Be the Change, Make the Change, See the Change by Ashlynn

Be the Change, Make the Change, See the Change by Ashlynn - January 2024 Scholarship Essay

Strong communities start with strong families. Strong families are built on love, respect, and understanding. They teach us to appreciate what we have, to value others, and to give back to our community. It is a cycle of being optimistic that strengthens not only us but everyone around us. I have been fortunate to be raised in a strong family like I have described. Having that background has helped me internalize the qualities of love, respect, and understanding, which has led me to acknowledge that kindness is a by-product of those attributes.
A way that I have been able to share my message was to write a children's book called "Zoe the Zebra and the Lost Stripes." This book talks about how to treat other people with kindness no matter what their differences are because "In the US, 1 in 5 students ages 12-18 has been bullied during the school year. Approximately 160,000 teens have skipped school because of bullying." Growing up, I have dealt with the obstacles of being called names, left out of groups, and even made fun of numerous times. People with detrimental behaviors surrounded my life, but I never tried to seek out positive friendships. This barrier caused a feeling of loneliness and self-doubt. For instance, imagine yourself getting so excited for your first high school dance.
The thrill of picking out a gorgeous dress and getting your hair and makeup done so you can feel pretty for the night. Then, you meet your handsome date waiting at your doorstep. Afterward, you gather with your friends for dinner and head to the dance. If this happened to you, then consider yourself fortunate. For myself, I had to undergo that situation but in solitude. I still had the same "hang out with them to be a more popular mindset," However, these fantasies ended up with me getting ditched by my "friends" and having to go to the dance by myself. I ate dinner not in a group but alone with my mom. As sad as I felt, she told me of a quote she saw, "There is always someone who does not see your worth. Do not let it be you." As I got to the dance, I saw my "friends" all together, laughing and taking pictures, not glancing my way or saying a word to me. With my mom's statement ringing, I realized I deserved better, so I surrounded myself with other people. Since my mindset changed, I hung out with the people who made me feel good about myself, and I became satisfied at the end of my night.
Although making this change was challenging, I realized I had to recognize my worth before I could shine a light on others. People can only be what they want to be if they have the mindset. After I was able to "be the change," that led me to be able to "make the change." I have been blessed with multiple opportunities to help others in my community. My favorite contribution is when I participated at the Samaritan Center and helped with various programs. During my time volunteering at the Samaritan Center, I have taken part in serving in "Backpacks for Kids," the "Samaritan Cafe," and "SnackPacks for Kids" to help at-risk families in need. "Backpacks for Kids'' is a program in which my mom and I volunteered and brought books from home so we could pass them out to other children. Afterward, we would take school supplies, put them into backpacks, and distribute them. Our goal at the end of the day was to provide school supplies for others so they would not have to go to school empty-handed. In addition to needing school supplies, "around 16.6% of families suffer from food insecurity in Arkansas. From 2020-2022, the percentage of at-risk families has gotten higher than any other state in the US." I have taken part in helping families not go through hunger by serving my time at the "Samaritan Center Cafe." I, among other volunteers, help prepare food, serve meals, clean, and interact with guests. I have also participated in my experience serving for "SnackPack for Kids." Volunteers and I distribute food for families at risk of food insecurity in Northwest Arkansas. We pack food in boxes and deliver them to families in our community. No child should go through hunger, so I have been involved in any way I can to help so that children will not have to fear not having food on the weekends.
I have not only seen these programs impact others, but I have also seen them impact myself and make me more aware of the needs, the injustices, and notice what other people have to deal with daily. It has made me gain a sense of empathy, responsibility and instilled more gratitude for what I have. Sometimes, my "privilege" has caused me to take things for granted and has blinded me to the trials other people have suffered. My experiences have taught me the importance of kindness and its power in shaping my actions. I aspire to inspire others to create what they believe they want to see, where respect and understanding are the guiding principles, just as my family taught me.