My name is Nicholas Giza, and I am currently a junior at Mass Academy. In my free time, I enjoy several activities including participating in Boy Scouts, building computers, skiing, and hanging out with my family. I am always looking into something new and the scope of my interests is always changing.
I am a member of Troop 182, Holden. As of right now, I am the Senior Patrol Leader (highest youth leadership position) and have been awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. Over the past several years as a Boy Scout, I have gone on many amazing trips, volunteered wherever possible, and learned many crucial life skills. As the Senior Patrol leader, I am responsible for organizing and running our weekly meetings while being a key voice between the Scouts and the adult leaders.
To become an Eagle Scout, there are several requirements, including time active as a leader, 21 merit badges, and the completion of a community project dubbed the “Eagle Project.” For my Eagle Project I rebuilt a 2-mile-long nature trail at an elementary school in Holden. In October of 2023, following a Board of Review, I was awarded Eagle Scout.
Some of my favorite trips include our annual hut trips and my high adventure trip. During the hut trips, we camp at the base of a mountain, hike up to an Appalachian Trail hut, and stay the night. These trips are physically challenging, but easily some of the best experiences I’ve ever had. My high adventure trip was a 6 day, 52 mile canoe journey across western New York. Once again, this trip was challenging, but very rewarding.
I also enjoy building and tinkering with computers. Over the past few years, I have rebuilt my own computer several times to optimize and improve performance. I also build computers for my family members. To me, learning how computers work is incredible. There are always new technologies to follow and learn about. Nothing compares to the satisfaction of successfully booting up a brand-new computer (although this rarely happens on the first try).
Skiing is my favorite winter activity. I ski with my grandfather, friends, and other family members as often as possible. In addition to freeskiing, I have participated in the Alpine Ski Race Team at Wachusett Regional High School and, while I was anything but an expert, I enjoyed the inherent camaraderie and support I received from my coach and teammates.
Family to me is everything. My family consists of me, my mom and dad, my brother, and my dogs. We are always doing something together whether it be never-ending yard work, watching TV, or traveling. To me, no time is more valuable than that spent with my family.
The majority of my junior year volunteering came from my involvement in the Boy Scouts. I got 26.5 hours this year helping out at four different Eagle projects. The first Eagle project that I volunteered at planted erosion resistant plants at a walking trail in Holden. In connection with Wachusett Greenways, this project aimed to preserve walking trails in Holden. Not only was this project fun, it was highly effective! The next project I helped out was involved with the same organization, Wachusett Greenways. This project setup fences adjacent to a bridge on a rail trail in Holden to keep walkers safe. I use this trail very frequently and have to say, the fences are beautiful and necessary! The third Eagle project I counted for volunteering hours was a blast! I helped a fellow scout craft a set of Adirondack chairs with a side table for a Church in Holden. The whole process took roughly eight hours. It was super rewarding to see the chairs outside which were able to provide church goers an opportunity to enjoy a previously unusable outdoor space. The last Eagle project I volunteered at during junior year set up birdhouses at a pond in Holden for bird watchers to enjoy. This project was an absolute blast as I got to help row the birdhouses to a small island on the pond, I could not have had more fun volunteering!
The other half of my volunteering hours came from various activities including STEM Week at the Abby Kelley Foster charter school. I had an absolute blast teaching kids about Darwinian evolution and the birds on the Galapagos Islands. I also helped lead an activity where we made spool racers: wooden spools propelled by elastic bands. Another volunteering opportunity I partook in was the December STEM Saturday where I helped run a whole bunch of super fun STEM activities at the Worcester Public Library. The last volunteering opportunity that I participated in during junior year was at the middle school WorSEF. I led some coloring activities with the middle schoolers to keep them occupied while the judges were deliberating. During this, I reaffirmed my confidence in my inability to draw!