Empowering Minds, Elevating Scores: My Gold Award Journey by Elise

Empowering Minds, Elevating Scores: My Gold Award Journey by Elise - January 2024 Scholarship Essay

My name is Elise Raffiani, an aspiring producer poised to embark on my college journey at Chapman University this coming fall. I am writing to express my sincere interest in the Varsity Tutors College Scholarship Contest. Strengthened by my high school GPA of 4.6/5W and an unrelenting drive to excel in my cinema and media arts studies, I believe I stand as a promising candidate for this scholarship.
I am a senior at Lake Forest High School, proudly carrying the Ambassador Girl Scout title. My journey with Girl Scouts began in first grade as a Daisy, and I am thrilled to have traversed the 12 years, remaining committed to my troop 12499.
My connection with children has been a constant in my life. I am ten years older than my little brother, where I would babysit him all over quarantine and I spend summers volunteering at Beacon Place as a Class Lead, teaching grades 3rd-7th. This connection solidifies my dedication to my Gold Award project.
The focus of this class was to assist students with varying SAT proficiency levels, offering valuable tips, tricks, and daily rules for grammar and math. Given my credentials as a high school senior, I couldn't teach the class myself. However, my project advisor, Mr. Hain, a teacher I've peer tutored for two years, started this initiative to enhance our school's SAT skills.
In a landscape where colleges are going test-optional, the state of Illinois mandates the SAT for graduation. Recognizing this, I ensured the sustainability of my project by creating a class accessible throughout the day. Students could either drop in during study halls or enroll in the class.
Preparing for the upcoming class, I dedicated the fall semester to categorizing, creating answer keys, and providing tips for four practice tests. These were compiled into a Google spreadsheet, facilitating personalized recommendations for students based on their strengths and weaknesses.
The individual questions were prominently displayed, serving as practice material for the SAT classes and as reference points for students visiting. As an example, a challenging question hung on the wall, showcasing a student's mistake. As a tutor, I would sit down, explain the solution, and offer similar questions for practice.
Before the spring semester, Mr. Hain and I carefully selected senior and junior peer tutors, maintaining a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 4:1. These empathetic, patient tutors, with SAT scores above 1260, played a crucial role in supporting their fellow students.
Serving as the head peer tutor, I ensured the continuity of this support by signing service hours for my school's National Honor Society, guaranteeing that peer tutors would continue their assistance after my high school graduation.
To enhance the learning experience, I utilized the funds allocated by my troop for prizes celebrating students' skill improvements and providing journals for an organized workflow. Additionally, we encouraged binder donations through morning announcements to boost organization.
My Gold Award project not only addressed a crucial educational need within my community but also fostered a supportive environment for students aspiring to excel in the SAT. This initiative not only reflects my dedication to education but also highlights the impact that focused, community-driven efforts can have on empowering minds and elevating scores.
Thank you for considering my application. I am eager to engage with the challenges that lie in the coming years and am relentless in my determination to excel in the field of cinematography. I look forward to the opportunity that the Varsity Tutors College Scholarship may provide me as I continue to shape my dreams into reality.