Rachel Hirsh
GETTING AN EDUCATION
I remember the day that I declared my major at North Central. I was so enthusiastic because I finally had a vision of where my life was headed. I am part of the Youth Development Studies program and feel that it is preparing me for a future of loving on the people group that God has called me to care for. I literally find new reasons why I am passionate about this people group every day and I cannot imagine my life without serving young people. I have a desire to minister to adolescents in a wide range of areas. I want to see them ministered to in their athletics and recreation, their social and work settings, through missions and mass communication, etc. I am learning that effective student ministry is absolutely done through the development of true relationships between us, the believers, and un-churched students by addressing their needs-both the needs they are aware of and the needs they do not yet see in themselves. Youth ministry is broad and consists of many different elements. We must consider their development in all areas-cognitive, emotional, moral, spiritual, and social. I feel called to youth ministry and love working in a church, but I know that there are so many young people that I will not encounter in my church. I feel a very strong need to reach those teens specifically.
I value education more than I can express. I believe that it is an asset that not everyone has the opportunity to pursue and I am overflowing with gratitude that I have been able to attend North Central University and further my education in an area of study that I am passionate about. It is difficult to say that I need this scholarship more than some one else does, but what I can say is that I know in my heart or hearts that I work hard and I am passionate about changing the way that our young people are growing up. That is the want side. On the other side of the spectrum, there is a need. I need this scholarship because my mother has been paying out of pocket for my schooling for the past two years. My father does not see it as his responsibility to contribute to my education and we are not eligible for federal aid. My mom has always been the breadwinner of my family and has been successful, but recently it is becoming more and more of a struggle to pay for classes, and living on campus, and buying some books, among other things have not been an option for the past 2 semesters. I would love to be able to graduate with little or no debt so that the dollars I earn post graduation can be put toward something else, something greater. I could tell my whole story with all of the sad, gory details, but I do not want this scholarship because my dad was abusive or because I struggled with severe anxiety. I want it because we should be able to put our kingdom money toward what God has called us to do, not toward interest rates and fees. I want and need this scholarship for different reasons, but there is a meeting point between the two-I feel that God has called me to do something and amongst my needs and wants I know He will provide a way to get to the point of making that call a reality. I am hoping and believing that this scholarship opportunity is a step in the process.
I feel that my education will empower me to pour into the youth in the community because it is preparing me for my call to start a business that caters specifically to them. I want to open a small business, with a warm and loving, yet relevant atmosphere. It will cater to ages 12 to 18 and will be a faith-based, but not faith saturated, place for them to spend time and make relationships that they might not have had the opportunity to make otherwise. They will benefit because I am currently being given the tools to explain and proclaim God’s word to them accurately and effectively, and I will be able to help broaden their perspectives of missions and the church. I would love to teach or implement a program that is concerned with the developmental issues that adolescents face and I believe that this small business could serve this generation well in that area. I feel confident that I am gaining the mental, physical and social skills to work with this generation according to their needs at North Central and I would love to have the opportunity to continue this process. Thank you for your consideration.
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