I would like to share this essay by Kayla McLean. Kayla is a high school student here in Maine preparing for college and this is her college admissions essay. Her writing speaks for itself and through this post I am simply sharing and amplifying her already amazing voice. I would add that her message resonates deeply with me under the question of ‘What if every child and young adult at schools across America felt Trusted, Respected, Valued, and Heard? What might change?’
Thank you, Kayla, for speaking with your true voice! If I were an admissions director at any school in America, I would accept you in a heartbeat!
Kayla’s college admissions essay:
Today I went to school. I sat in a room with a tired teacher sick of putting up with students who won’t participate. For 90 minutes I heard nothing but unanswered questions, sighs, and most of the time, pure silence. I see my classmates staring down at their shoes, then the clock, then back to their shoes until the bell finally rings and we can all reunite with our phones. I walk down the hallway where I am ignored by someone who just liked my Instagram story. Next, I divert my eye contact from a lifelong teammate because “it’s not field hockey season.” Then I sit back down to repeat this process again in period 2. I feel that today’s society suppresses me from being social. I love making connections with people – it’s a trait I have always nurtured. But with my peers becoming increasingly less social, I can’t help but feel like an outcast. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that just a few months prior I was living in a completely different world.
I spent two of my high school summers attending Seeds of Peace Camp. This camp comprises hundreds of change-makers and activists looking for common connections. My first experience with the camp started with the daily dialogue sessions. One day campers were getting into a discussion about the war in Ukraine. Everyone seemed to have an opinion, and I felt I couldn’t contribute. These facilitated conversations about current issues intimidated me. I was apprehensive to talk in a serious manner, and doubted my ability to keep up. Suddenly, I was the shy person who had always bothered me in the classroom. Getting to experience this feeling firsthand gave me a new understanding of my peers back home. With that realization, I was determined to overcome my hesitations and fully immerse myself in the conversation, I developed the confidence it took to make my stay worthwhile.
Once I gained experience stepping outside my comfort zone, a world of opportunity opened up for me. Before I knew it I was engaging in conversations on climate change, gun violence, and affirmative action. I got on stage and performed a comedy show with my friends. We made fools of ourselves, but I felt comfortable enough to go for it. I walked tight ropes, attended religious services, and played every sport they offered. I used each moment at camp to learn from and befriend everyone. I made lifelong connections with people from all over the world. Back home I didn’t know the last names of half of my classmates. I was finally surrounded by people who weren’t petrified of being social.
Unfortunately, my time at Seeds came to an end. The classrooms continued to stay silent and phones stayed glued to everyone’s hands. Seeing this difference inspired me to create a dialogue club. I designed a smaller-scale version of the Seeds of Peace model, but focused on issues within our school. I was determined to make this club as inspiring for my peers as Seeds made it for me. To my surprise, the club didn’t catch on, the numbers dwindled, and the lack of participation forced me to end the meetings. However, thanks to my experience at Seeds of Peace, I don’t regret trying. I understand that there is a lot that goes into transforming young minds, and I am actively trying to share the lessons that helped shape me. I am determined to use my voice even if my peers won’t. Seeds of Peace restored my faith in the human experience. It gave me hope of a future where I can create connections and encourage others to do the same. Although it’s becoming harder to find people who share my values, I now know that it isn’t impossible.
