In my application to Vanderbilt, I wrote about founding a year-round mentorship program called “Sabre Splash.” I spoke of the meaningful impact this program had on the freshmen at my school – many at risk of experiencing depression and displaying bullying behavior – along with the mentors themselves. However, I did not describe the significant effect Sabre Splash had on me personally. It truly reshaped my perspective in many areas, including leadership, scholarship, diversity, and citizenship.

I have been fortunate to feel comfortable in leadership roles, but Sabre Splash deepened my understanding of what it means to lead. I learned that real leadership takes persistence and a shared purpose. After months of constant emailing and back-and-forth discussion with administration about the potential of Sabre Splash, I was exhausted and disheartened. However, driven by a powerful purpose, I persisted. My peers, who shared in the vision to be both role model and a supportive presence, also drove me. I came realize how important the people around me with a common passion were to my desire to press forward. They made the process so much more dynamic and enjoyable. was truly inspiring and energizing to see our actions emulated by the ninth grade students. …show more content…
In order to have true impact, and in order to be able to speak intelligently about topics such as systemic racism and bullying with administrators, I had to truly dig into it. Gaining deeper knowledge on a subject has practical applications. Prior to this realization, I had thought of scholarship as solely an academic field or discipline, but through Sabre Splash, I came to understand that becoming a scholar helps me to have more impact and influence in day-to-day