15th Annual Smiling Senior Scholarship 2025 Winner

          I will always remember the look on the girl's face when she asked me for a cookie; It was my sophomore year, and a few peers and I decided to spend our night volunteering at a local soup kitchen. What took me by surprise was that I would be serving people my own age. People that were born into poverty, that rely on services like soup kitchens. I stood on the other side of the counter, serving food to those that do not have access to stable nutrition. I would smile and say hello as the patrons would express their gratitude. It was an eye opening experience, one that I will never forget. I left that night with a heavy heart, saddened that my own peers were in these conditions.

​

            We cannot call ourselves a just society by only catering to the needs of the more fortunate. We are defined by how we treat the most vulnerable citizens, whether they are those living in poverty, homelessness, or living with disabilities or chronic illness. As a society, we hold a civic duty to care for the vulnerable, not just for self fulfillment, but for the betterment of society. If we allow children to live in conditions where they cannot receive proper education or even basic nutrition, we are setting the next generation up for lower employment and education rates. Allowing this cycle to continue is unjust, and we cannot let children be tarnished with the effects of their pasts. Society should strive to make the next generation better than the last. Providing for the less fortunate goes beyond just ensuring basic needs, it stretches to creating more equitable programs to allow a society that fosters inclusion. society benefits from those that are educated and that can bring talents into the workforce. 

​

            A society that ignores its most vulnerable citizens will become bitter and divided, scarred with the effects of. Helping and performing our civic duty only helps our world as a whole. In American history we have realized this, as programs such as Social Security were created and the Civil Rights act and Americans with Disabilities Act were passed. Our society has recognized the benefits that come from providing for everyone, and we should learn from our own history. In the recent Covid-19 pandemic, economic relief was provided for those affected by unemployment, which helped people get onto their feet to keep society functional. Society has demonstrated that in moments of need, we can help those that are less fortunate. To have a true and functional democracy, we need to ensure that everyone's voices are heard, or else we are left with distrust and no confidence. 

​

            There is no telling what the future will hold, but there is hope for change; Gen Z has been the most socially conscious and time and time again they have come together to fight for different causes. We live in a technological age, where information can be spread very quickly. While sometimes harmful, when used properly, the internet can be used to raise awareness. Groups are better able to advocate for themselves and start movements, which can create real change in our society.

​

            Overall, caring and protecting our most vulnerable is imperative to keep a successful society smoothly running. It should not be a privilege to have a roof over your head or to have food on the table, and the harder we work to ensure that no one has to worry about their basic needs, the more society will flourish. 

Written by Nawal Bhatti