Scholarship Essay by Nikolai Kovalak

Scholarship

Throughout the beginning of my college career I have often thought to myself, “what can I do for others.” Whether this be general advice, or physically helping them in whatever endeavors they may get into. I have learned how valuable other people are in your life, friends, family, coworkers, mutual friends, etc. These people will be there to help you in every step of your life. I want to be able to do that for others, be there when someone needs help and then make a plan to help them for the future. Whether this plan involves my degree, the church, or just plain everyday living, I want to help as many people as possible.

I want to teach people the basics of what I have learned. Whether that is talking about the basics of my major like what loads may look like on the floor you’re putting in or what have you, or whether it be simple math tricks to help younger kids out. I just want to be able to help every level 

of everyone I have ever met. Right now I can start by giving a hand when someone needs it, for small yard projects or larger projects like the bunks at camp. I love to do hands-on projects and when someone mentions a project that they are working on, I try to say that I would love to help make that project become a reality.

Leaving a positive impact on me is putting a helping hand out to anyone that needs it, but it is also about being nice and respectful to people around you. When someone is talking to you, caring about the words they say and having a nice conversation. Sometimes someone just needs that conversation in order to feel better, I try to be a listening ear for anyone in my life that needs it! Maybe that person will listen when I need to talk about something in the future then as well! In the past, a positive impact would be to do something nice for someone, I didn’t really know what it meant back then. Now I understand it is more about how people see you and how you act around people. Let them understand you, let them see the better person you are becoming each day. This past year I have tried to connect with more people than in years past. Whether it be people from highschool, middle school or even elementary school, I am trying to touch base with a bunch of them to check up on them and see how life is. Even if I said people had “bad blood” I still would love to understand how they are doing!

The future is somewhat scary to me, but with the help of the people around me I know I will be just alright. It helps to know that one I have a ginormous support cast that can help me on any step of my process, and two when I get to the end I can start to help anyone that may need it. I look forward to the chances in the workforce I may get, the people I will meet and the lessons I will learn. Those lessons I can then come home and teach other people, well maybe just start with the basics. I am excited to be able to call myself a civil engineer but I wear that title humbly as I know everyone works and that they are also extremely proud of three jobs. If I leave the state for however long that may be, I can leave knowing I have tried everything to leave a lasting positive impact on people. Whether this be giving tips to the altar boys to helping anyone that may need a hand, I know that I gave that hand when needed!

I hope that I have left a positive legacy to anyone that may read this!

Parish

Mailing Address

Archangel Michael Orthodox Church
5025 E. Mill Rd
Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147

Email, Phone, and Fax

[email protected]
440-526-5192 (Phone)