St. Joseph High School
Senior? Yes
Elite top 100? Yes
Letters of recommendation: Letter of Recommendation 1, Letter of Recommendation 2
“I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living…” I have been reciting this, the 4-H pledge, since I joined my local club in fifth grade. The most meaningful aspect of the 4-H pledge to me is using my hands for the larger service of the community. Over my years with the club, I’ve done a variety of service projects, including making crafts to support the Butler library, filling stockings for cancer patients, and making baked goods to support the annual 4-H auction. However, one of the most impactful things I have done was to teach one of the members of my club to sew.
My first 4-H club disbanded four years ago and I promptly joined another, hoping to find the same sense of community I’d had before. As the oldest member of my new club, I found it hard to connect to other members who had known each other for years. I hadn’t managed to fit in with the club- until we did a sewing project together. Although it was basic sewing, some of the younger members had never before used a sewing machine. Showing them how to use the machine, I felt a sense of satisfaction that I had never experienced in quite that way. I wanted to continue teaching. When it came time for Fashion Revue, a 4-H event in which members make and model garments, I offered to teach any of the club members how to sew a garment that they could wear for the show. One young friend took me up on the offer. Over the next two months, I taught Sophia and her mother the basics of sewing, and working together, she was able to create a skirt. However, she gained more than just a new clothing item. In completing the project, she built her self-esteem, sewing skills, and independence. Through this shared experience, I found confidence in my teaching abilities and pride in seeing Sophia’s skills develop.
As I reflect on my dreams for the future, I’ve come to two conclusions: I thrive on the opportunity to be creative, and I hope to use my passions to help others. Teaching Sophia to sew was an intersection of those two ideals, and I plan to continue service such as this in the future. I will be studying Theater Design and Technology at Penn State University with a focus in costuming.
I look forward to the day when I can make an impact on the world through my passions. As an Outstanding Young Citizen looking to the future, I hope to make more than costumes and relationships. The 4-H pledge ends with the words “…for my club, my community, my country, and my world.” I want to create a better world.