CS, consistant participation v. leading a project

Parents Forum
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<p>Hi. As rising Juniors my daughters and I have a question for you all.</p>

<p>They have been browsing scolarships on fastweb and on scholarship.com. I'm sure you know that many of those scholarships require need for which we are unlikely to qualify. (eventhough believe me, we could use it) However there is a lot of money out there for students who have done community service.</p>

<p>So here is my question: My girls have been very involved with a companion animal adoption/ spay and neuter education program since they were in the 7th grade. This is where their hearts are. Over the years they have put in hundreds of hours with this group at adoption events, fostering dogs, worming and bathing puppies etc. </p>

<p>In addition, they have served in free kitchen through church, wrapped gifts for foster kids at Christmas. Sponsored kids at Christmas, participated in clean up and beautification days walked in Relay for Life. and lots of varied ,limited time commitment type things wherein they were not the leaders but the worker bees.</p>

<p>Is demonatrating a consistent willingness to be involved enough? Or, should they continue to plan for one which they lead. It's worth noting that they are far more comfortable in the worker-bee role and are pretty quiet kids.</p>

<p>If they do lead a service project, can it be related to dogs or should it be giving to humans? They both plan to enter school as pre-vet bio majors so it can be valuable to have it animal centered from that standpoint. If they do a human-focused project I think all those scholarship folks will be more impressed but I feel strongly that they should follow their hearts. But..they need the $$</p>

<p>I don't want the project to appear to be a flagrant attempt to pad their resume's. Which it kind of would be as they ...like I said prefer to work on someone elses' project. On the otherhand...leading their own would show leadership which is not their strong suit. ACK...I do not know how to advise them. The final choice will be theirs but I know they would like to hear your ideas and I know I would!</p>

<p>Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>

<p>PS...the idea they are tossing around is to provide something useful/comforting to the women and or kids at the local safe house. The animal centered one would be a fundraiser to help build the new animal shelter.</p>

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<p>I'd encourage them to try to lead a project or two in their field(s) of interest, where their hearts are, as you say.</p>

<p>I have a son in a similar situation. He has been trying to start a rather unusual club at school. Taking the lead like that is a bit out of character and I think that the experience has been good for him--even though he doesn't yet have enough kids to get the club started.</p>

<p>However, imo try to be sure that any such project represents for your daughters primarily a willingly chosen effort to gain experience and breadth and secondarily something with possible scholarship implications--rather than the other way around.</p>

3

<p>I'd encourage them to take on some 'leadership' roles. I do think it helps when it comes to some scholarships as well as college acceptance. It'll also give them a different perspective, teach them that by 'taking the lead' they can have even more influence on an outcome, and they'll likely gain confidence in themselves in the process.</p>

<p>I think it's okay if it's directed towards animals but there's no need to have just a single philanthropic endeavor so they may want to do multiple projects depending on what they have the time and interest for.</p>

4

<p>Leadership roles are great, and definitely worth pushing yourself out
of your comfort zone.</p>

<p>How big are the scholarships? If they REALLY need the money they
should get jobs. Jobs can evolve into leadership roles, too, killing
two birds with one stone, and without the ucertainty about whether
they'll be awarded the scholarship.</p>