The Importance of Community by Rico

Rico's entry into Varsity Tutor's October 2025 scholarship contest

  • Rank: 164
  • 0 Votes
Rico
Vote for my essay with a tweet!
Embed

The Importance of Community by Rico - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

Hiking, dodgeball, trivia, 5ks, you name it I’ve done. I was raised in an activity oriented family as my parents believed the best way to grow and develop is exposure to numerous different experiences. In addition to family based activities, my sisters and I were put in numerous extracurriculars. Having so many different and varying experiences helped me to become a well rounded individual while also being comfortable with navigating and pushing through new challenges. Learning how to lead others and keep pushing even when things get tough has allowed me to make a positive impact in my community and I hope to continue that in college.
Out of all the extracurriculars my parents put me in track was my favorite. It felt freeing to be able to release all my hyperactive energy in an environment where I was rewarded, not punished, but it wasn’t always great. I performed very well from a young age and because of that I had immense pressure put on me by those around me, adults and kids alike. The pressure would often get to me and it got so bad that I developed an anxiety disorder. I struggled with staying mentally strong during my races and it began to affect my physical performance. It got to the point that I wanted to quit the sport forever, however, I didn’t. I pushed through the mental anguish and eventually came to love the sport. I continued to run for years and saw myself go from the little kid who cried before every race to a young man now in charge of helping others. As one of the oldest on the team I was now in charge of making sure the other kids stayed on task and stayed motivated. It was an adjustment to go from viewing myself as a helpless kid to having to make sure ten 9 year olds didn’t tear each other apart. It was difficult but rewarding. The better I got at learning how to lead others the less they fought and the faster their times got. They began to look up to me as not just a role model but a true leader.
Speaking of role models, my sisters were very important figures in my life. I looked up to them and always tried to model my behavior. Of course that meant when they told me to audition to work at Six Flags Amusement Park I did so. I made it past auditions and got a job as a scare actor zombie in one of the outdoor haunted houses. Working Fright Fest was one of the most challenging but rewarding times of my life. I would work until 10 or 11 and usually didn’t sleep until midnight, even on school nights. Working outside for hours in the Texas heat while crawling, running, and screaming at people was incredibly exhausting. But at the same time I felt great. I got to interact with so many different people from different backgrounds and even made a few long term friends. We could find comradery in each other as we suffered through the burning heat and freezing cold. It’s corny but my coworkers truly felt like family and it's an experience that I hope to replicate in college.
College in its purest form is about getting an education but it’s so much more than that. It’s your first exposure to the “real” world. It’s a time to meet new people, make new friends, and build new relationships. In college I hope that my drive to push through hardships and leadership skills will allow me to connect with and build up my community.

Votes