Category:
EV Service Scholar Entry
Prompt 1: Please share a volunteer experience and its impact on your life
When I first arrived at my high school, I did not resemble the person I am today. I credit many things for my transformation. I believe it was the synergistic effect of people; events; and community opportunities that helped me become a better person.
Back in 9th Grade, I came into the high school from an alternative out of district middle school program. It was a BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services - a New York State vocational school) program for students with learning disabilities and my school district had placed me there in accordance with my IEP (individual education plan for learning disabled students).
At the end of 8th Grade, my school district decided that it was time for me to transition to a traditional learning environment and I was brought back into the district with learning supports to help me succeed.
At the time, this wasn’t the best idea. I was immature; I didn’t feel I fit in; and I did not take advantage of the learning supports I was offered. I made some mistakes along the way; chose the wrong friends; and ultimately my academics suffered. My self-esteem was at an all time low.
I was angry and I acted out and blamed everyone but myself for my failings. My parents decided it was time for me to grow up and take ownership of my actions. They thought an extra-curricular activity would expose me to new opportunities; new friends; and hopefully a new attitude.
They encouraged me to join the Youth Explorer Program of the Brewster Volunteer Fire Department. Through the department I would learn leadership skills while training in hands-on fire and EMS skills. I actually thought it sounded fun because I always had an interest in the field of emergency services.
Over the last four years, I have volunteered in excess of 1,200 hours of my time to the department and it has changed my life.
Most people don’t realize what is involved in being a part of the fire department, but it is a tremendous amount of work. Volunteers must stay in good physical shape; keep their certifications current through classes they attend; participate in training drills; and are responsible for keeping their equipment stocked and in good working order. Serving a community of 19,478 residents and responding to over 2,000 calls per year takes a lot of dedication and the volunteers of my department are able to respond efficiently and effectively.
Prior to volunteering, I often wondered what would motivate someone to dedicate their time to an effort that produces no financial reward. I have learned that volunteers help in many ways by actively giving back and contributing to their communities; but they also help themselves by gaining skills and life experiences that set them apart from the average person.
I feel I have gotten so much more than I have given. It has helped me develop as a person and it has helped me develop valuable hands on skills.
The personal skills I have acquired such as working as a team; learning to trust and rely on others and having them trust and rely on you; developing close friendships; accepting personal responsibility for your actions and the items under your care; building self confidence; and building self esteem, will serve me well in my adult life.
The hands on skills I have learned are unique for a person my age. I have participated in fire drills; ice and water rescue drills; extrication drills; and live burns. I have become certified in CPR and First Aid and have taken First Responder courses. I have developed enough skills to be able to ride along as an ambulance attendant and this privilege has given me many opportunities to help people in our community.
How did the fire department change my life? Being part of the department made me happy. I was surrounded by positive role models and effective leaders. Accepting personal responsibility for my actions helped me to mature. The self confidence that my volunteer work instilled in me opened the door to many opportunities and privileges for me. I am currently President of the Youth Explorer’s Group and a Team Captain during training exercises. I run and organize meetings; plan events; and am responsible for training younger and less experienced members of the group.
My experiences with the fire department proved to me that I could succeed in something once I set my mind to it. Once I believed in myself and my abilities, I was able to succeed in school. By the end of junior year I had improved my average to a solid B and was able to be declassified by the school district.
Once my grades and my attitude improved, my Guidance Counselor encouraged me to become involved with a technical program at BOCES. She saw how positively I responded to hands-on learning and felt that learning a skill would be an enjoyable experience for me.
I ultimately enrolled in a two year Culinary Arts Program at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES. Last year, I was accepted into their very competitive full day Culinary Arts program. I have excelled in this field because I truly love cooking and the creativity it sparks in me. This year I have been on the North Salem High School Honor Roll for all three quarters.
Not only did I improve myself academically, but developing leadership skills gave me the ability to hold down a part-time job at McDonald’s for the last three years where I am currently a Crew Chief responsible for training new employees; ordering and inventory; and customer service.
After completing a Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts Management, I plan to further my education while serving my country as a cook in the Army National Guard. Someday I plan to operate my own catering business.
I never imagined I would be college bound but my parents never gave up on me and never stopped believing in me. They along with my Guidance Counselor; the BOCES staff; my employer; and the Brewster Volunteer Fire Department all came together to offer me opportunities and experiences that changed my life and made me the responsible young adult I am today.
In closing, I would be remiss if I did not credit my parents and the North Salem School District with helping me achieve my goals. I am a true example of a student with a learning disability who was able to succeed because I was afforded the educational supports I needed to succeed. I started out as a failure and I ended up being accepted into four of the nation’s top culinary colleges. For this reason, I think it is so important not to give up on a student like myself, as many districts are inclined to do, because you never know what I can give back to our society in the future. Believing in myself, as I do now, I have the potential to do great things.
It all started by volunteering my time and giving back to my community but it ended in making me a better student and a better person.
