~N~ wrote:It's not only the issue of filling out forms but also of being eligible in general. Scholarships like to focus on the same four things, which are community service, leaderships skills, academic prowess, and financial need, and while most have the last two going for them, community service and leadership skills are somewhat of a gray area for a lot of the strong, silent types who aren't overly outgoing.
That's more of a problem than filling out forms, in my opinion.
I have to respectfully disagree with you here... Leadership shows in many ways, not just in the "overly outgoing", typical way. Think creatively when you submit applications. Often judges are looking for something other than 'the norm'. As for community service, it is the 'strong, silent types' who make our country great!! We are the ones who "get it done" when it comes to volunteer activities... we just go about our business quietly and without a lot of fanfare. We are dependable, responsible, and we are doing it for the right reasons. The only time you need to crow about it is on paper when applying for scholarships! When you approach an organization to do volunteer work, YOU have the choice to do what you feel comfortable doing. There are so many community organizations who need help, it makes it easy to choose something that is just right for you. Helping a little, or helping out quietly, is soooo much better than not helping at all.
To those of you who have never volunteered, frankly, I'm not sure you *deserve* a scholarship. I mean no offense, but giving back is truly the foundation of a well-rounded individual. No matter how shy you are, how busy, or how academically gifted, you need to experience the joy and wisdom that comes from helping someone with no expectation of anything in return!
