MIDWAY, Texas — After over 1,000 hours of hard work, personal growth and community service, one Midway High School student has earned one of the nation's highest honors for youth.
Midway High senior Chloe Choung was awarded the Congressional Award Bronze Medal this spring for her accomplishments in everything from community service to music to fitness.
The Congressional Award is one of the highest honors that the United States Congress presents to youth of America. It is meant to provide opportunities for young people to "unleash their potential" by working towards personal goals while also helping their communities.
To earn the Bronze Medal, Choung set and accomplished goals in voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration.
“Since I was already involved in the Spirit of Midway at school, I wanted to continue my efforts and challenge myself to achieve more goals,” said Choung. “I learned how to help others in my community, how to get involved, how to self-improve and how to step outside of my comfort zone to take on a leadership role.”
Not only did Choung participate in the Spirit of Midway community service program, she also spent over 100 hours volunteering at a local library and food bank, instructing children on the basics of survival swimming at Mission Waco and playing the piano for senior citizens in the community.
For Choung's personal development goals, she logged over 530 hours practicing for and competing in piano competitions while also working as a tutor to develop her teaching skills.
For physical fitness, Choung spent 422 hours improving her swimming times and techniques, and for expedition/exploration she journeyed to Boston to explore the history of America.
Choung said the work was a rewarding journey filled with many valuable experiences. In the fall, Choung plans to pursue a major in government at the University of Texas at Austin. She said her goal will be to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
“I wanted to achieve this award because I sought to help others and was interested in finding ways to impact my community,” Chloe said. “When more people get involved, change occurs that benefits others for the better.”
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