Tenderloin Scholarship Essay

Growing up in a neighborhood called Tenderloin isn’t the easiest. It is evident that Tenderloin is not one of the richest communities in San Francisco. Every time I take a walk around the neighborhood, I see many homeless people who are struggling to survive. Because they are a part of my community, I have a lot of compassion for them. Many people misjudge those in poverty, assuming that they’re all lazy drug addicts, so they don’t view homeless people as human. However, we cannot judge people based on what we see. We don’t know what hardships anyone is going through, so I believe that everyone deserves a chance to receive service from places such as shelters. I have a vision where the Tenderloin will become a better place, free of poverty and suffering. Once this cycle of poverty is broken, those who were homeless will be able to share their stories and inspire others to help recover their communities.

I decided to take action and volunteered at GLIDE Memorial Church. At GLIDE, I volunteered during lunch shifts. My duties included ensuring that each bagged meal consisted of the correct items, handing out silverware and condiments, cleaning dishes and the floor, and bagging meals for the homeless. I worked with people of all different ethnicities and ages, and we all cooperated with one another in order to make things run smoothly and

efficiently.
The meals all of the volunteers and I prepared were handed out to homeless who stopped by during GLIDE’s lunch hour.

I met a woman who was kicked out of her home when she was only a teenager due to her parents being against her sexual orientation. Being a teenager, it’s no surprise that she was unable to make a living for herself. Plus, rent is very expensive in San Francisco. Hearing her story gave me an entirely different outlook on life. As she left, she took a bagged meal and felt very happy because not only did she receive food, she also shared her story with me. I felt very glad because I enjoy brightening other people’s

days.
Helping the homeless makes the community become a better place because there will be less miserable people around the neighborhood. Homeless people have nobody who they can go to for help, so it is the responsibility of those who are privileged to reach out and implement the steps to make the world become a better place. Those who can make a difference must spread the word to their loved ones and collaborate with others because teamwork is always better than working alone. An entire group of people have a bigger impact and will be able to make a bigger difference than an individual who stands alone.