College Essay

All of my life I have lived in the small, lakeshore community of Au Gres, Michigan.

Twenty minutes north is the town of Tawas, where I have attended school. From preschool to

eighth grade, I attended a private, christian day school with an attendance of around 35 students.

A small community has both benefits and disadvantages. I have grown up around the same

people, so they are like family to me. I can be assured that wherever I may go, there will be

someone who supports me. The people of Au Gres have a genuine concern for one another.

These families I have grown up with are interested in my plans, my goals, and my needs. Having

the support of my community is extremely beneficial to me. There are downfalls, though. One of

them being a lack of diversity.

Throughout my life, I have been extremely blessed. I have two amazing, supportive, and

caring parents and three fun, loving, and brave brothers. Growing up, my father had many

opportunities to travel. He wanted to give us those same opportunities. He did not want our

travels to be something to brag about. He hoped that with each excursion we would bring home

memories of the food we ate, the people we met, the beauty of each country, a better

understanding of the cultures around the world, and a new encounter with diversity. On each

adventure, we have a local resident drive us around the country so we can see the local life, such

as, farms, factories, and restaurants. I enjoy traveling off the beaten path to see how the people

live. This exposure has given me new perspectives on the countries I have visited. I’ve been able

to learn the history of every country and observe what happens behind the online glamour shots.

These encounters have impacted me greatly.

 The countries that impacted me the most are the Carribean islands. Not because of the

tropical vacation, but because of the culture. Their people work so hard, and strive to have their

communities tight knit. An example of this is when I visited a local, family owned and operated

cocoa factory in Punta Cana. The factory was simply a small house, an old gazebo, and several

pieces of simple equipment. I was able to see firsthand how, not only the adults, but the children

work hard to give their country what they need to survive. They were passionate about doing it.

Seeing how these people work together to achieve a goal to make their country happy is a major

part of what has inspired me to become a better asset to my community.

Being a part of the organizations Youth Advisory Council, National Honor Society, and

the Pink Power Walk Committee has provided me with opportunities to do just that. YAC has

taught me philanthropy by giving grants to our county that has provided a “Coats for Kids,”

we’ve donated books to local pediatricians, and have made donations to Iosco County’s “Helping

2 Overcome,” an inspiring organization that provides adventure therapy for young people who

have dealt with issues such as mental illnesses, or being bullied in school. As a member of NHS,

I have volunteered hours of my time towards the community. Handing out Halloween candy at

nursing homes, helping run a local “Mom to Mom Sale,” giving water to triathlon runners, and

wrapping gifts for elementary school children is just a small portion of my share of giving back

to my community. I am certain our family vacations have enlightened me to love volunteering

and helping the welfare of others.

Even though I live in a small town, I have many reasons to be grateful. I am loved and

appreciated within, and have been presented with the possibilities to see the world, and learn

how to appreciate it in a different way. Coming home from trips always inspires me to remain
humble, and give back as much as I can. I perceive the world as a place where we need to work

together and care for each other. At college, I will continue that mindset. Even though it is a

larger community, I will work hard to support it. I am going to remain inspired to give both my

old, and my new community what I know they deserve.