Importance Of Being A Helper

At the risk of sounding stereotypical, I can honestly say I have always been known as a “helper.” Even in elementary school, I demonstrated a passion for working with other people and fighting injustices. For example, at age seven, I held a yard sale for Hurricane Katrina victims and conducted a community food drive to send to New Orleans. I recognized that many of these individuals were not receiving adequate assistance and that I could make some type of difference, no matter how small it may be. As the years went on, I continued to volunteer frequently, such as becoming a member of my middle school service club, altar serving, visiting nursing homes, and helping younger students. When I reached high school, I became a part of the La Salle Scholars program and completed various service projects which, looking back, were all related to both the macro and micro fields of social work. My main project, which I actually started in fourth grade, involved collecting soda pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. During high school, I collected over 500 pounds of tabs, and the organization used the money from redemption to support and house families of children in area hospitals. In addition, I led a discussion group on bullying and self-esteem for youth at the local Boys and Girls Club. The next year, I mentored a student that dealt with extreme bullying and had difficulty in her classes. Finally, my senior year, I collected prom dresses for students who could not afford them and