A Passion for Helping Others At twelve years old, I began volunteering with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). I have had the opportunity to work with numerous people that utilize hand gestures and communication boards to convey their thoughts. While it took a few sessions to adjust, I learned how I could communicate with nonverbal people, allowing them to decide which activities they want to partake in. As an undergraduate junior, I plan to pursue pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT), so I may continue to impact children with IDD by utilizing skills I learn in school. Nonverbal children enjoy participating in leisure activities like a typical developing child. I have learned that people usually connect with me because I am patient. For example, I introduce myself and ask the individual if they are excited for the activity through a yes or no question, so I may gauge whether they communicate verbally, via sign language, gestures, or a communication board. I then aid the child with comprehending the goal of an activity by illustrating how the task is completed. I allow them to decide whether they want to continue the activity or participate in an alternate task. To allow a nonverbal child to communicate, I utilize their communication abilities. If they respond to body movements, I may use my hands: my left hand would represent “stay here” and my right would be “next task.” Alternate communicative techniques I would use include physical objects to represent an activity. By remaining patient, I can further understand the communicative techniques the child has been exposed to and allow them to make their own decisions without feeling overwhelmed. As a volunteer at a horseback riding center, I aided a nonverbal child with tasks around the barn that allowed her to build connections with horses through physical contact and emotional bonds. Activities like painting and grooming the horses help her practice motor skills, improving her strength and mobility. She communicated by pointing to grooming supplies, which was her way of notifying me that she wanted help grooming the horse. I learned through her parents that she created a special connection with me because of my patience and quietness. While I communicated with her when necessary, she enjoyed riding the horse without me speaking to her often, so she could focus on the texture of the horse's fur and breeze flowing through her hair. After eight years, I maintain a relationship with her and often connect with her in ways other individuals cannot. I speak with a child’s parent or guardian so I can better understand the needs a child demands of me. Parents usually communicate with their child with IDD better than anyone. Therefore, if I want to create a connection with the child, I must learn from their parents the child’s personality, rewards for good behavior, and communication style. Additionally, parents have helped boost my confidence when working with their children by providing positive feedback. They analyze how I interact with their child during an activity and inform me how great of an aid I am. Feedback from parents and the smiles on children’s faces bring me joy and make my job feel fulfilling. As I continue to complete my degree, I always remember the positive impact I have left on people’s lives. Once I become an OT, I will continue to aid children with IDD through new techniques while utilizing communication skills I have practiced for years.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” states Mahatma Gandhi. I have embodied this quote for years as I have volunteered at Horsepower Therapeutic Learning Center since I was thirteen along with other service organizations dedicated to the special needs community. At UNC-Chapel Hill, I joined the Special Olympics club and Puppies at Carolina. This year, I will be an officer of the Puppies at Carolina club connecting outside animal rescue organizations with our students. Although not a volunteer activity, this summer I am working for the city’s parks and recreation department where I am a counselor for a special needs camp. Although this is a paid position, I am connecting with the specials needs community which is furthering my passion for a career in occupational therapy with a focus on special needs children. I am giving back to the community by establishing relationships with the riders I serve at Horsepower. I connect with the riders; I praise and encourage them to overcome obstacles and establish trust with their horse, sidewalker, and leader. Through these organizations, I give of my heart and time. I have a vested interest in the wellbeing and success of these children, and I plan to continue doing this work in my career. I have developed a close bond with one rider and her family and have been supporting them for more than six years. Another rider has attended two other organizations where I have volunteered as this is a tight-knit community and I am a small part of the village that serves them. Companionship, loyalty, and unconditional love are key values I give to these relationships. I strive to be a Buckley Public Service Scholar. To succeed, I must complete at least 300 service hours during my four years at UNC-Chapel Hill. Thanks to the organizations in which I serve, I have already achieved 74 hours in my first year. With Puppies at Carolina, I serve the local animal shelter and help rescue organizations with adoption fairs. While struggling with mental health challenges my first semester in college, this organization gave me a sense of purpose and a bond with animals that I was missing from home and Horsepower. I feel indebted to this organization and am eager to serve as their Community Outreach coordinator for the upcoming year. As demonstrated through my years of volunteer service, I have a passion for helping people and animals in need. My objective is to continue making a positive impact on society and having a servant’s heart. I will continue to advocate for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves. I plan to diversify my volunteer experience to be better equipped to help society in general. I will be a volunteer at UNC Hospital in the fall as I continue my journey in healthcare and gaining more hands-on, quality experience with people and organizations. I share the values of Priscilla Shireen Luke in that I serve those in need; those who cannot stand on their own without support from others like me. As an occupational therapist, I will serve others in a different capacity but will continue my volunteerism as it brings me joy and a sense of purpose. I intend for my small contributions to bring more love and kindness to those who seek it.

A Resilient Perseverance Over the course of five years, I have aided the community in multiple ways, influencing my future career. Volunteering has become a passion, assisting the special needs community at a local non-profit organization. While creating joy within children’s hearts encourages me to continue volunteering, I recognize the impact I make on society. I will pursue volunteer work throughout my life, and I plan to positively impact the world with my studies in occupational therapy. While volunteering at Horsepower Therapeutic Learning Center, a local non-profit organization for children and adults with special needs, I have positively touched multiple individuals. Although I have created several relationships with riders, one individual has impacted my life more than others. She struggles with two rare diseases, epilepsy, and muteness; however, she never fails to smile at Horsepower. Emily brightens my day every time I interact with her, encouraging me to continue impacting others. After children complete their lesson, the most rewarding aspect displays on their face in the form of a brilliant smile. Horsepower enables the children to build their confidence and I support that mission by encouraging the rider while ensuring their safety. Knowing I have impacted individuals’ lives at Horsepower, other non-profits, and school events, creates a passion of volunteerism within my heart. While volunteering with the special needs community, I have realized the social, mental, and physical challenges they must overcome. Witnessing the trials they experience allows gratitude to fill my heart of all the fortunate attributes I attain. However, I have experienced difficult situations in my life. As a child I was diagnosed with mild dyslexia and central auditory processing disorder, impacting my abilities in reading comprehension and speech. My scores on aptitude tests remained low; however, speech therapy and other aids helped develop my skills. Although the many hours spent in therapy and at home to strengthen my mental capability was discouraging, the process did improve my test scores and significantly elevated my grades. As a senior in high school, I study countless hours in order to maintain my 4.0 GPA. I choose to persevere in order to achieve my academic goals and prove to myself that hard work reaps beneficial rewards. While completing my final year of high school, I need to decide which college will provide the best education and opportunity for aiding the community. I plan to pursue an undergraduate degree in exercise science and later a graduate degree in occupational therapy. Although I will not have the proximity to serve at Horsepower often, I hope to find a local non-profit organization near my college where I can positively impact the surrounding community. In order to influence those around me, I plan to advertise the importance of volunteer work, increasing the number of volunteers. In addition to promoting volunteerism, I intend to study American Sign Language while in college. As stated earlier, I regularly interact with a non-verbal individual, however, she is not the only person I impact who utilizes sign language. Therefore, I will strive to develop my skills in their mode of communication, creating an even stronger connection between myself and the special needs community. Volunteering with a non-profit organization positively influences my life and career aspirations. While working with the special needs community, I have discovered my destiny and life’s passion, and I will strive to bring forth a multitude of volunteers and enhance communication between the verbal and non-verbal populations. Personal struggles have created an everlasting empathy for the special needs population, assembling a resilient perseverance for myself and creating an impact on others.

A Passionate Sacrifice Volunteering has become a passion of mine within the last five years, aiding special needs children and adults, while also caring for the equine community. Over the years, I have discovered that volunteering not only brings joy to children, but also to myself. After several volunteer opportunities, I plan to pursue volunteer work throughout college and adulthood. This community service has transformed me into the person I am today, living not only for myself, but for others. Horsepower Therapeutic Learning Center is a non-profit organization in which children and adults with special needs bond with horses and volunteers. Beginning lessons at the age of twelve, I immediately fell in love with the equine community, but also the kind people that surrounded the location. The following year, I decided to join Horsepower as a volunteer. I met a young girl who struggles with several rare diseases and muteness, allotting a challenge for me to care for a rider who could not fully communicate with me. She also wrestles with dehydration; however, her mother informed me after the camp that her doctor had documented the child’s highest hydration levels. Not only was her family pleased with me as the girl’s volunteer, but they decided to have me continue to care for the child during regular class sessions. To this day, I continue to impact the child’s life as she influences mine. After each riding lesson, she walks away with a smile, leaving me with self-confidence knowing that I have changed a life. While volunteering at Horsepower, I not only have gained experience with children, but I have learned numerous details regarding horses. Before coming to Horsepower, I knew an insufficient amount of information about horse anatomy, the time required and care of horses, and their ability to emotionally connect with individuals. One horse at the non-profit organization, named Sunshine, has worked with a rider for many years. Sunshine has always remained kind and gentle with the riders and receives numerous compliments and love. After seeing the work Sunshine and other horses do for riders, I have adored horses and the act of volunteering. In addition to Horsepower, another non-profit organization titled iCanSwim, aids children with special needs to conquer demanding tasks in the water. As a volunteer, my job is to protect the swimmer from water hazards, but also to encourage them stroke by stroke. One swimmer enthusiastically entered the aquatic center daily ready to interact with me. As I encouraged her, she mostly wanted to play games and know how proud I was of her. The child consistently desired a hug from her swim buddy and even wrote a note on the last day, thanking me for my service. iCanShine enhanced my volunteer proficiency from the equine community to the natatorium, expanding my experience with children and guiding others. An anonymous author once stated, “Helping one person might not change the whole world, but it could change the world for one person.” I live by this mantra today, seeking opportunities to abet suffering human beings. Volunteering has altered my life in more ways than one, including a possible career in Recreational Therapy, plans to continue volunteerism throughout college and adulthood, and the reward of joy and confidence. I choose to live each day knowing I have positively transformed an individual’s life, sacrificing my time to impact the community.