Connect to the Earth to Connect to Yourself

Rebuilding coonnection to earth

Our relationship with the Earth radically changes the moment we realize that we’re not separate from nature. Rather, we are nature. In the same way that plants and animals play a role in the ecology, so do human beings. Over the past century with the modernization of everyday life, nature has been ‘othered’ and made … Read moreConnect to the Earth to Connect to Yourself

And We All Shine On

we all shine our light

Remember the old novelty poster that read: “God is dead.” – Nietzsche “Nietzsche is dead.” – God As one of modern history’s most oft-cited aphorisms, it was definitely a conversation starter.  Of course Nietzsche’s quote misses the broader context in a way that bespeaks the lazy approach many tend to take toward questions of spirituality … Read moreAnd We All Shine On

3 Steps to Compassionate Disagreements

compassionate disagreement

A lack of consensus or approval defines a disagreement. Disagreements are a part of the human experience and often begins the moment we learn to speak the word “no” as toddlers. Expressing our differing opinions with others can be healthy, leading to amazing breakthroughs and change. As the great Mahatma Gandhi says “honest disagreement is … Read more3 Steps to Compassionate Disagreements

Helping Homeless Children

scholarship essay about children

Children deal with tremendous problems on a daily basis. These problems, which can consist of many different things, go unrecognized a majority of the time. A problem children deal with that I want to address is homelessness. Children experience this problem to a great extent. I live in a smaller town, so I do not … Read moreHelping Homeless Children

A Little Act of Service Makes an Elder’s Day

scholarship essay on elders

Right now, in theaters everywhere, senior tickets are at least 2 dollars cheaper. This is true in almost every ticket buying event. Senior citizens are well taken care of. Everyone tries to help them out as much as possible. However, it is not always easy to know what they need. Even in my family, my … Read moreA Little Act of Service Makes an Elder’s Day

Urban Forests Planted with the Future in Mind

Ever since I was little, I have had a fascination with trees. I spent most of my childhood in Oregon, in a home dwarfed by the six Giant Sequoias growing in the backyard. In front of those sequoias, there were three English walnuts, a Katsura tree, and an assortment of Rhododendrons and Japanese Maples. I … Read moreUrban Forests Planted with the Future in Mind

People with Disabilities Have a Superpower Most Do Not Want: Invisibility

scholarship essay about children

The unspoken stigma of people with disabilities is a significant challenge that our society faces today. We are taught from a young age to not stare at someone who is “different”. We try so hard to overlook their disabilities that we overlook them entirely. From having feeding tubes to wheelchairs to less noticeable disabilities, we … Read morePeople with Disabilities Have a Superpower Most Do Not Want: Invisibility

Once Big Dreaming Children

scholarship essay about children

What do you want to be when you grow up? This question is asked to most children their first years of schooling. The most common answers are they want to be doctors, nurses, teachers, or astronauts. In the next decade, however, those big jobs they dreamt of having change and sometimes it’s not for good … Read moreOnce Big Dreaming Children

Making the Grass Greener for Children

scholarship essay about children

My 11-year old self set foot in Bangladesh with no expectations nor ideas of what the land would look like, what the air would smell like, what a taxi would look like, or even how the people commonly dressed. Learning about the country from stories of my mother’s childhood, movies, and television shows made me … Read moreMaking the Grass Greener for Children

Creating a Better Community for Children

scholarship essay about children

For the past 10 years I have created change for the better for the children in my community. From a young age, I found that I had a huge heart for serving others. This realization came to me one Sunday morning at my church when I was eight years old. My pastor was talking about … Read moreCreating a Better Community for Children