In this new category, “Scholarship Features,” we will be featuring some of the scholarship submissions from 2016 that we loved.

Our first feature was written by Sarah Oliver, an 18 year old who is a Senior at Buckeye High School in Medina, Ohio. Sarah is currently working towards her goal of getting a major in Occupational Therapy and has inspired many with acts of kindness like the one she describes in the story below.

As a member of National Honor Society at my high school, I am required to participate in the Veteran’s Day Assembly. We help set up, speak to the veterans and the student body, and eat lunch with the veterans after. What occurred during this luncheon truly shaped me into the person I am today.

At the start of the luncheon, students help escort the veterans to tables and offer to bring them food. It’s very busy and rushed because there are so many more veterans than students. While everyone is rushing back and forth, escorting and carrying food, it’s easy for some veterans not to have an escort.

Glancing around the lunch room, I noticed a gentleman in a “sip-and-puff” wheelchair. This type of wheelchair has a little white straw that is either blown into or sucked on to control its movement. At the time, I had no idea what it was or why he wasn’t simply using a traditional motorized wheelchair. I walked up to him and politely asked what he would like to eat. When I brought his food back, I asked if I could help him with anything else. In the most quiet, ashamed voice, he said, “will you please feed me?” I now understood why he was not using the typical wheelchair. He was a quadriplegic.

I knew that I had to help him, but I was scared. What would the other students think? I didn’t want to be the talk of the school; I had never liked when people talked about me. These are not the kinds of things that kids do.

Timidly, I picked up the sandwich and began to feed him. At first I noticed my peers’ stares, but I focused on the brave gentleman in front of me and everyone else faded away. We held great conversation. He told me he is an alumnus of my high school. He described what the gym was like when he went to school and told me about the small amount of sports that were offered. He told me that I am so blessed to have such a nice school to attend every year.

He helped me to realize how much of life I take for granted. Not only do I appreciate my school more, I am so much more thankful for my health and mobility. Because of this man’s sacrifices to our country, he is left paralyzed from the neck down. He can no longer live a normal, independent life. Although he struggles, he remains happy and thankful for each day he has. He has taught me always to appreciate what you have because you never know when life will throw you a curveball.