I am involved. I have been dancing for fourteen years now, playing the piano for thirteen years, and running track for almost six years. Not to mention, I have managed to hold three jobs now and, I have donated the remainder of my free time to community service. Perhaps to say that I am involved is an understatement- I am totally involved! Nonetheless, I don’t think I would be nearly as well-rounded as I would be without four vital virtues: scholarship, character, leadership, and service. I believe these four virtues have truly morphed me into the well-rounded individual I am today.
Foremost, I really became dedicated to academics after sophomore year. Having two math classes, really stressed me out because I know math is not my strongest subject. With that mindset, I ended the year with two Cs in math and overall below average grades. Nonetheless, when junior year came along, I promised myself that I was going to be way more dedicated than I was my sophomore year, I wasn’t going to have the initial mindset of failure, instead I was going to use my suck-y grades to my advantage, and let that motivate me to improve junior year.
That year, I definitely improved. I got a five on my AP History Exam, got a 91 on my Pre-Calculus final, and passed Pre-Calculus with a B. With this being awesome, I still think I can improve even more! Therefore I’m giving senior year all I can academically so I can finish my four years of high school with a strong finish. Furthermore, During my underclassman years, I never really took my character into deep consideration. Honestly, I always thought, you are who you are and character was just a matter of doing the right thing at the right time.
Interestingly enough, it wasn’t until sophomore year when I met Brittney Burns, Schalick’s sweetheart, in Honors Algebra. Wildly enough, Brittney had taught me so much about character within one semester. I began picking up on her mannerisms and tried to emulate her demeanor. She showed me that character is more than just doing the right thing when someone’s watching, she taught me that character is doing the right thing because that’s what right no matter who’s watching. Ever since then, I have been more content with myself and my environment.
For example, I remember dancing with a guy running for prom king. No, I wasn’t his date, however I couldn’t let him dance by himself! So I danced with him, I didn’t care who was watching, what others were feeling at the time, it was just the right thing to do. Consequently, I think that junior year has really allowed me to experience what it is like to be a leader and how leadership is concomitant to service. This summer, I worked at Camp Edge- an organization that provides less fortunate migrant children with summer school and fun activities after summer school.
Being Division Leader of Group 3, it was my job to lead these kids, really set an example, through the fun activities. Afterwards, and before the camp day, I would clean the campsite, wash the cafeteria floors, and pack away the toys for the next day- all without compensation! Through the long six and half weeks, it allowed me to understand why service and leadership is so important. I learned that through leadership, I can help set an example for the future generations to come, which is an awesome feeling.
Furthermore, my leadership has had a huge impact on myself. After I won the spot a Schalick’s exeutive president, several people have told me that, that position suits me- they find me reputable enough to be Schalick’s leader, nonetheless I use that to my advantage- I can easily set an example and I would have a wider audience due to my position. Moreover through service I can flaunt my leadership skills and come forth with my knowledge. On a communal level, I acquired a knowledge of local resource.
Perhaps in the future, someone will ask me where they could send their kid off to a well off camp. Well, I have a lot of knowledge I could provide and some names. Ultimately, I will definitely use these four main principles in the future. Scholarship is obviously a big part of college. I will continue to stay motivated and continuously remind myself that there is a bigger picture among the finer details, like graduate school. As for character, I will remain to do good no matter who is watching.
I love the feeling that is concomitant with good deeds, nonetheless it keeps me well grounded with my peers and environment. Moreover with leadership, I plan to join a sorority that will help me obtain positions that will allow me to set clear examples, and, like character and good deeds, with leadership comes service. I plan to complete many internships and travel to those who are less fortunate than I am and help them. , and especially since I am pursuing a medicinal field, nowing that their life will benefit from my efforts is awesome!
In summary, I am ecstatic to be nominated as a potential member to Schalick’s National Honor Society, once again. I understand that just to be nominated is an honor in itself, since nomination and selection is not open to everyone. Nonetheless, it is only a dream of mine to further excel in these four virtues and help others further excel in these four principles as well; through the National Honor Society, I can achieve these dreams.
