2023 Winner: Joshua Schmidt

Congratulations to Beechwood Joshua Schmidt winner of the 2023 Jordan G. McFaull Memorial Scholarship!

Essay:

My parents always told me to leave the room better than I found it, whether making my bed in the morning or cleaning up my locker. This saying has stuck with me; I apply it to all areas of my life now. So therefore, when I came to Beechwood, I knew I had to impact this community and leave it better than I had found.

I arrived at Beechwood my freshman year completely new. It was a difficult time in my life. I had to meet new people and get accustomed to a different school where I felt like an outsider. I decided to meet new people I would have to get connected with the clubs/organizations at Beechwood. During my time at Beechwood, I have been a part of numerous organizations that have introduced me to many new people I would not have met otherwise. These lifelong friendships I made at Beechwood made it feel like a home for the past four years, and I am forever grateful. Overcoming this difficult transition gave me a blueprint for how to make a smooth transition from high school to college.

Now being a part of such diverse extracurriculars also presents its challenges. I have little free time most weeks. The hectic schedule can be challenging to handle at times. However, it has taught me valuable time management skills and instilled a tireless work ethic to help me succeed in the subsequent phases of life. I was inspired when I read about Jordan’s story and his perseverance. He never let anything stop him from achieving his goals, even his health. Like Jordan, I will persevere through the tough days ahead because I know the hard work pays off.

A club that has had a profound impact on my high school experience is the National Honor Society (NHS). During my sophomore year, I decided to start an annual fall cleanup for the community of Ft. Mitchell. Most families have the strength to go out to their yards and take an afternoon to clean up all their leaves. However, some community members might need help to do it. Therefore, they must pay an outside source to do it for them. I wanted to help those citizens by using one Saturday morning to take a team of volunteers and clean up as many yards as possible in the Ft. Mitchell community. Over the past three years, we have helped numerous elderly or disabled citizens who would otherwise have to pay for yard services themselves. Community service has taught me that no matter how small the task seems, I still impact countless lives by putting others’ needs before mine. I knew this service project was my way to leave Beechwood and the community of Ft. Mitchell a little better than I found it.