“You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.”, read the quote I had written in my planner the night before. It is an important quality of mine, upholding the plans I had previously committed to. I understand that Brain Tahair would do the same, staying true to his commitments, and doing so in a caring manner. I believe that he would agree with this quote of mine, which I use to guide my everyday actions, and that he would support me to act on ideas that benefit others. Since middle school, I have been keenly aware of opportunities that not only help myself but my community as a whole. The education I received in middle school has formed a base for my involvement in the community, placing a strong emphasis on giving back, and the lessons in which you are more than yourself. Based upon this, I started to work on being a voice at Spaulding High School by being involved in Key Club, Interact Club, and the National Honor Society. Through these community-based organizations, I was able to implement my ideas into everyday solutions and find ways to improve the school for others. In Key Club, we made blankets to donate for the National Honor Society holiday dinner. Through this dinner, we were able to feed more than 90 mouths, these people being members living in the community housing. In the Interact club, we volunteered around the town, planting trees at people's houses through an organization called Tree Plenish. These community-based clubs were one way that I was able to sprinkle kindness to others and encourage my peers to do the same. Another way in which I have been able to spread love is through my job, a server position at the Lincoln House, a retirement community home. I strive to be someone that the residents can turn to for help or someone they feel comfortable talking to. I complete the everyday tasks of being a server, but I also make time to share moments with these people. This is what makes my job meaningful, being a smiling face and someone to make even something like dinner, a positive time. Many of the residents have challengings with their mobility, so I take it upon myself to assist them if they need help going anywhere throughout the building. Others have dementia, so I spend extra time talking with them, reminding them of where they are or what might be happening for weekly activities. The Lincoln House has taught me how to work with the elderly in a way that not only gets my job done but in a way that makes them feel loved and appreciated. I appreciate going to work, and spending my time there does not feel like a task, but rather a privilege. In turn, I am confident that I have led by example. I have taken the time to listen and be with my peers, but above all, tried to lead through diplomacy, kindness, and through love. I have found in my life, that the people who make the biggest impact are not those who talk, but those who listen. To continue my education means being able to take the valuable lessons I have learned and apply them to my career, to assist those people who can no longer help themselves. I hope that the Brian Tahair Life of Gratitude Memorial Scholarship Committee Members will choose to support these aspirations of mine so that I will continue to spread nurturing to the people around me.

Covid-19 has impacted my life in every sense. Entering my freshman year of high school, I had no idea that the world I was just beginning to accept as my new normal would soon be completely disrupted. It was March when the two-week break announcement came out.  I was content with the fact that I would have this time to rest and recover from the strenuous end-of-school workload, yet nobody was aware that this time spent at home would extend for the whole year to follow. My younger brothers stayed home with me, as we continued to live our lives in isolation. My two brothers were the people who I had in this time of loneliness. I made sure that the school work assigned to them was completed and that they felt they had someone to turn to. Entering the summer, we had to put a halt on all of the trips we had planned to visit family. Family is a huge part of my life, and when we were prevented from spending time with each other, it only exacerbated the feeling of isolation. The familiar faces that I had longed all year to see were still thousands of miles away, only connected by the smiles displayed through the screen. My brothers decided to return to school in the fall, while I remained home, enrolling in new classes for the fresh semester. The home which I had usually longed to go home to each day became a cell to which I was confined. My mental health was deteriorating, and I could feel myself falling into a downward spiral. I felt as though the weeks I spent all blended together, as I went through the repetitive motions of each day. I was simply alive, not living. During this time, my key challenge was connection. Connection with the people who had previously been crucial outlets in my life. I struggled to stay in touch through the spotty wifi, and the constant effort needed to reach out. Not all of the effects of Covid-19 were negative, as I experienced self-discovery throughout this time. My greatest internal change was the realization of my career aspirations. I used to believe that as an independent individual, I would find enjoyment in a workforce where I am alone. I have learned from my experiences that this is not true. I need support from those around me. I enjoy spending my time with other people, and now I am aware that the further education I wish to pursue will lead me to a career that directly works with other people. My passion reveals itself when I am able to participate in human service work. Although service experiences were limited during this time of quarantine, they encouraged me to participate as much as I could when the opportunity became available. As the world transitions from isolation, back to a place where human connection is vital to survival, I find myself utilizing as many resources as I can within my community. I’ve joined clubs to create opportunities for others, hoping to fill the void that was missing at the beginning of my high school experience.

I always looked forward to Wednesdays. Hump day. Pizza day. The day I would get to go to art class. But the greatest reason why I awaited Wednesdays was because of the weekly walk to project independence my fifth-grade class took. Project independence, our community adult day-care home for the elderly, would foster my spark for nursing, the growing connection rooted within me, that I now am going to base my whole life around. The awkward songs we sang in front of the group developed into genuine conversations, and I cherished the time spent eating my lunch alongside so many wise souls. Volunteering at Project Independence was merely the beginning of my time working in the field of geriatrics. I was unaware at the time that I would ever do something like this again, let alone, apply to college majoring in nursing with hopes of becoming a professional in the field. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I was able to maintain stellar grades, which allowed doors to future medical opportunities to open for me. Obtaining the privilege of a job shadow rotation is one such door that I was able to step into. While exploring the diverse field opportunities, I found that what intrigued me most was Woodridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility, which encompassed everything from care management to palliative care. I loved the purpose which the caregivers held, that they were the joy to each of the patients' lives, and that these people relied on the caregivers for support. I hope that one day, I too can obtain my purpose of creating a positive impact in the lives of the elderly. The days I spent at the hospital have allowed me to gain insight into the tending of patients without passing judgment, and have enabled me to learn many of the necessary skills required to go into the field. These skills learned were soon utilized, after I had applied and been hired for a server position at the Lincoln House, a retirement community home. I’ve found that although I am only around the residents a few hours a day, I have this set time to create an impact. I strive to be someone that they can turn to for help or someone who they feel comfortable talking to. Many of the residents have challengings with their mobility, so I take it upon myself to assist them if they need help going anywhere throughout the building. Others have dementia, so I spend extra time talking with them, reminding them of where they are or what might be happening for weekly activities. The Lincoln House has taught me how to work with the elderly in a way that not only gets my job done but in a way that makes them feel loved and appreciated. Now, as I apply to colleges for nursing, I recollect the times that I spent working or volunteering for the elderly. I sympathize with the struggles that they face, and I use each day as an opportunity to help them live out the rest of their lives. I am deserving of this scholarship, because of the long hours I have put in to get to the place I am today. I am a person who cares, who knows that the job I have is more than a role in my life, but a part in everyone else's around me. I know that in the future, I want my role in geriatrics to continue, so that I no longer have to await for Wednesdays to come, but I am immersed in this world every day.

Since middle school, I have been keenly aware of opportunities that not only help myself but my community as a whole. The education I received in middle school has formed a base for my involvement in the community, placing a strong emphasis on giving back, and the lessons in which you are more than yourself. I have always been taught to be a selfless person, to always take into account if others' needs were met, and how to support those people to meet their needs. During my eighth grade year, I was elected to represent my school, in the role of a Legislative Page at the Vermont state house. I delivered messages throughout the state house when the Senate or House of Representatives was in session, and I was able to observe the levels that it took to pass a bill. I often noticed ordinary Vermonters rallying out in front, or some coming to speak with leaders, advocating for the good of our community. It was admirable recognizing that in such a system, the people spoke for themselves and what they deemed as correct. I knew that I should act on the lessons I had learned throughout my time being a page. So, when my position at the state house was over, it wasn’t going to be the end of my involvement in my community, it was merely the beginning. Based upon this, I started to work on being a voice at Spaulding High School by being involved in Key Club, Interact Club, and the National Honor Society. Through these community-based organizations, I was able to implement my ideas into everyday solutions and find ways to improve the school for others. In the Key Club, we focused mainly on our school community, organizing engaging activities to increase the student body spirit, including the schoolwide flag football games in the spring and fall. We made blankets to donate for the National Honor Society holiday dinner, which I also spearheaded and organized as I am an officer in the club. Through this dinner, we were able to feed more than 90 mouths, these people being members living in the community housing. In the Interact club, we were able to volunteer around the town, planting trees at people's houses through an organization called Tree Plenish. I would want the scholarship committee to know that the impact of these clubs went beyond personal enjoyment; they have impacted the lives of individuals in our community.