Posts by Zoe

You always hear the proverb, “To know a man, walk a mile in his shoes.” Well, I walked less than a mile during my walkabout, but it was far enough for me to drop many of my preconceived ideas about homelessness.

This is an essay I wrote for the Ransome Scholarship, a scholarship given to one undergraduate student at St. Andrew's University. I would enjoy feedback on this essay, especially from the point of view of other senior scholarship seekers:

Reading books is a hobby (O.K., obsession) of mine, but what truly intrigues me are the books themselves. Nothing is better than the feel of a book in your hands. Paperbacks are thin, fluttery, and malleable. The filmy cover invites you to open it anywhere, as if the words inside are whispering to be read. Hardbacks are bulky, blocky and solid. Prying them open is like spilling a secret. Once the books are finally open though, a whole new cacophony of senses emerges. First, the smell. Old books have a musty, almost moldy aroma, like walking into an old house.

At my high school we are asked to complete a certain number of community service hours per year. For my Junior and Senior years, I have volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages (TTV). TTV is a non-profit, free trade company that hires artisans in developing countries. Working at this store has been a wonderful experience. I have gained valuable retail skills and I understand more about scheduling and participating as a team. I get to meet philanthropists who have traveled all over the world and I understand more about solidarity through them.