Scholarship Essays for College Admissions

Of the hundreds of people a young girl meets in her first eighteen years, only a small number of them truly make a difference in her life. If the girl is lucky, more of these people influence her positively instead of negatively. I am one of those lucky girls; I have been impacted by many wonderful people thus far in my journey through life. Without them, I know my life would be not as near as rich, as meaningful, or as full of potential as it is now. I am so excited to live my life, to do something new and different, and to be one of those people who make a difference in the lives’ of others. I credit part of my vivacity to my relationship with Trent Zuehsow, who has influenced me more than he will ever know.
I knew Trent from Camp Lutherhaven, a Christian summer camp. To us, it was no coincidence that we saw each other there three summers in a row; God intended us to build a friendship over our shared faith in Him. Trent was 16 and so cool, especially in the eyes of the giggly 12-year-old girl that I was. While he was older than me, we developed a friendship that continued outside of camp through e-mail and instant messaging. Once he started college, we did not talk as often as I would have liked, but it only made me treasure our conversations even more.
Talking to Trent was like talking to the older brother I never had. He was incredibly funny and smart. At times we would talk about serious issues, too, such as life, the future, and the world. He honestly valued my opinion and made me feel like I had something worth saying. He gave me advice about growing up and showed me the world outside of my little bubble. I cannot express how much he meant to me.
On February 8, 2003, Trent died. A drunk driver drove on the wrong side of the road and hit him. He was only 19 years old. I was devastated. It was hard for me to talk about it because no one could understand. Sure, I only talked to Trent occasionally, but he was important to me, and I loved him. A lot of people could not understand that.
Looking back, I know what attracted me so much to Trent. He had the special ability to make everyone feel important. Talking to him, you felt like you were the only person in the world that mattered at that moment. I sometimes wonder about the people who were around him all the time. If he could be so genuine in our occasional conversations, what was he like with his family and close friends? How did they feel after talking to him? Did they appreciate him like I did? Do they still miss him as much as I do?
Sometimes I get angry that such an amazing young man had to leave this world so soon. But then I realize that I can make his death worthwhile. By living with the same spirit, love, and faith that Trent had, I can hope to pass along those traits to someone else. I truly am one of those lucky girls, because Trent gave me a wonderful gift: the gift of real life. I cannot think of a way to better influence a person’s life.