By Esther Cui

   TPA senior Borislava Panayotova has earned the Congressional Award Gold Medal. 

   The Congressional Award is a program established by the U.S. Congress that challenges youth to explore their potential and expand their future. The requirements to earn the Gold Medal are strict; 400 hours of Public Service, 200 hours of Physical Fitness, 200 hours of Personal Development, and a five-day, four night Expedition/Exploration. The process, though demanding but also very rewarding, requires a minimum of two years to complete. 

   Borislava began when she was 13, volunteering for Teen Court, Feed My Starving Children, and Peer Tutoring at TPA. Teen Court is a project that has a real juvenile who has committed a misdemeanor judged by a jury of their peers. Borislava enjoyed this the most, saying, “I think it’s the most interesting out of all the other service projects I did and it really helped me learn a lot about the justice system!”  

   However, not everything was easy for her. She faced difficulties such as meeting the astounding requirements of 400 volunteer hours. She had multiple clubs and activities that made it harder to go out and volunteer more often. As a result, she had to go to FMSC an average of two times a week last school year. “That was definitely a challenge. But honestly, it ended up being kind of fun,” she said. 

   For her Expedition/Exploration, she went to Frankfurt, Germany to “experience a different culture and see how people lived outside of my small bubble world.” She visited a lot  of smaller towns around the city to see historical sights and an art museum. “I really loved that art museum, it was super fun!” 

   In the end, she realized that the Congressional Award Program helped her experience life and things she would’ve never done otherwise. She got to hear lots of diverse opinions and became a well-rounded person. 

   Her advice to those aiming for the same goal is to start early and be consistent. Don’t be scared to ask for help. “The whole process is very complicated and if I hadn’t gotten help from (former TPA students) Catherine Ross and Theresa O’Connor … I definitely would have failed.” 

   Even if it sounds tough, Borislava recommends that you try, even for the certificates or Bronze Medal, because it helps you get involved and find activities you enjoy long-term.