Essay (250-500 words).  Reflect on your community service experiences and accomplishments.  Why is community service important to you and how has your life been touched and shaped by these experiences?

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Each Tuesday morning, my alarm sounds at 6:00 AM, signaling the start of a special day. Even though school doesn’t start until nine, I rise quickly and eat a quick breakfast before heading out the door with a sense of purpose. Tuesdays have come to mean returning to the community that feels most like home: the Primrose Hill Elementary School Library.

 

My appreciation for this community began as early as my third-grade graduation. I remember walking out of the Primrose Hill Elementary school one final time as a student, with a single tear falling from my face as I took steps towards a new adventure. Even at that age, I knew that my school had given me more than an education: it gave me a sense of belonging. I never felt ready to leave my Primrose community that gave me so much support, and as I look back on my contributions, I realize that I never have.

 

Once I entered the sixth grade, I found my way back into Primrose, this time as a library volunteer. Under the guidance of Ms. O’Kane, who has become one of my dearest mentors, I went beyond shelving books. I was the backbone to the system, spending hours planning the school’s Reading Week celebrations and scouring fact books for the “Fun Fact of the Day” written on the whiteboard.

 

As I grew older, I connected with a group of other former Primrose students who were interested in volunteering, and we formed a small yet passionate team. Our work may have seemed simple, but every sticker we handed out, every book we checked out, and every smile we shared made the library a place that sparked joy and curiosity for so many little minds.

 

Now, every Tuesday morning, I walk into Primrose and am greeted by name, with warm hugs from students and familiar smiles from the office staff. These small moments remind me that service goes beyond what you do. Most importantly, it is about the connections built and the impact left behind.

 

The community I have built myself around feels closer than ever before as I wrap up my senior year, and I am hesitant to let go of it for my transition to university. However, through my wholehearted dedication to the Primrose Hill School, I will always value the true meaning of community, and I will continue to place my best foot forward in my new college community.

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