The Power of Reciprocity by Perrin

The Power of Reciprocity by Perrin - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

Writing is not my thing. Never has been. I mean, I like to read a good story, but writing it? Never! But, this certain story in my head has been begging to come out. A story of reciprocity. What I thought was going to be an experience of giving, really became an experience of getting.

Two years ago, an opportunity arose…an opportunity allowing me to combine two things I cherish: riding horses and serving others. My grandfather’s law partner owns Milestones Inc. Milestones is a place where disabled children experience equine therapy with the assistance of volunteers. My grandfather told the owners about my experiences riding and showing horses and my love of serving others. Now, I have the pleasure of attending Milestones Tuesday nights. I went to my first session thinking I would provide service to those who are disabled. Thinking that I would share my “horse knowledge” in order to help the children become mature, successful riders. Thinking I would do a good thing for children less fortunate. What I did not know was that I was going to get much more than the children.

The most influential “characters” in my story are Max and Satin Thunder. Max, a nonverbal eight-year-old boy with autism, changed drastically, both mentally and physically, over a short period of time at Milestones. And Satin Thunder, the horse, well, he just enjoyed providing pleasure and companionship to riders. My story follows the growth of Max’s maturity and poise as he encounters challenges not only at Milestones but also in his life. As a result of being nonverbal, Max lacks confidence and often feels unsupported. His parents do not ameliorate the situation. They drop him off every week and do not bother staying. Max needed guidance, support, and compassion in order to feel valued so he could break through his shell. I stepped in as the caregiver. For the first few sessions, Max felt uneasy while on Satin Thunder. By the end, Max was a whole different dude. His core strength became stronger from sitting in a straight posture. His confidence grew. He was not afraid of trying new things. Although he still couldn’t speak, he had learned other ways to communicate.

And me? I cannot believe how much I changed. I gained so much more respect for disabled children. They are able to think and process things in ways I never thought possible. I gained respect for the horses because of their ability to drastically transform each student. Additionally, I gained respect for myself, knowing I helped a little boy turn into a person he never knew existed.

As a traditional Kentucky girl who has loved horses since she was eight, I want to show how easy it is to give back with something you love. I never once thought that I was going to change a little boy’s life or even change mine, much less write about it. But, that is the power of reciprocity.