spanish national honor society essay

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Spanish honors society: the complete guide.

Officially known as the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, the Spanish Honors Society exists to help and honor students of Spanish and Portuguese. Learning a second language is an invaluable skill, and this group gives students the opportunity to truly excel. Its members are eligible for awards, scholarships, and international travel opportunities. 

If you’re wondering whether or not this organization is a worthwhile pursuit for you or your teen, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to make your decision. In this guide we will tell you all about the history of the Spanish Honors Society and what it offers its members.

Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica

The Spanish Honors Society, also known as the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica , is an honor society for high school students who are dedicated to the study of Spanish and/or Portuguese. It is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, and each chapter is started and led by a teacher who is a member of this organization. 

The Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica was founded in 1953 as the Spanish National Honor Society by teachers who wanted “to recognize high school achievement in Spanish and Portuguese and to promote interest in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian studies.” The organization’s name was officially changed to Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica in 1959. 

Today there are over 3,500 chapters of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, both in the United States and in other countries around the world.

The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese

The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese was founded in 1917. At the time, Greek and Latin were still the most common second languages taught by secondary schools in the United States, with French and German also being more widely studied than Spanish or Portuguese, the latter being almost completely unavailable to students. 

Many schools stopped offering classes in German during the First World War, and Spanish became more popular. Unfortunately, many of the teachers pressed into teaching Spanish were far from fluent. Teachers banded together to form the American Association of Teachers of Spanish in 1917 to improve upon their own knowledge and what they were able to offer their students. Portuguese was added in 1944, but the present-day membership is still over ninety percent Spanish-oriented. 

In addition to running the Spanish Honors Society, the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese hosts the annual National Spanish Examinations, which is an organized competition for Spanish-language learners. These exams are meant to recognize achievement, promote proficiency, assess national standards, and encourage further interest in mastering the language.

Students take the examination online. It measures their communication skills, overall performance, and achievement in learning Spanish. Students who do well on this exam are eligible for awards. We’ve covered these in detail further on in this article. 

These are the stated goals and values of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese:

• Promote global and local impact through research and scholarships
• Cultivate relationships and professional development opportunities
• Empower transformational advocacy and outreach
• Foster diversity, inclusion, access, and equity
• Share a passion for multilingual education

Who’s eligible to join?

Not every student of Spanish or Portuguese is eligible. This society is meant for students who have maintained a steady interest and high level of academic achievement in the study of Spanish and/or Portuguese. Students still in their first year of study are not yet eligible. 

Students in the tenth grade or higher are allowed to join if they have been studying one of these languages for at least a year and a half. They must have maintained an “honor average” in that subject for at least three semesters. 

Freshmen who have been studying the language since middle school are sometimes permitted to join. They’ll need to ask for special permission from a Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica director in order to be admitted. 

All high schools are eligible to start their own chapter, and the umbrella organization leaves it up to each chapter to choose how they define an “honor grade”.

Opportunities for Language Immersion

In addition to practicing with other students, members of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica have the opportunity to further their education by traveling abroad. 

Junior Travel Study Abroad Scholarship

Juniors in high school have the opportunity to earn their place in a study abroad opportunity that takes place the summer before their senior year. Students who participate in the summer of 2023 will travel to Costa Rica and stay with host families in Monteverde. The one-week itinerary includes both cultural experiences and volunteer work. 

Participating students have the opportunity to earn college credit for this experience through Portland State University, up to fifteen total hours.

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Spanish honors society scholarships.

The Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica contributes over 160,000 dollars to its student members each year. Some of this money goes towards college scholarships, which are available to high school seniors who are members of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica. Highschool juniors have the chance to receive Student Travel awards.

Joseph Adams Senior Scholarships

Every year the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica awards scholarships in the amounts of one thousand dollars and two thousand dollars to graduating seniors. They must be members of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica and have evidence of high academic achievement in one of the two focus languages throughout their high school career. 

Students will also need to submit a five-minute video clip in which they explain (in Spanish) how they plan to use Spanish in their future career. They must also write a persuasive essay in Spanish that details the importance of learning a second language. Most students scored in the 95th percentile on the National Spanish Examination. Each chapter is allowed to submit one senior-class student for consideration. 

Bertie Green Junior Travel Award

The Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica also gives out twenty or more travel awards each year. These awards are for high school juniors who are members of their organization. These lucky students have the opportunity to travel abroad the summer before their senior year, usually in mid-July. 

This award includes the cost of the flight, local transportation, tours, meals, and insurance. Students often stay with host families. Participants have the opportunity to earn university credit. 

As with the senior scholarships, only one submission is allowed per chapter. Applicants must be a junior in high school and have scored in at least the 75th percentile on the National Spanish Examination. They must agree to study Spanish their senior year and take the National Spanish Examination that year as well. 

To apply, students must submit a five-minute video clip showing a Spanish-language conversation between them and their teacher. Each applicant also submits an essay in Spanish detailing how they expect the experience to impact them and/or how they plan to deal with any challenges that might arise. Lastly, they must provide their transcript and a letter of recommendation from their Spanish teacher. 

Spanish Honors Society Awards

There are also awards and certificates issued by individual chapters to honor their members and recognize their outstanding efforts in the pursuit of knowledge. 

Premio de Honor

Sponsors (Spanish and Portuguese teachers) of active chapters are able to award the Premio de Honor to the outstanding graduating senior member of their school’s chapter. Each chapter is only permitted to submit one student to receive the Premio de Honor, which is awarded free of charge. Applications for this honor are accepted by the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica at any time throughout the year.

Certificado de Excelencia

Sponsors of active SHH chapters can award the Certificado de Excelencia to Spanish students or the Certificado de Excelência to Portuguese students who have met certain standards. These students must be initiated members and must also be winners in the National Spanish and Portuguese Examinations. 

Alternatively, sponsors may choose members who have achieved the highest grade point average in Spanish or Portuguese for that school year. The number of these certificates awarded may not exceed ten percent of current chapter initiates. 

Certificado por Servicios

Sponsors of active chapters also have the opportunity to award active members with a Certificado por Servicios (Spanish) or Certificado por Serviços (Portuguese). These certificates are meant to recognize students who have “rendered meritorious service ” to their chapter. As with the previous award, the number of certificates awarded each year may not exceed ten percent of current chapter initiates. 

Having your work published in a student journal is a great way to add some energy and character to your college applications and future resumes. 

The Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica has its own student journal. Albricias publishes a wide range of content created by its members. Issues include essays, poetry, photography, artwork, and more . Each chapter is allowed to submit five pieces per issue. A maximum of one submission per issue is chosen from any given chapter. Members are encouraged to work together to improve their submissions and choose which ones to submit for publication.

Contributions to the journal are eligible for awards and cash prizes. When the contributions for an issue are chosen, a selection committee will then choose the most outstanding contributions in the categories of prose, poetry, and art/photography. Winners in each category will receive a cash prize in recognition of their contribution to the student journal. Prize amounts are 250 dollars for first place, one hundred dollars for second place, and fifty dollars for third place.

Start a Chapter

If there isn’t a Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica group at your school, you could always start your own chapter. It’s not terribly difficult or time-consuming, but it is a great way to show college admissions boards that you have the drive it takes to succeed in your chosen field. That’s exactly the sort of leadership potential that helps applicants stand out when they’re applying to their dream schools. 

You’ll need to work with a Spanish or Portuguese teacher to start a new chapter, and they will need to be a member of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). Once you have a teacher on board, you just need to fill out an application and pay a one-time fee of 35 dollars. 

Next you’ll need members. Invite your classmates and help them to register. The cost of membership is only five dollars per person. Remind them that this is an opportunity to polish up their looming college applications and really succeed in learning a second language. You can study together, cook international cuisine, and even plan a trip to a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking country. 

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Spanish Honors Society: What You Need to Know

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 5/4/22

‍ The Spanish Honor Society, or Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, is an organization that helps students of Spanish or Portuguese reach their academic goals. Keep reading to learn more about the society and how it can help you.

The Spanish Honors Society is dedicated to high academic achieving Spanish or Portuguese language students. Since its inception, it has grown to over 3500 chapters and offers many scholarships to members as an avenue to help them achieve their goals. 

Keep reading to learn more about the Spanish Honors Society and why you should join.

What is the Spanish Honors Society

The Spanish Honors Society, or Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica , is an honor society for high school students enrolled in Spanish and Portuguese. 

The SHH was formed in 1953 to have a place for those learning Spanish or Portuguese in high school to gain access to scholarships and awards that will help them in their post-secondary education .

The Spanish Honors Society tries to help ambitious students of Spanish or Portuguese to reach their educational goals after high school. Their goal is to help members maximize their potential through academics, leadership, and networking so that they can go on to high achievement in college or university.

To do this, the Spanish Honors Society awards students from all over the United States different scholarships and grants, providing activities that allow them to connect with students with the same academic goals. 

On average, the Spanish Honors Society gives out $160,000 to students each year , meaning hundreds of students are able to achieve their goals. 

If you’re a Spanish and Portuguese student looking for academic distinction and networking opportunities, the Spanish Honors Society might be a great option for you. Keep reading to learn more.

Spanish Honors Society Requirements

In order to get a Spanish Honors Society in your school, there are a few requirements. First, a Spanish or Portuguese teacher in your school who is a member of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP ) has to be willing to start the club.

The teacher will have to be a member of AATSP for at least one calendar year, which for the association means Jan. 1- Dec. 31. For an example of how this works, if a teacher were to join AATSP in September of 2022, they would not qualify to start a society until Jan. of 2024.

Once there has been an established interest and a qualified teacher to start the Spanish honors society, the teacher would have to fill in some forms and pay a one-time fee of $35 (as of 2022). After this is processed, the teacher would have to decide which students to invite to join. 

This being an honors society, there are some academic requirements in order to be considered. We will cover the requirements to join the Spanish Honors Society below.

How to Get into the Spanish Honors Society

To get into the Spanish Honors Society, your Spanish or Portuguese teacher has to nominate you based on your academic achievements. The student must be in at least 10 th grade, maintaining an honors average in the study of Spanish or Portuguese for a minimum of three semesters.

According to the Spanish National Honors Society , each Spanish Honors Society group can determine for themselves what the definition of “honor average” will be. This means that each chapter of the SHS is able to decide what grades students will have to achieve to be recommended for membership.

That being said, the Spanish National Honors Society emphasizes that the society is for students with high academic achievements . It reminds new chapters of this as they decide how students will qualify to be part of their individual Spanish Honors Society. 

Since the society was created for students with high academic standing, it would do the society a disservice if it included students that do not fit this criterion.

Why Join the Spanish Honors Society?

Joining the Spanish Honors Society gives students great opportunities they may not otherwise get. Numerous scholarships are given out each year to high school students that can help them down the line pay for university or college.  

With post-secondary education being so expensive, students with the academic prowess to get into the school of their choice but possibly not the finances, it can be a really tough decision as to what school to attend after high school. 

Being able to apply for the different scholarships that the Spanish Honors Society awards each year means these students might have better opportunities than they would without them.

Students who join the Spanish Honors Society also get unique opportunities to travel with fellow members to help them better understand the world around them. An example is the Bertie Green Junior Travel Award , which is given annually to select students.

Students in their Junior year of high school are allowed to apply, and the winners are given a trip to a Spanish or Portuguese-speaking country.

This award not only gives the students an opportunity to network with other students in the Spanish Honors Society around the country, but they are also able to learn from the culture they immerse themselves in, which broadens their horizons and gives them a unique perspective on life outside of the United States.

For instance, the society plans summer trips that allow eighteen students to travel to Costa Rica for one week. There, students will learn more about the culture and traditions of the Costa Rican people and get a chance to apply and incorporate their Spanish skills. 

This unique opportunity is why Spanish or Portuguese students should consider joining the Spanish Honors Society.

Being a member of the Spanish Honors Society is great to put on a resume or your college application. Not only does it show your involvement in extracurriculars, but it also shows your dedication to academic excellence.

Being a member of the Spanish Honors Society will show colleges that you are a high-achieving student. It will also show your long-term dedication to a course of study. This can be especially important to any student who wants to continue their study of Spanish or Portuguese in their post-secondary education. 

For these students, membership in the Spanish Honors Society will help prospective schools just how dedicated they are to their studies and knowledge of Spanish life and culture.

FAQs: Spanish Honors Society

Here are a few common questions about the Spanish Honors Society.

1. Is The Spanish National Honors Society Worth It?

The Spanish National Honors Society is worth joining as it can give you access to scholarships that you would not have access to otherwise. It also allows students to network with each other, giving them the opportunity to find people with similar goals and interests.

2. What Is The Spanish Honors Society Called?

The Spanish Honors Society, called Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, was coined in 1959.

3. What Qualifies You To Be a Member of The Spanish Honors Society?

To qualify as a member of the Spanish Honors Society, you have to be in the 10 th grade, take at least three semesters of Spanish or Portuguese, and have an Honors average.

Final Thoughts

Joining the Spanish Honors Society is a great way to network with other students while gaining access to scholarships that can help you achieve your academic goals. By being a member, you will find people with the same goals as you and have something to put on your college application to help you stand out.

All in all, joining the Spanish Honors Society can be a worthwhile step for any Spanish or Portuguese student who wishes to attend post-secondary education.

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How to Write the National Honor Society Essay + Example

What’s Covered:

National honor society: four pillars and essay, five tips for writing your nhs essay, nhs essay example, time well spent.

What do former first lady Michelle Obama, actor Chadwick Boseman, singer-songwriters Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, and baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. have in common?  They were all members of the National Honor Society (NHS).

As you apply for membership in this national organization, remember NHS membership is based on meeting criteria in four areas that the NHS calls its four pillars: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character .  

Scholarship 

The first pillar, scholarship , requires that a student earns a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent. Many high schools set a higher GPA bar for their school’s chapter. If you meet your school’s academic requirement, congratulations, you’ve passed the first hurdle. 

Now it’s important that you carefully complete the application and write a compelling essay.  Most high schools require students to write a 300-500 word essay that showcases their commitment and accomplishments in the other three pillars.

Service refers to the contributions you make to your school and or community on a volunteer basis, without receiving any compensation. For your most significant service activities, be sure to explain why you choose to support certain organizations and why you chose specific roles. 

Showcase your leadership in your school and or community while working with or for others. Remember, stating that you are the captain of a team, president of a club, or supervisor of a shift does not prove that you are a leader. A leader makes things happen, sets a good example, and inspires others to give their personal best. Clearly state why you were selected to hold a leadership position and how you effectively lead. There are many successful leadership styles. Communicate your unique brand of leadership. 

Character is how you conduct yourself with high standards of honesty, reliability, and respect for others. Many attributes define good character, and they all reflect a personal commitment to ethical and compassionate interactions with others as well as how you treat yourself. Results are only part of the story.  How you achieved them is critically important to communicate.

Think about how many NHS applications your school counselor reviews each year. Not every student who completes an application is selected for the honor. So how do you make your essay stand out?  Here are five strategies:

1. Make it Personal and Individual  

Your application form provides the facts about the scope and range of your involvement and contributions to your communities. Be sure that you write your essay in a way that brings this data to life. A compelling essay enables the reader to feel a strong connection to you. Express your unique values, aspirations, and priorities. State the motivation behind your choices and the trade-offs you’ve made. Be honest about challenges and what you have learned through your mistakes. And be sure the tone of the essay sounds like you and nobody else. 

2. Share Your Stories

People love to hear and remember stories, not simply facts and figures. Express themes and points that you want to share by relaying stories that bring these concepts to life. Stories can be poignant, funny, suspenseful, or surprising. Any approach that makes a reader want to continue reading is a great one.

3. Be Humble and Bold

Many students find it hard to express their hard-earned accomplishments without sounding boastful. Proudly stating your achievements without sounding brash is possible and important. Clearly state your motivations, your challenges, your vulnerabilities, and your mistakes to mitigate any concerns.  

4. Follow Tried and True Essay Guidelines

Channel all the advice you’ve received over the years about how to write a great essay. Do you have a clear thesis around which you have organized your thoughts? Compelling topic sentences to hook your reader? Strong supporting sentences to back up your reasoning? Have you avoided clichés? Do you vary your sentence structure and word choice? Does the text flow and keep the reader engaged? Last, but not least, have you checked and double-checked your grammar, punctuation, and spelling?

5. Draft, Edit, Edit, Edit, Polish

Writing is an iterative process so give yourself the time necessary to land on the best approach for explaining why you are deserving of the NHS honor. There are many ways to tackle an essay. Try a few to determine which is the most effective. Then, when you determine the best approach and are satisfied with your latest draft, share it with someone whose opinion you value. 

Looking for someone to read over your essay? Check out Collegevine’s free essay help ! Our peer review system will help you get feedback from other students so that you can improve your NHS essay and college essays.

While there is not a single template for a strong essay, here is an example of an NHS essay written by an 11th-grade student who was accepted into NHS.

Success is not only about improving yourself, but also about improving life for others. While my GPA shows my commitment to academics, how I spend my time and conduct myself outside of school reveal my commitment to making the world a better place, consistent with the values of the National Honor Society. 

For the two years my grandfather lived in a nursing home, each weekend I took my dog EJ to visit him. I witnessed first-hand the healing power of animals as EJ lifted his and the other residents’ spirits. Because of this experience and because monkeys are my favorite animal, when I heard about Helping Hands (HH), the only organization in the world that raises capuchin monkeys to be live-in assistants to people with spinal cord injuries, I reached out to volunteer. 

Both in the summer and during the school year, I assist the trainers. Monkeys begin training when they are teenagers. It typically takes three to five years until they are ready to be placed with a person. My first job is to clean the cages of 60 monkeys. (Not my favorite responsibility.) I also prepare meals and construct and distribute dexterity “toys.” 

While not glamorous, my work is critical to the success of the initiative. The physical support the monkeys provide is unbelievable. They turn pages of books, scratch itches, pour water, and retrieve dropped items… Most importantly, I have seen the life-changing impact a monkey’s companionship has on a partner, including a college-age student confined to a wheelchair after a spinal cord injury from hockey. 

In the spring, summer, and fall I also volunteer at Gaining Ground (GG), a non-profit that grows organic produce to donate to food pantries, shelters, and meal programs. When I volunteered at a local food pantry, it struck me that recipients receive mostly canned and packaged food. I think it is important that people in need receive fresh fruits and vegetables, and I enjoy the physical work of weeding, harvesting, cleaning, and packing produce.

Soon after I began volunteering at GG, my rabbi gave a sermon about the working conditions of tomato farmers in Florida. (It reminded me of Grapes of Wrath, and I couldn’t believe inhumane practices continue.) Her sermon motivated me to support the Coalition of Immokalee Workers by distributing postcards urging Trader Joe’s and Stop & Shop to only buy tomatoes from farms that agree to fair wages and human rights. Both chains have now agreed, showing that a little effort by many people makes a difference.

Last, I believe a story is the best way to explain my “behind-the-scenes” leadership. At the annual nighttime football game, one of my soccer teammates (not someone I hang with) was drunk. When our principal came over to the bleachers, my teammate’s friends fled. Concerned that my teammate would fall and hurt herself, I brought her outside the stadium, called her parents, and waited with her until they came — without worrying about social retribution. Despite getting grounded, she thanked me for my help.

I would be honored to be recognized by NHS for my service, leadership, and character. Thank you for your consideration.

The time you invest in composing an effective NHS essay will help you when you’re ready to write your college essays! Essays are important components of applications to selective colleges. Getting into NHS is also an honor that may boost your application at some schools. Remember, you can estimate your chance for acceptance using Collegevine’s free chancing calculator . This tool will factor in your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and more to calculate your odds of admission at hundreds of schools across the country.

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National Honor Society (NHS) Essay Examples & Expert Advice

July 8, 2023

Every year, high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors write National Honor Society essays in the hopes of becoming a member. It’s certainly an admirable recognition. Joining the ranks means partaking in an interscholastic tradition alongside future movers and shakers. Past National Honor Society (NHS) members have consisted of Olympians, astronauts, senators, neurosurgeons, Nobel prize winners, Navy admirals, and more. Some of the more celebrity-famous NHS-ers include journalist Katie Couric, writer, and comedian Tina Fey, and poet Robert Warren Penn. Former first lady Michelle Obama, of course. Even Taylor Swift joined the NHS in high school. You can bet her songwriting skills came in handy for the National Honor Society essay. Intimidated? Don’t be. View our NHS essay example below as well as our more general advice for the National Honor Society essay.

Before composing your own NHS essay, you may want to ask yourself, “Why should I join NHS ?” Your answer to this question will help determine if, and how, you should craft a relevant NHS essay.

The NHS in Brief

It all began with a high school principal in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who founded the National Honor Society in 1921. Today, this hundred-and-two-year-old society boasts local chapters in all 50 U.S. states and territories. It also has chapters in American and international schools abroad. Membership, open to select high school students, can open doors to interesting service and leadership opportunities. In fact, service and leadership form the cornerstone of NHS.

The one million plus students who participate in the NHS yearly have service and leadership in common. That’s because the NHS requires demonstrated community service, and demonstrated leadership. It also requires a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (though this number varies depending on the chapter) and demonstrated good character. You’ll want to check your local chapter’s specific guidelines when beginning the NHS application.

Other reasons to join the NHS include gaining access to the NHS network, an array of college planning tools, and the chance to apply for hefty scholarships. These perks naturally make for a competitive acceptance rate. So, the best way to make your application stand out involves crafting a stunning NHS essay. Here’s how.

Quick Tips for Drafting the National Honor Society Essay

1) Structure your NHS essay around the NHS Pillars: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. A high GPA acts as an indicator of your “scholarship”, or dedication to academia. This pillar must appear in your essay as well, in the form of impeccable writing skills. Demonstrate your service and leadership through the content of your essay. In other words, service and leadership form the action, or plot, of your essay. Finally, infuse your character throughout your essay, by showing how your behavior indicates your values and integrity.

2) Write from your heart, and make your NHS essay personal. The most memorable essays rely on a sincere writing voice and contain personal details. But note that by “personal,” I don’t mean you must share your deepest secrets. Rather, ground an event in your own experience by incorporating your emotions, thoughts, and sensations. This will make your essay unique to you.

3) Weave together a story; don’t make a list. As you tell your story, pull from your strongest experiences. Perhaps you have a handful of leadership and service roles. Pick only a few that say something about your interests and personality, and develop your story by threading these ideas together. While a list might look impressive, a story will come across as better crafted and more captivating. If, however, none of your service activities seem significant enough to single out and describe on their own, weave these activities together through a theme. For example, the theme could be how you overcame shyness to lead.

Quick Tips for Drafting the National Honor Society Essay, Continued

4) Mind your audience. In this case, your audience is your school’s faculty member who’s taken on the role of chapter adviser. You may want to meet with them ahead of time to let them know you’re applying. This initiative on your part will look impressive. Moreover, you can ask in person what they look for in an NHS essay. Certainly, they’ll want to know how you stand out from the other applicants. So, you’ll also want to keep your competition in mind. As with college application essays, the tone of your NHS essay should be polite, formal, and charismatic.

5) Brainstorm, draft, edit, and repeat. A National Honor Society essay isn’t written overnight. Once you have your initial ideas down on paper, return to the page for a round of editing. Ask yourself where you can expand and where you sound redundant. Look for common threads and themes to enhance. Create transition sentences between paragraphs. Revise your conclusion. Next, show your essay to someone you trust. Their feedback will indicate where your essay excels and where you need to improve.

NHS Essay Example

My grandmother, or Ma-Maw , was the kind of generous busybody who made six different pies for her granddaughters’ birthdays. She invited everyone on the block, so nothing went to waste. Once, when we both went to shovel up the last slice of pie, she laughed, and said, “ noblesse oblige .” She often spoke French, a Louisiana French foreign yet familiar to me. I didn’t think to ask what she’d meant. Did she think I was noble? Was that why I got to scarf down the last of the cherry pie?

Ma-Maw died the summer before I entered high school. I missed her terribly, long after my parents sold her house. Receiving her redirected mail felt like a blow. So many newsletters from Friends of the New Orleans Public Library! Since I loved books as much as Ma-Maw, I opened these up. Inside, I read about a partnership program, Start the Adventure in Reading (STAIR). They needed in-person volunteers to tutor second- and third-graders in reading.

Before I knew it, I was cracking open vocabulary books twice a week with a kid named Harper. When I wasn’t tutoring, I was lesson planning, going over Harper’s writing journal, and scouring shelves for more early reader books. This got me thinking about literacy in New Orleans. 39% of high school students my age have the reading level of a 5 th grader—or worse. Harper lived in a part of town that didn’t even have bookstores. Would she keep up her reading once the tutoring was over, despite the odds? I also thought about representation and accessibility. If Harper had more books about people like her, and if those books were all over the place, and easy to take home, would things change?

NHS Essay Example, Continued

Due to this newfound interest in advocating for literacy, I decided to build a Free Little Library (FLL). To do so, I needed help. That spring, I founded a school club, Reading the World, and convinced 8 members to join. Together, we dismantled one of Ma-Maw’s kitchen cabinets and incorporated other used materials to build an upcycled stand that could fit 20 books.

Next, we got in touch with the program Read for Color, which helps make BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other diverse and marginalized voices heard. I believe their initiative parallels our own, which is to provide a diversity of voices through language itself. Our FLL features books in Cajun French and Creole and works in translation. With permission, we installed the FLL outside Ma-Maw’s old home. For its inauguration, our club invited the local organizations Youth Empowerment Project, One Book One New Orleans, and Read in Color. We plan to collaborate with these groups next year.

Now a sophomore, I’ve continued literacy advocacy by volunteering at Alliance Française events. This has given me new ideas about how to run Reading the World. I’ve added monthly book club events. Furthermore, every club member tutors a STAIR student. Finally, we’ll visit local senior homes at Thanksgiving and Christmas and read to the residents.

Ma-Maw would be happy to hear I won the L’Union Française’s Prix d’Excellence this year. She’d be even more thrilled to see how I’ve shared her love of reading with my community. Now I understand noblesse oblige : if you believe you are someone of noble character, then you must act accordingly. This NHS motto was easy for Ma-Maw to follow. She gave everything and led by example. I plan to follow in her footsteps. It would be an immense honor to do so through the National Honor Society.

NHS Essay Example, Dissected

This National Honor Society essay succeeds for many reasons. First, the student structures her essay around the theme of language and literacy. (Perhaps she also captains her softball team and volunteers for the Red Cross. But the student has correctly judged that these elements would distract from her story.) Rather than list her achievements and service, the student builds every element into a journey. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It shows how the student evolved to be someone who wants to make a difference. The ending completes the story by circling back to the beginning, through the idea of “noblesse oblige.” The student also manages to state clearly her thesis: she deserves acceptance into the National Honor Society.

This student’s story also centers around an emotional current, that of the student’s grandmother. The reader wants to invest in the story more because of this emotional aspect. Literacy is clearly not a random activity, but a meaningful one for the student. Including a role model allows the student to avoid bragging by transferring her praise to her grandmother.

Finally, the tone of the essay is formal (“It would be an immense honor”). Meanwhile, the unique voice of the student comes through (“We both went to shovel up the last slice of pie”). She accurately cites the names of the organizations she’s involved with and uses specificity (such as her grandmother’s kitchen cabinets) to draw the reader in.

Finished Your National Honor Society Essay?

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Kaylen Baker

With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, spanish honor society for college applications.

I'm considering joining the Spanish Honor Society at my school, but I'm not sure if it's worth it or if it'll look good on my college applications. What do you guys think?

Joining the Spanish Honor Society can be a worthwhile addition to your college applications, primarily because it showcases your commitment to the Spanish language and might also provide opportunities for community service, leadership, and cultural experiences.

That said, keep in mind that it will likely fall into Tier 3 or Tier 4 of extracurriculars, which are less distinctive but still highlight your interests. For more on the 4 Tiers of Extracurricular Activities, check out this CollegeVine article: https://blog.collegevine.com/breaking-down-the-4-tiers-of-extracurricular-activities/

In terms of how it helps your applications, it's essential to reflect on what you hope to gain from being a part of the society. If you're passionate about learning and promoting the Spanish language, culture, and even the arts, this can be an excellent opportunity for you to bolster your high school experience and make a contribution to your school community.

Also, engaging in meaningful experiences related to Spanish language and culture through the Spanish Honor Society could provide you with material for college essays or demonstrate a continued interest in the subject, possibly as a minor or major in college.

However, simply joining the society and not taking on additional responsibilities like leadership roles or participating in events/trips might not have a significant impact on your application. Like with any extracurricular, your impact on the organization and the depth of your involvement are more important than just joining for the sake of adding an honor society to your list.

In summary, joining the Spanish Honor Society can be a valuable experience if you are genuinely interested in language and culture and plan to actively participate. It may not have a major impact on your college applications, but it will demonstrate your interest and commitment to the language, especially if you use it as a springboard to get involved further in related experiences.

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

How to write the National Honor’s Society Essay

Being recognized as a member of the National Honor Society (NHS) is a testament to a student’s academic achievements, leadership, and service in their community. The NHS recognizes outstanding high school students for their dedication and challenges them to develop further. An important component of the application process is the NHS essay, which is an opportunity for candidates to detail their accomplishments and explain how they align with the NHS’s core values. This essay plays a significant role in the selection process, as it allows the applicant to showcase the individual behind the grades and other achievements on paper. This blog post aims to demystify the writing process by providing step-by-step guidance on crafting a strong NHS essay. 

Understanding the NHS Essay

4 pillars of nhs, scholarship, polishing your essay, common mistakes to avoid with the national honor’s society essay, wrapping up.

Before diving into the pillars that form the backbone of the National Honor Society (NHS), it’s crucial to grasp what the NHS essay entails and what it aims to achieve. The NHS essay is more than just a writing sample; it is a narrative that encapsulates your journey, achievements, and the alignment of your personal values with the core principles of the NHS. This essay is your opportunity to communicate directly with the selection committee, offering a glimpse into who you are beyond your academic scores and extracurricular activities. The prompt for the NHS Essay is to detail how you represent the Four Pillars of NHS Membership: Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character in 300-500 words. In doing so, here are some key components that are good to include:

Personal Introduction: Begin with a brief introduction of yourself, highlighting your academic and personal background. This sets the stage for a deeper dive into your achievements and how they reflect the NHS values.

Impact and Personal Growth: Discuss the impact of your contributions on your community and personal growth. Reflect on how your actions have made a difference and what you may have learned from them. This will show the selection committee your potential for future leadership and service.

Future Plans and Contributions: Briefly outline how you plan to continue your commitment to the NHS’s principles by contributing both to the organization and to your community. This will underscore your dedication to the NHS’s mission.

Staying Authentic: Your essay should reflect your own authentic voice and perspective. The selection committee is solely interested in understanding who you are as an individual.

Alignment with NHS Values: It is important to explicitly detail how your experiences embody the NHS’s core values of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Rather than simply listing your accomplishments, delve deeper into how these experiences have shaped you and prepared you to contribute to the NHS while remaining as concise as possible.

When addressing the pillar of Scholarship in your National Honor Society essay, it is important to go further than just listing your academic achievements on paper. This section should detail your personal affinity for learning and intellectual growth. Highlight your areas of curiosity, your passion for gaining knowledge, and how you have been able to apply your knowledge outside of the classroom. Obviously you should discuss any academic awards or recognitions you have received, but also delve into how these accomplishments reflect your attitude towards learning.

In demonstrating Leadership, your writing should detail both formal leadership positions and informal leadership roles you have taken. Leadership is not just about being the head of a club or student organization: it is about influencing others positively, driving initiatives, and setting a good example in your community. Share specific instances where you led by example, overcame challenges, or motivated others toward a goal. Whether it’s captaining a sports team, leading a group project, or taking the initiative in organizing an event, include any instances that highlight your ability to lead.

The Service section of your essay is your chance to show how you have contributed to your community through volunteer work or service projects. Describe the types of service activities you have experience in, the impact these activities had on your community, and any other insights or knowledge you gained in the process. 

Reflecting on Character involves a deep dive into your the ethics and moral principles that guide you. The NHS values members who exhibit a strong character in both their personal and academic lives. Discuss situations where you’ve had to make difficult choices and/or stand up for what you believe in in the face of challenges. Your character is at the center of your personality, so share anecdotes that best illustrate how you personally embody the values the NHS holds dear ( like honesty, respect, and responsibility).

Crafting a strong conclusion for your essay is crucial in reinforcing your case for membership. This final section should serve as a summary of your narrative, reiterating how you align with the NHS’s core values of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Begin by concisely restating the key experiences and achievements you’ve discussed throughout the essay. Then, synthesize this information and emphasize your readiness to take on the responsibilities of NHS membership. Articulate a clear vision of how you intend to contribute to the NHS, drawing on specific examples from your past experiences to illustrate your capacity for leadership, service, and continued personal and academic growth.

Revision is a vital step in crafting a good NHS essay. It is imperative to revisit your essay with a critical eye, assessing the coherence of your writing and ensuring that each paragraph flows logically and smoothly to the next one. We recommend doing at least two drafts, and the more the merrier. Make sure your essay comprehensively details your achievements and character, and make adjustments to enhance your message’s delivery and effectiveness.

Simply Reiterating Your Resume: One of the most common mistakes is simply listing your academic achievements and other roles as one might on a resume and not delving into the experiences. Your writing should go beyond listing accomplishments, explaining how these experiences have effected you and/or how they might align with the NHS values.

Lack of Personal Reflection: Not including enough personal reflection on how your experiences have contributed to your growth or demonstrated your alignment with NHS values is a missed opportunity to show your unique perspective. Share insights into your personal journey, any challenges overcome, and how these experiences impacted you.

Ignoring the NHS Core Values: Each section of your essay should clearly relate to one or more of the NHS pillars: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. Failing to explicitly connect your experiences to these values will weaken your essay. Make sure to keep in mind how your experiences and actions embodied these core principles while you are writing.

Overlooking the Importance of Character: While it’s crucial to highlight your leadership, service, and academic achievements, neglecting to adequately address your character and personal ethics is a mistake. The NHS values integrity, honesty, and respect, so be sure to reflect on moments that have shaped your character.

Neglecting the Essay Structure: A well-organized essay that flows logically and linguistically from section to section is essential for clarity and impact. Jumping randomly between topics or cluttering your essay with too much information will confuse readers, and ultimately weaken your essay. Use a clear structure, with each paragraph smoothly transitioning to the next, ensuring your essay is coherent, and in turn, compelling.

Failing to Proofread: Grammar mistakes, typos, and awkward phrasing can distract from the content of your essay and give the impression of carelessness. Take the time to thoroughly proofread your essay, and write multiple drafts. Consider asking a teacher, parent, peer, or other mentor to review it for errors you might have missed.

Not Showing Authenticity: Trying to fit a perceived ideal or exaggerating experiences will come off as insincere. Be authentic in your writing. The NHS values honesty!

In conclusion, when writing your NHS essay, embrace the opportunity to not only detail your accomplishments but to give readers an understanding of what makes you unique. This essay is your stepping stone towards becoming a part of a community that values not just academic excellence, but the development of character and the commitment to making a difference in communities. Through your words, make it clear that you embody 4 central tenets of the NHS, but also document your unique perspective and how you personally will contribute to its mission. If you follow these steps and proofread effectively, you should be well on your way to producing an excellent NHS essay! Good luck!

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — National Honor Society — National Honor Society Application Essay

National Honor Society Application Essay

• Categories: National Honor Society

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Published: Mar 5, 2024

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