Caitlin C.

January 21,2007

The Michael Kwinn III Memorial Scholarship

Before writing this essay, I read the Tribute to Michael on your organization's website so that I could understand what type of person Michael was. By the fifth paragraph, I began crying. The tears came for several reasons: learning about Michael's incredible maturity and humility, hating his unfortunate and undeserved fate, and respecting the optimistic and encompassing faith that both Michael and his family shared during his illness. I find myself completely humbled. The scholarship application requires that I write an essay explaining how I represent Michael's qualities, but I find myself so inadequate compared to him. I have not been faced with such a momentous challenge. I have not been asked to show such immense courage, nor have I committed myself so selflessly to a cause. However, I can find similarities between myself and Michael.

Leadership requires independence, initiative, and responsibility. To be a leader of character also requires integrity of the human spirit to guide, teach, and influence others. Natural ability and willingness to act as a leader is a necessity. Personally, I have demonstrated these qualities through lifeguarding, my volunteer work, and track in general. As the head lifeguard at my pool, I have practiced the requirements for leadership on a daily basis. Besides being entirely responsible for the operation of the pool, I was also required to be socially and medically capable for its visitors. Also, it is very rewarding to be considered a "veteran" role model as a senior on the track team. Naturally, it is the job of the older members to guide our inexperienced teammates.

Like Michael, I have developed and nurtured a love of science. In particular, I am awed by the human body. It is a beautifully intricate entity, one that is fueled by the workings of science. Consequently, I have pursued my interest in math and science in high school by taking honors and AP courses. I am currently enrolled in AP Chemistry and BC Calculus with hopes that they will provide a strong basis for my future studies. Both courses are highly demanding but fascinating in their complexity. Combined with my great appreciation for life itself, my interest in science has helped define my future goal to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. Besides challenging myself academically, I have been physically tested by four years of Varsity track and field. To the horror of my mother, I chose to become a pole-vaulter. Pole vault has been a new kind of challenge for me, demanding physical strength coupled with mental verve and gusto. I have never worked so hard for such slight improvements, but it is this painstaking development that has built up my mental strength more than in any other endeavor. Pole vault has surely shown itself to be a complicated yet fantastic sport to master, demanding as much of the mind as it does of the body.

While on a less impressive scale, I find myself similar to Michael in spirit. My family has also been crucial to my development as a person, and has guided me selflessly and wholly to become a successful young woman. My parents’ altruism has been a pivotal inspiration that I hope to replicate. Because I take an education so seriously, I have become a focused, responsible student as a result. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to attend the University of Pennsylvania next year, where I will be able to fulfill my desire to study nursing among the very best teachers.

Michael is an inspiration to me to do the utmost with my life and make each moment count. He passed his courage onto others, and I hope to do the same with my future patients. A leader of character does just that, fighting the fight with grace and quiet wisdom.