Brian Tahair Life of Gratitude Memorial Scholarship

All my life I was always a part of community service that benefited my community. When I was only six years old, I was an altar server at Church, then I would help my Pepere deliver collected food shelf for those in need. We participate and volunteer for many community events like cleaning up the Jay Rec Trail, participating in Green Up Day, cleaning garbage on the local Vermont Association of Snow Travels trails system and our private road. My family helps out our local snowmobiling group, Country Riders, because we own about three miles of trail that we let them use, by picking up trail markers and picking up garbage. We used our equipment to help them last year by rebuilding a bridge that was not safe for riders, and we made improvements to the trail. In September of this year, we replaced a gate using our equipment to help out. Furthermore, when I was in 7th grade, my brother and I helped the Jay Focus Group with a slide show that they used to benefit our community in a Rotary Club competition. They didn't win, but we had fun meeting people and putting that together for them. Once in high school, I joined the band and a Club called Future Farmers of America (FFA). In band we often get invited to perform for the football team, Veterans or community events. In the FFA club, we volunteered for area farmers and brought elementary school students on farm trips to apple orchards, dairy farms or logging operations. I’ve been taught that doing good in life is good for your community because your work will not only benefit yourself but others in the long run. Whenever you help someone, you better the community. I love my community and want it to be the best that it can be. If everyone chips in a little, the world will be a better place. My mother is a first-generation graduate student raised on a rural dairy farm. My dad not only works as a computer tech and repair, but has created an environment where we have been able to make our homestead a profitable business by starting and expanding a maple business. We work hard as a family on our property to make a viable sugaring business. I know what it takes to work hard for what we have. When I am not needed on our homestead, I have had three part-time jobs to make money for things we need, and recently have gotten a job at our local restaurant. We live within our means, yet with Mom working at a non- profit private school and daycare and dad’s hours getting cut due to Covid that’s slowly coming back, his job is not where it used to be, managing a business, we are need of a little assistance. My brother is one year ahead of me in college as well. This year my family’s expected contribution according to FAFSA was $3376. Therefore, with the increasing tuition this year, I am facing more challenges in financial need. I do not want finances to stand in the way of my dream of becoming a chef. Awarding this scholarship would further motivate me to pursue academic excellence in my field. I promise to work hard in my studies and contribute back to the community with my service. I will represent your organization well during my years in college and beyond. Your scholarship will help me achieve my goal. Thank you in advance for your consideration.