Allison Thomas Swanberg Memorial Scholarship

Society’s foundation is built on community service. Our world often cuts community service perimeters into those who volunteer or donate. Overlooked are those who choose to give back to their community daily. Those who choose kindness over hate. Those who show others the benefit of the doubt. Those who choose to be the light in someone else’s day. People often fail to realize that serving their community is about making it a better place. A task as simple as putting a smile on someone’s face. There are often leaders who exemplify my definition of community service. These involve coaches, teachers, parents-people who guide us to who we are. These people have the power to determine the atmosphere of an entire community. My future career goal is to teach. Teaching means giving your life to ensure others live the best version of theirs. Inspired by countless teachers who taught me that a grade does not define me, I plan to continue their legacy—guiding students to achieve their fullest potential to succeed in a field that suits them most. My softball career drove me to Durango, Colorado—home to many underserved Native American Communities. Teaching on a reservation is an ambition I wish to pursue. Serving a community’s younger generation, who are so often overlooked. Giving back to a group of people in which much was taken from. Teaching, to me, involves setting a tone in an entire community. Teaching people that they are seen, and their ambitions are essential. Laying the structure for a growth mindset. As a teacher, I believe in instilling a community service mindset into all. How do you plan to make today better for someone else? My time playing softball at Arvada West High School exemplified the importance of community service and steered me toward one of my future careers. My first love was for the game of softball. My coaches, who chose to serve the softball community, opened the door for me to play in college. My plans after high school involve coaching. I want to give back to the community that has taught me many lessons and blessed me with great opportunities. Coaching means instilling confidence in young girls, helping them find an identity in something larger than themselves, and giving young women a love for something that could determine their destinies. A coach, as I have learned, has the potential to ruin dreams or build upon them. Coaching entails more than teaching softball-related skills. Life lessons are learned upon playing a game. A coach can give a young lady skills like communication, teamwork, leadership, etc. In the meantime, I serve my community best by uplifting those around me.