To Serve by Sierra

To Serve by Sierra - May 2026 Scholarship Essay

Before my basement caught on fire in fourth grade over spring break, I was not aware of any struggle my family went through. That day, my mom, my sister, and I were on the couch eating ramen noodles, watching A Land Before Time when we heard a loud buzzing sound coming from underneath us. I remember my mom running downstairs with the fire extinguisher, screaming for us to rush to the neighbors house and call 911. Following the fire, all the gas and electric appliances in the basement were completely ruined, and the inside filled with smoke, making my house uninhabitable. We couldn’t afford a hotel or repairman, so we ended up having to sleep at my family's daycare for over two weeks without heat or electricity at night. When I returned to school and heard all my classmates' vacation stories, I realized for one of the first times how different my life was compared to everyone else around me.

I would describe my childhood as a silent struggle. In my neighborhood, help was scarce and accepting it was seen as burdensome. We were forced to figure everything out as a family; there was no strong community or support system to rely on. As I got older, and our financial situation stabilized, my perspective changed. I realized that I could be a resource for others who need help, which sparked my interest in community service. My first major service project was building raised garden beds at a community garden with my middle school National Junior Honor Society chapter. We worked for hours in the hot sun, digging holes, moving dirt, lifting heavy wood panels, planting fruit and vegetable seeds. The heat was brutal, but the work felt right. I was proud to contribute to this neighborhood in a way that my family had never received. Growing up, I would have definitely benefited from having a community support system like the one that my NJHS chapter was contributing to.

I never had a dream job as a kid. Every time someone asked me, “What do you want to do when you grow up,” my answer was different every time: I just knew I wanted to help people. I became drawn to careers like teaching because I could create safe spaces for students and therapy because I could help people thrive after traumatic experiences. In my junior year, I finally figured out what I wanted to do after high school. My passion for serving my community has inspired me to pursue law. I want to advocate for minorities and deregulate policies that disproportionately affect communities like the one I grew up in. Through my background and personal experiences I have been equipped with the understanding to stand up for people in their worst moments.