Bold Giving Scholarship

I have been immensely blessed to grow up with parents that have such a kind and generous heart. The influence that they’ve had on my life is profound, and I strive to follow in their footsteps. My parents do everything they can for our community, especially around the holiday season when they help with Angel Tree programs. As I entered high school, I wanted to find a way to serve fellow scholars at my high school to make a difference in their lives. During our advisory one day, my teacher asked if I would be able to help a classmate with his homework. I had no idea that her seemingly simple request would be the inspiration I needed in order to find my purpose. I began to volunteer daily within a mathematics teacher’s enrichment period where I was able to work alongside a new student every day. For the following three years of high school, I was even given the opportunity to sign up for an algebra class to serve as a peer tutor. When the pandemic prevented me from continuing to work in a classroom, I was determined to continue mentoring. I established my own tutoring service where I am able to volunteer to help students of all ages in every subject. My tutoring service has been monumental in my life, as I am now ensured that I want to pursue a career in the education field. Most importantly, I am in a position where I can encourage students throughout all of their endeavors. I am a constant in their lives that will always be there for them. I give love, compassion, and confidence to every student that I have met, which is transformative in their lives. I will become a changemaker. It is where my heart truly lies.

Someone once told me the opposite of stress is hope, but I’d argue gratitude is. When someone holds a door for me, for example, it doesn’t matter if I’m late or worried about what room I’m supposed to go to; in that instant, I can’t help but appreciate how someone gave a stranger some of their time. Giving is important to me because it inherently requires empathy, kindness, and humanity, qualities the world needs more of. I give back through my leadership in several organizations, but I’ll always have a special appreciation for the impact I have through diabolo. When I’m teaching someone at a fair, they will often try once and hand back my sticks out of embarrassment. Anyone who walks away in that moment likely won’t have another chance to try a hobby they might end up being interested in, so I’ll quickly give them a specific tip and encourage them to try one more time. In eighth grade, I started teaching diabolo twice a week. This came with new challenges, but I take the same approach: I’ll give a hug to a student who had a bad day in school, perspective to another who isn’t advancing as quickly as they want, and suggestions for a new skill to a student bored with practicing the same tricks. With these short interactions, I want to share a part of my culture and also show the person I’m working with that I don’t mind giving them individual attention. Whether they got the prop to spin for ten seconds or put together a choreography, every person I’ve taught has accomplished something. I hope each individual recognizes their achievement and walks away with a little more confidence that there are people in the world who will unconditionally offer their support.