“How has an extracurricular or a volunteer opportunity helped inspire you to make a difference in your community?” by Jalyn

“How has an extracurricular or a volunteer opportunity helped inspire you to make a difference in your community?” by Jalyn - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

I’m a senior at Grayson High School. During my high school years, I've been a Student Council member, BETA Club member, Varsity Cheerleader, Student Led Leadership Team member, DECA member, and a participant in the Gwinnett Bar Association Law Explorers Program. I’ve taken all Honors classes, some AP classes, and consistently been on Academic Honor Roll and a Scholar Athlete. I have extensive computer skills, appreciate and respect diversity, adapt easily to change, have great organizational skills, excellent communication skills, and perform tasks well as an individual or as a team member.
I have strong community service skills. I have participated in the Red Cross Blood Drive, volunteered at the Quinn House Project, Hosea Feed The Hungry, Victory World Church Youth Organization, Relay for Life, March of Dimes, Young Life, Breast Cancer Awareness events (my mom is a breast cancer survivor/thriver), and Alzheimer's Association Walks (my grandmother is battling it). I try to live by the motto “only a life lived in the service to others is worth living” by Albert Einstein.

During my freshman through junior years, I assisted the Audio/Video Technology department to record Shiloh High’s special events and graduations. Also, I have strong leadership and customer service skills. This year, I’m a part of Work Based Learning and work part-time at Stone Mountain Park. Recently, I received a $25 customer recognition award for going over and beyond the call of duty.

While I’ve enjoyed all of my extracurricular and volunteer opportunities, the volunteer opportunity that has inspired me to do more in my community is volunteering at the Quinn House. The Quinn House located in Lawrenceville, GA has a huge impact on my local community. They house homeless mothers and children, and also provide a 40 day drug and alcohol program. My high school cheer program has supported them for years. Until then, I thought homeless people were primarily men, and lived on the streets or in shelters in the inner city. I was so touched by this program, that I asked my mom if we could support them on our own, so we volunteer outside of the cheer program. The children are so grateful for whatever we give or do for them. Volunteering there has given me a better appreciation for the good life that I have. The basic necessities that I take for granted are like a lost treasure to them. Since the Quinn House survives off proceeds from their thrift store and donations, we donate items to the store as well as make financial donations. Most of the mothers there are as the result of domestic violence or drug or alcohol abuse. Quinn House’s goal is to provide permanent housing for their residents. Nothing is more satisfying and rewarding than when a family is placed in their own home. I personally feel a sense of satisfaction that my efforts have contributed to a family getting out of the shelter and into their own stable home.