Molly Birkhimer '24 Recruiting Profile

I consider myself blessed to have grown up in the church, surrounded by people that have mentored me from a very young age. There are so many people that I have been led to on my journey with Christ and so many have told me I have a heart to serve. I have learned how each one of us has been given unique gifts that we are supposed to use to glorify our God. I believe that God has gifted me with the gift of service.

One way I have been able to demonstrate my gift is through mission trips. My first mission trip was in 2019 when I was 12 and we traveled to Nassau, Bahamas. I worked at a village with Haitian refugees. My team and I played games and spent quality time getting to know the locals, while also running a bible school for the children. This experience laid the foundation for my love of serving people. After this, I stayed involved in mission work on a local level with trips to Harrisburg and towns even closer to home.  This past year I was beyond blessed with the opportunity to travel across the globe to Zimbabwe, Africa with my best friend, Riley and a team of wonderful adults. We worked at local schools to build nutrition gardens and fish ponds so the students and teachers can have food for their daily meals during the school day. These resources are also sold to the local people to create profit for the schools. Both of these trips were life changing and helped me develop my skills for service, while also giving me a unique perspective of the blessings and advantages I enjoy in my own life.  

Another way that I have used my gift of service is through a summer camp called “Camp Parc.” This camp invites kids and adults with intellectual disabilities to enjoy a week long residential summer camp experience. I have been attending the camp with my mom since I was a young child, and at the age of 10 moved into a role as a peer mentor and at 13 began serving as a junior counselor.  I have also been a member of the Board of Directors for two years, where I have developed skills in responsibility, leadership, and communication.  In all of my roles at camp, my mission is to provide a safe and fun environment for individuals with an intellectual disability.  Each year, I work one on one with campers to help them with daily living skills and provide for their safety and welfare while they are at camp. I had a job to help them, but it is unreal how much they helped to appreciate friendship, diversity, and kindness. Camp Parc has opened my heart to show compassion and advocate for individuals with disabilities. 

I would like to think that if you asked anyone about Molly Birkhimer they would say that I have a servant's heart. I have no doubt that one of my gifts is to be of service to others and I am excited to see how God will use my gift in my future. I will continue to look for ways to serve in my neighborhood or across the world. The gift of service urged me to pursue experiences that have shaped me into the person I am and the person who will hopefully change peoples lives for the better.