Mission Scholarship Essay

We all have a purpose on this pale-blue dot we call Earth; mine is to make a difference for youth. Throughout the past twelve years of school, I have stayed involved in various community service projects, became a leader through Rotary programs, and shared my knowledge in academia. As a Matt’s Mission Scholarship recipient, I will represent the very characteristics that are highly desired in students across the world such as respectful, responsible, supportive, empathetic, considerate, and most importantly, loving. As a student in the North Branford School District, I have participated and led several community service-based events including the annual Matt’s Mission 5K, Night to Care, and Community Round Up. I am truly passionate about

In order to be a Matt’s Mission Scholarship recipient, the student must be kind, considerate, and supportive. Over the past years, I have become involved in the life skills classroom with students of various disabilities such as autism, William’s Syndrome, and Trisomy Twenty-Three to name a few. Each of them has become one of my best friends even on the darkest of days. Their positivity has inspired me each class as I teach them about leadership, mathematics, literacy, and even science. We focus on the basic life skills that they would otherwise not be exposed to including the interview process, transportation, balancing a checkbook, shopping in the mall, and hygiene. I have even spent every single lunch for the past several years with several of the life skills students. One of my favorite memories was when a young man, Ian, told me that I was the ‘bestest’ friend he ever had and he never wanted me to graduate because I made him feel safe and cared for. When he said this, I knew I was being called to become a Special Education teacher. Being someone’s friend is not always about keeping communication via text or email; it is about maintaining the social interactions that better our