Paying It Foward: Maddie's Garden by Avery

Paying It Foward: Maddie's Garden by Avery - March 2026 Scholarship Essay

I had the opportunity to pay it forward by serving a small school, Park Row Christian Academy in Arlington, Texas. I completely renovated “Maddie’s Garden”, an outdoor learning space dedicated to a young girl, Maddie Higgins, who passed away from brain cancer while attending PRCA. After her death 11 years ago, her family funded the creation of this learning garden in her memory. Due to a lack of funds and proper attention, the school was unable to maintain this space properly. That’s where I came in! In an effort to earn my Stars and Stripes Award, the highest award that American Heritage Girls offers, I took on this large project for them. This project process took over a year and allowed me to earn over 480 hours of service. I dedicated my junior year to tearing down and rebuilding this entire area. I collaborated and planned with the administrators and the head of school to make this space as exciting and enriching as it could be for the students. With the help of PRCA families and friends' generous donations, I raised over $3,000 in funds and supplies. I spent countless hours learning and working with my friends, family, and volunteers to put my plan into action. I documented, managed, painted, built, designed, and landscaped for months and months. It was very stressful for me, having to lead and communicate my vision with people who had not seen the efforts put in previously. I learned many valuable lessons, from setting proper expectations to managing volunteers to choosing the best paint finish.

Most importantly, I learned how to lean on my community for strength and support. One afternoon, a PRCA teacher stopped to talk with me, and I learned that she was one of Maddie’s teachers. She said that Maddie’s family had been in contact with her and had echoed appreciation for my willingness to further Maddie’s impact. I saw this in full effect when a classroom of children came out to the garden to see the project in progress. They thought the garden was so amazing, asking me questions about Maddie and why I was doing this. These experiences had a profound impact on me and the way I viewed serving others. I saw in real time how my actions affected others in ways I never expected. People watch and see the impact you make, whether you know it or not. Up until that point, I had gotten so lost in the details and stress of planning that I had forgotten the core purpose of this project. It was to continue Maddie’s legacy and make people aware of her story, and I am so grateful I was able to do that for her. I learned the value of servant leadership, the idea of serving others without expecting anything in return, and how beneficial this is, both for yourself but most importantly for your community.