Applicant Essay

An environment where selflessness, compassion, and leadership thrive. This is the

National Honor Society. As I reflect on my journey until this point, I am filled with pride and

gratitude that I have been presented with an opportunity to be a part of an organization that

embodies the values I hold dear. Being a part of something bigger allows me to make a much

greater positive difference within my community, which is what I strive to achieve daily.

Being a member of the National Honor Society is not about my college application or any

sort of praise, it is about leading and helping others, which has always been an integral part of

my life. The chance to become a member of such a group is a privilege that enables me to use

and improve my skills and knowledge to make an impact on my community and beyond. I

believe that my accomplishments as a scholar, adolescent, and service member demonstrate my

commitment to the values of the National Honor Society and make me a worthy candidate for

membership.

Learning has always been a driving force in my life and has helped to shape me into the

hardworking, motivated person I am today. Typically, the pursuit of knowledge is a tedious, long,

disliked process. I have spent most of my life researching, studying, and reading. I always

enjoyed learning, but at times I recognize that I have become overly invested in my studies. As I

reached high school, I realized that learning has always been a passion of mine, as I have

discovered that the challenge of acquiring knowledge is even more rewarding than the grades I

receive. This has led me to understand that it is the hard work and dedication put into achieving

goals that are more significant than the grades in determining success. My work ethic and

commitment to education are what make me a true scholar, not just my GPA. I have won medals
for having high grades but it doesn't compare to the award I won for being an example student. I

have applied myself to many academic clubs and environments including Model UN, DECA,

and Poetry Club, which have helped me network and create education connections. Being a

student is not glamorous most of the time. I have pushed myself above and beyond taking all

honors and AP classes to prove my desire to reach a higher level of education. I have committed

myself to staying after school and coming early to attend meetings. Despite the challenging

classes and long nights filled with assignments, I have learned that hard work can lead to positive

outcomes and exciting new opportunities.

I play basketball, a sport where the values of mental toughness, integrity, and being a

leader are of utmost importance. Playing point guard in a sports team has allowed me to

demonstrate my leadership skills in ways that extend beyond traditional captain roles. The point

guard is a critical position because we are responsible for coordinating the offense and setting the

tone for the rest of the team. Making a small mistake, such as calling the wrong play or losing

the ball, can cost the team greatly. The point guards are trusted to make split-second decisions

and to read the defense to lead the team to score. I believe that point guard is only made for

certain people who can handle the pressure and who have confidence. Throughout my time

playing for the Nipmuc girl's team, I have learned that it is important to put others before

yourself. Self-doubt is something I have faced in the point position, but I have had to push past it

and focus on what is best for the team. I have applied the same values to my academics. I have

taken on tough positions, such as a member of the class board and the DECA executive board.

Since I have taken on these roles, I have participated in the improvement of my school and

community and created meaningful relationships with my peers. Yet these titles do not

encompass me as a leader. I found myself more accomplished when I ran a sports camp for the
youth basketball players. During my games, I watched as they wore my number, and wrote me

signs, one even telling me how she wished to be like me. I enjoyed instilling my passion for

basketball within them and pushing them to have the confidence that I sometimes lacked. The

thought that I had inspired others, especially those of a younger generation, was when I felt like a

true leader.

I have struggled with people pleasing my entire life, sacrificing my valuable time and

energy for the benefit of others without considering that it does not achieve anything. But I

believe this is derived from my inclination to help others. The time I have taken to recognize

what matters most in life, such as volunteering, has helped me grow in ways I could never have

imagined. My work in the community has allowed me to acquire valuable experience by

assisting those within the special education program, organizing sports camps for children, and

helping with events for my school. Serving my community has been an important part of my life,

and I have taken great pride in helping my neighbors and friends in a variety of ways, such as

chopping wood, shoveling snow, or walking dogs without compensation. I believe volunteer

work should be driven by a desire to have a positive impact on the lives of others, not as a

required commitment. I have volunteered around the mentally challenged various times and I

enjoy working with them. They provide a positive perspective and are light to be around. I also

spend a lot of time working with younger children, which allows me to have a greater impact on

the world and brings joy to my life. Because of basketball, I spend most of my weekends

working with the youth to teach them. Volunteering and doing what I love is the most important

thing to me, as it brings me a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that money and volunteer

hours could never provide.

 Without a strong moral compass and empathy for others, success would not have been

possible to achieve. I have been relied on by many coaches, friends, and family, and I have

always been dedicated to supporting those around me. Although I have faced adversity, it has

encouraged me to have a voice, learn from my mistakes, and look ahead to the future. Through

that adversity, I have found that I am more of a listener, making it easier for those close to me to

take advantage of me and take their frustrations out on me. Despite this, I have always been

willing to lend a helping ear because I truly care about others. Often this puts my problems

second to theirs. Instead of being judgemental, I default to seeing the best in people. Although I

may have flaws just like everyone else, I believe that I have become a role model by setting a

positive example and demonstrating personal growth and responsibility.

Becoming a member of the National Honor Society is an opportunity to leverage my

experiences and advocate for improvement in my community. The hard work I have invested in

my journey of self-development has allowed me to achieve success and instilled in me an

unshakable belief that I can reach any goal I set my mind to. Joining the National Honor Society

will allow me to demonstrate my full commitment to helping others around me.