Scholarship Review

Cameron Pagley

Beaver Falls Senior High School
Senior? Yes
Elite top 100? Yes
Letters of recommendation: Letter of Recommendation 1, Letter of Recommendation 2

Essay

Community service is a vital aspect of life providing tools that can be applied throughout all of life. Volunteering allows me to give back to my community and help children learn essential life skills. I have participated at the Center for Creative Artistic Expression (CCAE) in Beaver Falls for the last 4 years. During the summer months the center holds art camp for students ages 4-12, numerous being underprivileged children. These summer camps are important for the community because it allows me to help promote, teach, develop and support the visual, performing, and literary arts for the children; which positively influences them. The camp gives them the opportunity to experience art in a way that may not be possible due to the cost or travel to Pittsburgh or other art programs. I believe it is important for all children to have equal opportunities in life, and volunteering helps that happen. I have been able to show children that although they may not be the best at drawing or not know how to play an instrument, the effort they put into trying will be enough of a reward for them. The smiles that I see on the kids faces when they are able to mimic the song while drumming shows the proof that their lives have been positively impacted by what they are being taught. The positive impact I am able to have on the children also enables me to act as a role model for them. The happiness I see that the children experience is exactly why I have and will continue to do volunteer work at CCAE. The time I have spent volunteering has enabled me to touch on the lives of many children and positively impact their lives, as well as mine. The children have taught me many valuable skills such as patience and understanding. Serving my community has allowed me to improve my leadership, problem solving skills, people skills, and time management. Community service will have a lasting impact on my outlook on life, as well as giving me the tools to be successful in life. I have developed a passion to help others due to volunteering and hope to further that help in the future through the fields of science.