Hempfield Area High School
Senior? Yes
Elite top 100? Yes
Letters of recommendation: Letter of Recommendation 1, Letter of Recommendation 2
One of the most rewarding volunteer opportunities I have had was attending the Outdoor Odyssey Leadership Academy and becoming a mentor to two young girls who experienced personal obstacles I never had to overcome as a child. I had to quickly learn how to adapt to and understand their situations since I had never experienced them firsthand. After spending a week with them at Outdoor Odyssey, we overcame physical obstacles together like caving, rock wall climbing, zip-lining, hiking, and camping, I thought my job as a mentor was to distract them; but I quickly realized I was wrong. My job as their mentor was to create a connection, to be someone who was able to listen and give advice when they needed it. As I watched them improve upon themselves based on our relationship, I realized the impact I was having on their lives was greater than I could have imagined. Just by weekly phone calls and doing things like taking them to get ice cream, I became their role model, and I was proud to be the one that they looked up to. As time went on and I discovered things that occurred in their everyday lives, I noticed smiles hardly ever left their faces despite the hardships they were battling that most adults do not even go through. I realized more and more that you truly never know what is going on in other people’s lives, no matter how happy they seem. Having this opportunity that led to self actualization improved not only my life, but the lives of those around me as I became more present and understanding in and of the lives of those who surround me. I have been able to listen and extend my comprehension of personal hardships to my friends and family after going through similar experiences at Outdoor Odyssey, which I will be forever grateful for. As I continue forward through college, my career, and beyond, I know I will carry this understanding of others with me for the rest of my life. Through my leadership experiences at Outdoor Odyssey, I learned that service is not just about the experience, but about finding a purpose that is greater than yourself.