Empowerly

Student profile

Personal statement

My focus throughout high school has been on making meaningful contributions to my school and local community in order to not only better them, but in turn better myself. My commitments have allowed me to interact with a wide range of people, each with their own story and background. While it is easy to note the hours spent or dollars raised, my favorite memories are smaller details.

Since 9th grade, I’ve been involved in a local soccer program, which presents an opportunity for children with disabilities ranging from musculoskeletal diseases to varying levels of autism to be part of a soccer team. Over the past few years I’ve worked with multiple children, but in the past two seasons I’ve been involved I’ve spent each Saturday with a little girl. I’ve never asked her parents for the name of her exact disability, because that isn’t what matters to me. However, what does matter is the smile upon her face when she first catches sight of me patiently waiting for her before practice, or her excitement upon scoring a goal. She reminds me to appreciate the joy in little things. 

Throughout high school, I have seen this lesson repeatedly as I’ve become involved in many service opportunities. One of these led to one of my favorite memories. During my junior year, I was one of five student leaders who spent a year organizing a high school event. It is a 6-hour dance marathon that raises money for pediatric cancer. Last May, my co-leaders and I had the honor of watching as our year-long efforts culminated in 500 students dancing with a common hope: one day a cure for cancer will be found, and that we will then be able to dance in celebration. This would have been reward enough, but then a few days after the event, myself and my co-leaders were given a package in homeroom. It contained five dog-tag-like necklaces, each inscribed with a personal message thanking us for our dedication that year. I later found out that the necklaces were from a quiet student at my school with whom I’d never met or spoken. It was humbling to realize the extent of his gratitude, just as humbling as it had been to watch the event itself.

Volunteerism for me is about the little things, and I have an all-encompassing devotion to it. This dedication is something I know I will bring to Penn State, and I look forward to having the opportunity to make purposeful contributions to my college community.