Name: William Baksic
From: Cibolo, Texas
Grade: 11th
School: Byron P Steele High School
Votes: 0 
William
Baksic
Youth
Forward Scholarship Essay
Volunteerism is an important act that many undertake to give back to their
community. Giving back is significant because not everyone is as
fortunate as I am, and I do volunteer work to help those who are
homeless, in the process of growing up, or still learning and trying
to find their way, so that one day they may have the same
opportunities as I do. I have worked with Vacation Bible School
participants ages 3-6 to help them learn more about God, and I have
worked in Soup Kitchens and Habitat for Humanity across the San
Antonio area to help those that are less fortunate. I also
volunteered for my parish’s Teen ACTS Retreat, which is an annual
event that is for the teenagers of my community to grow in their
faith.
Volunteering for the poor and homeless of my area was a humbling experience. It
opened my eyes to the realization that there are people right around
the corner from me that are experiencing hardships like this, and I
just couldn’t believe it. Working in Habitat for Humanity was a
great experience, as we started building the house for a woman and
her two children, who were homeless at the time. They were so excited
to be given this opportunity, and the look in the children’s eyes
were a look that I have never seen before quite like that: they were
full of hope. Volunteering gives people hope, for one thing or
another. I talked to the mother of the two children, and she told me
that she was excited for a new start in their lives, and that they
were so grateful for everything that was done for them. That’s what
volunteer work does; it changes people’s lives.
I believe that going out into the world and helping those in need, one
way or another, is what needs to be done to end global issues such as
war, poverty, and hunger. Volunteering has benefited me because it
has changed my view on life and has made me more of a caring person
that wants to help those who are less fortunate. In the wise words of
Mother Teresa, “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and
the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not
be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”
