The Help we need by Sarah

The Help we need by Sarah - March 2026 Scholarship Essay

A few years ago, I helped someone in a meaningful way. It was not a one-time action, but a continuous act of showing up and supporting someone during a difficult season of their life.
My pastor and his wife, Lara, had moved into town the year before. They had friends nearby, but no family around. I grew very close to them in a short period of time. I was part of the youth group leadership, so we spent a lot of time together. I was also being mentored by my pastor so that I could continue to grow in my faith and leadership.
During that time, they were preparing to welcome their first child. But the pregnancy was not easy. Lara was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which meant she had to be extremely careful about what she ate and how she cared for her body during the pregnancy. Eventually, Lara gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Maria. They were full of joy, but also understandably exhausted.
Shortly after Maria was born, Lara was diagnosed with postpartum depression. This was very difficult news for them to process, especially since they had no family nearby to help once my pastor as he returned to work. One day they came to my house and shared with my parents some of the struggles they were facing. While listening to them, I had an idea. Because I only had classes in the afternoon, I realized I could go to their house in the mornings to help with the baby and with household tasks.
About a week later, I began going to their house regularly. I helped take care of the baby so that Lara could rest and focus on her own well-being. Some days I helped cook meals, and other days I helped clean the house or simply spent time helping with Maria. I was genuinely happy to help. For years, they had served our church, schools, hospitals and community with dedication, and now they needed support. It felt like the church’s turn to serve them.
I spent about a year helping their family, and that time was filled with joy, humility, and learning. Through that experience, I learned a lot about myself. I realized that when I stop focusing only on myself, I am capable of doing way more than I expect. I also recognized how draining it can be to constantly worry about what others think or to approach situations with the mindset of “How does this affect me?” Serving their family shifted my perspective outward instead of inward.
This experience also taught me how important community is. Having people you trust nearby can make an enormous difference during difficult times. My pastor and Lara had been there for our town and our church, and during that season I was able to be there for them and their daughter.
Helping their family was deeply meaningful to me. I was able to support them in ways I did not even realize they needed at first, and they expressed their gratitude in many heartfelt ways. Their kindness and trust meant a great deal to me. Family and community are incredibly important, and I feel honored that I was able to support theirs during such an important time in their lives.