Scholarship Essay Entry – Katelyn S.

Entering college two years after I graduated created an indispensible transition period between high school and college; A period which was absolutely necessary for me to discover my dreams before pursuing specific education. Now I am excited about the opportunity to go into college with a vision and goals for my life.
 
After High school I spent two years at a Bible School in the area, desiring to learn more about my values, passions and potential. I was very involved in the school community, holding the title of Activities Coordinator for the student body during my second year. The relationships I built through my involvement in the school are ones that I will always cherish. I recognized how important people are to me, and I knew that I needed to spend my “career” interacting with people somehow. But it wasn’t through my bible school education that I discovered my passions.
 
While involved in the school, I also committed time to a soup kitchen in Grande Prairie. It was there that I discovered my passion for people who are trapped in cycles of continuous defeat that prevent them from being able to help themselves. These are the kind of people I want to help.
 
Upon graduating from bible school, I spent the summer of 2010 working for an employment and housing initiative in Grande Prairie called Rising Above. This was like a trial run for me, to decide if investing into the homeless community was something that I would enjoy and find rewarding. I was blown away with the impact that this job had on me. I built relationships with people who were struggling with addictions and watching their world fall apart around them. It was an incredible feeling to be able to offer them hope and valuable resources to get back on their feet and pull their life together piece by piece. This is something I could do for the rest of my life.
 
I am beginning my Social Work degree this fall and I am so excited to pursue this rewarding career. Having this education will open up a lot of job opportunities for me. But more than finding a job, I am excited about a lifetime of investing into other people’s lives and helping them discover potential in themselves.