Mary Jo Huey Scholarship

I did not know the amount of time it took to start a business or organization when I was a little girl. Of course, all I saw was the butterfly and rainbow bits and pieces on the outside; I had no idea it took hours upon hours and dedication to become an entrepreneur. I thought it was all fun and games until I decided to become a co-founder of my non-profit organization, Glasswing Youth Garden Club. After finding out what the process is behind building up your own organization/business, I gained immense respect for business owners and organization founders. To put it simply, I started an organization in a small, rural town. It makes me wonder how people like Clara Barton (Founder of American Red Cross) and William and Catherine Booth (Founders of Salvation Army) were able to manage to upbring their organizations from just a thought to a world-wide helpful organization. I could only dream I would one day impact the whole world such as these inspiring role-models, but for now, as a 17-year-old girl, I am beyond happy with my progress in my hometown of Guymon, Oklahoma. I have learned many lessons throughout this process. To start off, I learned how time-consuming it can be. This is not bad; it is amazing to look back and realize how you were able to devote so much time to simple, necessary activities such as trimming rose bushes or planting new shrubbery. Another lesson I learned is how there will be people who will try to hold you back. Much like everything else, there were a few people along my journey who seemed to be unhappy with my success. It is not like I was making any money from this, so to see people try to hold me back from serving my community bewildered me. I finally realized how people try to drag you down when you start to excel past them. So, instead of letting that happen, I would invite these individuals to help with our next clean-up or activity. This allowed them to see this life of serving from a different perspective, and I think they finally realized why I do what I do. Finally, I learned the lesson that it is so important to surround yourself with people who have the same interests and passion as yourself. This allows you to truly enjoy your time and get the activity done in a quick, efficient way. Many people throughout this journey have motivated me to succeed, but I would say my mom and nana motivated me the most. Before my nana passed away in 2016, she was the president of a local garden club here in Guymon (Rose Garden Club), as well as the Northwest District Garden Club of Oklahoma. Once she passed, my mom stepped in and filled her role as president of the Rose Garden Club. While starting this club, my mom helped me immensely. She helped me contact the Rose Garden Club, Northwest District Garden Club, Oklahoma Garden Club, Inc., and National Garden Club, Inc. Thanks to her, I had the necessary resources to be able to fall under all four of these clubs. My nana had mentioned how she thought a youth garden club would benefit our community. I wish she could see how right she was! I am sure she is smiling down on me from Heaven as I write this with that little smirk of hers. Starting this organization was one of the best decisions of my life, and I would not trade it for the world.