Missing Puzzle Piece by Makala

Missing Puzzle Piece by Makala - May 2026 Scholarship Essay

Sliding puzzle pieces around, snapping the wrong ones together. Along with Bunny, I hover over the table looking to find the perfect matches that would create a beautiful picture. Bunny was a resident I met while volunteering at my local assisted living facility. Whenever I saw her, she was working on jigsaws. At first, I sat and studied the way she gently placed the pieces together to display a picture. As time progressed, I slowly started to offer my help, unsure how Bunny would feel about having assistance. Bunny never looked away from her puzzle, but welcomed me with her warm smile.
After finishing our first puzzle together, that moment clicked; when I stepped back and admired the completed jigsaw, the feelings of frustration and the work it took instantly left my mind. This activity became a routine for myself and Bunny. Twice a week, I would meet with Bunny and work on a puzzle. No matter how difficult it was or how long it took, we finished a puzzle every visit.
As I got to know her, Bunny became a role model to me. She was the wisest person I knew, teaching me life lessons and telling me her stories. I was so fascinated by her. Eventually it stopped feeling like I was going to volunteer at the community- I was going to visit my friend. Each piece Bunny placed in the puzzle felt like a victory. Despite her own memories fading, I still got to experience her the same. Bunny may have entered a new chapter of her life after moving to their memory care neighborhood, but there would always remain a puzzle waiting for us to complete.
When Bunny passed away, it felt like the final puzzle piece went missing. I realized, though, that a puzzle is not just about the finished picture, rather the process and time spent creating. Bunny taught me so much about how I want to complete my own puzzle, handing me so many pieces of wisdom that will stick with me for life. It was from that I knew what I wanted for the rest of my life; I always wanted to be a part of that puzzle. Helping elderly people and enriching their lives is where I want to be. I want to help seniors maintain independence and quality of life by focusing on daily living activities like mobility. I want to go to college and get my doctorate in geriatric occupational therapy. I want to help as many Bunnys as I can with their fine motor skills so they can continue doing what they love, for as long as they can.
I started this journey of volunteering at an Assisted Living Facility in my hometown to meet the requirements for the National Honor Society and it changed my life forever. It has shaped who I am now and who I aspire to be. I look forward to the future and completing as many puzzles as I am destined to complete.