This love and compassion may restore hope and hope can bring peace to those who are broken and dishearten. One simple act of kindness can brighten someone else’s day.
Volunteerism has shaped who I have become today which has transformed my lifestyle and desire to serve others. Once I understood I had the opportunity and the potential to change lives, whether close or far, I wanted to make a difference in as many people as I could. I see volunteerism as a win-win situation: I am able to impact other people and in return, it makes a difference in the lives of those I serve. Going forward, I plan to put myself in that win-win situation as often as I possibly can.