Baldwin High School
Senior? Yes
Elite top 100? Yes
Letters of recommendation: Letter of Recommendation 1, Letter of Recommendation 2
When I turned 9, my father was hired as an employee at the church we attended regularly. As members, we volunteered for service projects and missions, but when my father started to work there, our acts of service became even more numerous.
For the fall festivals, I set up the pumpkin patch and hay maze. Before the Easter egg hunts, I filled plastic eggs with candy and hid them around the grounds. Before and after the community celebrations, I set up (and tore down) band equipment, tables, and food items. Over the years, I weeded, built benches, planted flowers, painted the fellowship hall, served as an acolyte, helped with children’s ministries, and set up the weekly cafe. At first I was simply “volun-told” that I would help, but as I matured, I began to look forward to these acts of service.
My most meaningful service occurred during my high school years. Our contemporary service was thriving, and we needed reliable people to run the technology for it. The adult volunteers struggled with this task. For some of them, the technology (Media Shout) was unfamiliar; others struggled to see in the dimly lit sanctuary; still others felt stressed by the pressure of running the media. Week-after-week, we struggled to find volunteers. In a pinch, I filled in–and it was easy for me! The worship leader suggested that this task become my regular opportunity to volunteer.
Each week for 3 years, I followed a script designed by the worship leader to control the audio, visual, and video feeds to accompany the worship service. I learned to manage media and sound controls, to communicate with the worship director and pastors, and to be responsible in attending the weekly worship services. If I made a mistake during the service, it detracted from the design and flow of worship, so I also learned to pay close attention, listen carefully, and put my full focus into running the media. From my spot in the balcony, I could see how much people enjoyed the music, video, and media–and it made me feel good to play such an important role in bringing others closer to God.
In Sunday School, I had read the Bible verse from Timothy 4:12 that said, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” Volunteering as the media operator at my church really helped me to understand this Bible verse and apply it my life. Despite my age, it felt so good that I had something valuable to share, and the rewarding feelings associated with volunteerism only made me want to do more of it. As I become an adult and continue to build my skills and strengths, I know I will continue to serve in my church and community, not only for the good I can do in the world, but for the good I can do within myself.