Bold Meaning of Life Scholarship

For me, the meaning of life is to “live fully and love deeply.” Simply to exist and perceive the world with our senses is a gift, and I believe one of life’s main purposes is to receive and relish that gift! Everybody does this a bit differently, but for me, it currently means spending time in nature, dancing, singing, gardening, hanging out with my two-year-old niece, and watching the sunrises and sunsets. Although I’m agnostic about the original source of life on Earth, I do feel certain that I’m on the receiving end of an incredible gift and that even anonymous donors like to know their gift is being enjoyed! Just to savor and appreciate life, in my opinion, is part of its meaning. The other side of this coin, for me, is love. If the world were already in a state of complete harmony and free of suffering, then simply enjoying life would be meaningful enough! But given the pain, loneliness, and unmet needs that abound on the Earth, I cannot imagine a meaningful life that doesn’t contribute to the thriving of others. For me recently, this has taken the form of foster parenting, volunteering at a local prison, studying for a career in the nonprofit sector, trying to make ethical purchases, and helping my own family and neighbors however I can. Not only do such acts of loving compassion give me a sense of purpose, but they also increase my enjoyment of life, as described above! I hope to always use these two guides---how can I live the most fully, and love the most deeply?--- as the yardstick by which to measure all my decisions. I'm confident it will have been a meaningful life if I can look back and say that I truly did both.

Personally, I feel happiest and most sustained when I am helping other people, no matter the environment. In my current job, I am as a caregiver for elderly clients, helping them to meet their daily needs and with ADLs. Through this job, I have met many amazing seniors who tell me about their lives, and I love connecting with them and improving their quality of life. Additionally, I enjoy interning with the sexual assault center near me, where I help with prevention education, crisis hotline calls, and filing paperwork in the office. Two public health-based service trips have also allowed me to explore the resources and needs in my own community and in the Nashville community. Whether it is something big, like building an accessibility ramp at a house, or something more behind-the-scenes like shredding paperwork, I enjoy taking some of the weight off another person's shoulders. That being said, I think that the meaning of life is to help other people and to improve quality of life. So far, I have tried to fulfill this meaning through my work and volunteerism, and I plan to continue that in my future. Next year, I will start my Master's Degree toward a career as a physician assistant at Salus University. I was drawn to this career because it provides me with the opportunity to interact with patients in a hands-on way and to foster a relationship with them that is comfortable and which will facilitate providing the best possible care. I am also excited to help patients make progress toward their health goals. I think that the training that the sexual assault resource center has given me will make me a trauma-informed provider who can connect strongly with her patients. Finally, I hope to continue my community service however possible.