how can i make a difference in society essay

Make a Difference: Change the World, Change Yourself

The relationship between society and individuals is closely connected, and what we do as individuals can have an impact on society as a whole. This means that the choices we make, both for ourselves and for others, can make a real difference in the world. However, many people who want to make a positive impact on the environment and society don’t know where to begin.

To help out, this article provides a guide for readers. It explains how acts of kindness can make us feel happier, and it offers seven practical ways that people can make a positive difference in the world.

CAN WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

According to Jane Goodall, we cannot get through one day without making a difference. The question is, what kind of a difference do we want to make?

We now have scientific proof that, the more we care about the happiness and wellbeing of our fellow humans, the happier we get . One pleasant side effect of making that kind of a difference is that, by changing the world around us, we change ourselves. And vice-versa. It is a “virtuous cycle.” So let’s get down to business and talk about three ways we can make a difference.

Top 7 Ways to make a  difference

Here are the top 7 ways to make a difference for your life and the world you live in:

Image shows top 7 ways to make a difference.

1. Volunteer your time

Giving back to your community can be a fulfilling way to contribute to the world around you. Volunteering also provides an opportunity to connect with others and build strong relationships .

2. Donate to charity

If you have financial resources to spare, consider donating to a cause that you care about. This could be a local charity or a larger organization that is working to make a difference in the world.

These are some of the most well known websites that provide opportunities to volunteer:

  • Volunteermatch
  • Pointsoflight

how can i make a difference in society essay

3. Practice gratitude 

Taking time to appreciate the good things in your life can help cultivate a positive mindset and increase happiness. Consider keeping a gratitude journal or simply taking a few moments each day to reflect on what you are thankful for.

4. Reduce your environmental harm  

Taking steps to reduce your environmental impact can help to create a healthier planet for future generations. Also, proactive behavior for protecting the planet can improve your happiness since it helps you to engage with Earth in a meaningful way . 

According to United Nations , simple changes like: 

  • Using public transportation
  • Consuming less water
  • Being a well informed consumer and so on can all make a difference.

5. Be kind to others 

Spreading positive vibes and emotions can make the world a happier place. Small acts of kindness can have a big impact on those around you. Whether it is: 

  • Complimenting a stranger
  • Helping a neighbor
  • Or simply smiling at someone who looks like they could use it. 

6. Learn about science of happiness

One of the most enjoyable ways of making a meaningful difference is to learn more about the new science of happiness (the focus of this website) and sharing insights with your loved ones . You will discover, or perhaps you have discovered, that depression and unhappiness are not only generated by the “wrong” DNA. Many people are digging their own “unhappiness hole” out of pure ignorance. They have no idea how much of an impact their actions, or life skills, have on their mood.

  • Practice self-care : Taking care of yourself is essential for your own happiness and well-being. This might include exercise, meditation, or simply taking time to do activities that you enjoy.

student taking science of happiness course

  • Speak up for what you believe in : Whether it’s writing to your elected officials, participating in a peaceful protest, or simply having a conversation with someone who holds different beliefs than you, speaking up for what you believe in can help to create positive change in the world.
  • Spread joy : Finally, don’t underestimate the power of spreading joy and positivity. Whether it’s through sharing a funny meme, sending a heartfelt message to a loved one, or simply expressing your enthusiasm for something you’re passionate about, spreading joy can help to make the world a happier place.

7. Learn about other cultures

Expanding your understanding of different cultures and perspectives can help to foster empathy and reduce prejudice. Consider reading books or watching films from other countries, or engaging in conversation with people from diverse backgrounds.

Act of Kindness

If you are too busy to volunteer, or you are looking for easier ways to make a difference, small acts of kindness can go a long way..and they are infectious! Acts of kindness not only bring happiness to those you assist, science shows that they can provide a big lift to your mood as well.  Randomactofkindness website is a treasure.

Finally, if you would like to make a difference with a few taps on your keyboard, please support our cause . We teach about depression prevention (a leading cause of opioid abuse) in schools .

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Further Readings

We offer several articles that introduce habits practiced by happy individuals. Here, we have selected three of them for you.

  • Relationships and Happiness
  • Unique Strengths & Happiness
  • The Philosophical Basis of Caring, Compassion, and Interdependence

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Making The World a Better Place — How Can I Make a Difference in the World

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How Can I Make a Difference in The World

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Published: Sep 12, 2023

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Introduction, personal choices and actions, community involvement, global initiatives and advocacy.

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how can i make a difference in society essay

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The Conversation: Social Impact and Making a Difference in the World

how can i make a difference in society essay

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The well-being of the community. This is where thinking about having a social impact begins. In the midst of a persistent global pandemic, social-impact projects have taken on even greater meaning, from addressing health concerns and economic challenges, to education access and small business struggles.

Ronit B., a high school junior in California, took one look around his community this spring and saw vulnerability. His favorite local restaurants were shutting down or going on life support due to COVID-19 restrictions that limited customers.

Soon after, he and some classmates started a nonprofit to help restaurant workers who have been laid off or sidelined during the economic downturn. Ronit says his organization has worked with more than 40 displaced restaurant employees to help them find jobs and even generate income by selling food from new locations. “I’ve come to realize that creating a social impact is so much more than simply raising and donating funds,” notes Ronit. “Creating a social impact is about empowering people and communities and making their livelihoods sustainable.”

Ronit further explored his social impact interests, as well as his passion for finance, marketing , politics and international business, this past summer during Wharton Global Youth Program’s Future of the Business World course. Outside of the business coursework, he and other high school students – including Adya A., founder of Books n Beyond – met weekly to discuss their non-profit organizations.

“Values matter a whole lot. If you’re interested in social impact, do a values check-in with yourself or your friends once a year. What are you passionate about? What do you want to learn about? What will stimulate you in your career?” — Katherine Klein, Vice Dean, Wharton Social Impact Initiative

As these students learned, the relationship between business and social impact has deepened in recent years, giving rise to new non-profit organizations, as well as for-profit businesses that want to make money, while also making the world a better place.

Katherine Klein , the vice dean of the Wharton Social Impact Initiative, spends most of her days studying and innovating at this intersection between business and social impact. The Social Impact Initiative, which cuts across all business areas of Wharton, is about “looking at how business and finance can contribute to making the world a better, more inclusive and sustainable place,” she says.

Klein recently discussed social impact with us, drilling down on four key questions about changing the world as a businessperson and the path you must take to make that happen:

Wharton Global Youth : What is social impact?

Katherine Klein : Some people argue that, ‘Hey, don’t all businesses have social impact?’ And they do. They have impact on the lives of the people they employ and their communities, and so on. We tend to define social impact as doing the greater good that goes beyond standard business practices. Particularly, we define social impact around using the framework from the United Nations : the Sustainable Development Goals . There are 17 SDGs, as they’re called. Many nations around the world have signed on to the SDGs with a goal of achieving these standards by 2030. For example, the first one is No Poverty.

The SDGs focus on three broad goals. One is basic needs. Do people in the U.S. and around the world have access to healthy food, clean water, safety, freedom from violence, crime and war, and a roof over their heads? Second, is providing real opportunities for people who don’t ordinarily have those opportunities — greater access. And the third is environmental sustainability . Anything that makes this world a healthier, more sustainable place for the planet. So, meeting basic needs; creating opportunities for those who don’t have them, often around education and jobs and inclusion ; and improving the environment. When we talk about business social impact, we’re interested in businesses that are contributing in some way to those three goals.

how can i make a difference in society essay

Wharton Global Youth : We’ve talked in the past about impact investing and thinking about finance and social impact . How does the Wharton Social Impact Initiative teach in other areas of business outside of finance?

Klein : My social impact class for undergraduate students takes a deep-dive focus on two social issues every year. The two we have been doing are barriers to college access and completion, and the other is barriers to employment following incarceration. One of the things I love about this class is that I bring in expert speakers every class session. I’m bringing in research experts on these topics to talk about who applies to college? Do they know about financial aid? If they get into college, do they actually go? I bring in for-profit and non-profit leaders who are working in this space. What are the most innovative, interesting companies doing around education? What are the non-profit leaders doing about education? I do the same things around barriers to employment following incarceration. It’s so important to understand the social issues and really understand the research evidence on these topics, and then meet with leaders who are trying to make a difference in this space.

Wharton Global Youth : What does it mean when a company is described as having a triple bottom line?

Klein : The triple bottom line [has three components]. First, the company is performing well financially, which is the standard bottom line. The second bottom line is social performance and how the company treats employees. How does it engage in the community? And the third is the environmental performance: how does the company perform environmentally? A small company that is endeavoring to be strong on the triple bottom line was founded by [Gabriel Mandujano], a University of Pennsylvania and Wharton graduate, and is called Wash Cycle Laundry. This company tries to make money by doing laundry for commercial companies and U Penn hospitals and hotels. It washes that laundry and towels in a clean, non-polluting way. And it delivers in Philadelphia on bicycles. So, people on bicycles are coming around with these big baskets to pick up the laundry and return the laundry to customers. The people who Wash Cycle employs would be difficult to employ otherwise. They may have criminal records, or may have been unemployed for a long time or homeless. So, the social piece is: who are we hiring and supporting and creating jobs for? The environmental piece is: we’re using bicycles and stopping pollution. And the financial returns piece is: we want to make money doing that. That is an example of a small company that is very committed to the triple bottom line.

Wharton Global Youth : What advice do you have for students who want to pursue business and social impact?

Klein : Values matter a whole lot. If you’re interested in social impact, do a values check-in with yourself or your friends once a year. What are you passionate about? What do you want to learn about? What will make you feel proud of yourself? What will stimulate you in your career? Check to see if you’re living true to your values. As you think about college [and maybe want to study business], make sure that you are taking classes where you are learning about the social and environmental issues that really matter to you. If you care about making the oceans safer and cleaner, then take a lot of oceanography. One of the mistakes that I see is that there is an arrogance that can come with business. People think, ‘Well, If you only had a business mindset, of course you could solve that problem.’ Not true. These are not easy problems to solve. You need to understand the issues. If you’re really interested in gender and women’s rights, then make sure you learn about sexism and are taking gender-theory classes and are studying gender dynamics in countries around the world. That marriage of deep knowledge about a social or environmental issue and business is really good.

how can i make a difference in society essay

Related Links

  • Wharton Summer High School Programs
  • The Turner Social Impact Society
  • Wharton Social Impact Initiative
  • Wash Cycle Laundry
  • Wharton Impact Venture Associates

Conversation Starters

According to Professor Katherine Klein, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are a blueprint for social impact. Check out the list of 17 goals and click on the link in this article to better understand what each goal involves. Which goals and social issues would you keep on the list? What would you take away? What would you add?

What is Wash Cycle Laundry and how does it reflect a company with a triple bottom line?

Are you endeavoring to have a social impact, either by running a non-profit organization or for-profit business? Or maybe you have benefited from a social-impact initiative? What does social impact mean to you? Describe your experience in the comment section of this article.

One comment on “ The Conversation: Social Impact and Making a Difference in the World ”

Currently, only about 15% of water bottles are recycled. Each year, 28 billion bottles are consumed across the world. That leaves almost 24 billion water bottles to be dumped in landfills across the world. This creates a great deal of waste that puts enormous pressure on our planet’s environment.

How about cutting out bottled water altogether? That’s right cutting out bottled water will save the environment. Companies should embrace and promote eco-friendly products that are sustainable and thrive more towards environmentally friendly.

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Tiny Buddha

“The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.” ~Socrates

When I started Tiny Buddha, my main goal was to make a positive difference. I think that’s a goal many of us share.

I’ve stumbled upon countless blog and books written by people who say their purpose in life is to help people.

I suspect it’s how most of us infuse our lives with meaning: trying to somehow leave the world a better place than we found it.

I recently read a somewhat old blog post by ex-Microsoft employee Scott Berkun that got me thinking about this collective fascination with making a difference in the world. He wrote:

“We rarely need big things. As soon as someone starts talking about changing the world or radically reinventing something odds are good he’s talking from his ego, not his heart. Unless he’s working on bringing safety to the scared, health to the sick, or opportunity to the poor, the reinvention serves a want (or an ego), not a need.”

He went to explain how on his last day at Microsoft, he gave a lecture and one of his colleagues thanked him for the first time, saying he’d never expressed his admiration before because he assumed it was apparent. According to Scott:

“…it takes a better man to acknowledge goodness in others than it does to merely be good oneself. Anyone can criticize or accept praise, but initiating a positive exchange is a hallmark of a difference maker.”

What a beautiful idea. I couldn’t agree more.

Still, I don’t know if it’s possible to completely relinquish the ego, and I also don’t know if that’s a bad thing. I suspect some of the people who invented or reinvented “big things” to bring safety to the scared, health to the sick, or opportunity to the poor were, at least on some level, driven by the desire to be remembered for making a difference.

It’s human nature to want to create some type of legacy —to not just do good things but also be known for them. There’s no need to vilify that type of desire when you consider it’s primal in all of us.

So much is uncertain in life, particularly what happens after we die. We can’t understand or control where we’re going, but we can influence what we leave behind. Why feel guilty for natural human instincts when those same instincts contribute to a lot of the good in the world?

That being said, we can simultaneously make major contributions to society—both to help other people and feel good about our choices—while making a difference in our everyday lives. We can do things both large and small, for others and ourselves, every day if we choose to.

With that in mind, I recently asked on the Tiny Buddha Facebook page . Some of my favorite responses include:

1. Wake up. ~ Karen Maezen Miller

2. Make a difference in yourself, for the better. Such an inward difference always has rippling outward benefits. ~ Hansoul Kim

3. Remember there are three poisons: greed, anger, and ignorance. Do not deny their existence but turn them around and you have generosity, compassion, and wisdom. ~ Clifton Bradley

4. Make it a habit to respect everyone . ~ Margarita Medina

5. Consider the people you see each day. Sometimes I get wrapped up in things I am working on— fundraisers etc. But the coworker, family member, pet right next to you are the people you can truly reach and touch. ~Amy E. Moore

6. Operate from a place of love. ~ Erika Gonzalez

7. Be kind to others . In this busy world people become self consumed and forget that kindness goes a long way. ~ Ana Stuckart

8. Acknowledge the light within myself and in others. Not always easy to do but feels so powerful when I am able to do so. ~ Maria Thieme

9. Talk to someone that you think might be in distress. You may make the difference of a lifetime. ~ Alexander De Raadt St.James

10. Simply show up. Just put your soul into it. If you show up physically with the soles of your feet, the heart, mind, and soul will have a chance to follow or catch up. You may not want to be there in the beginning, but showing up allows a committed chance at making a difference everyday for the people you love, the people you will meet, and the eventual person you will become. Show up. ~Holli Grant

11. Smile. ~Seret Rafferty

12. Be more involved in the world. You can’t be spectator forever. ~ Christina Breeden

13. Be the change you wish to see in the world! ~ April Spears paraphrasing Gandhi

14. Be gentle and practice sympathetic joy. ~ Susan Cross

15. Start really listening to the people around you. Your family for example. People crave for attention. People feel loved when given attention.. Give love. And listening is an act of love. ~ Leoni Erica Tayamen

16. Listen. Give. Do. ~ Phyllis Fenander

17. Teach your kids by example ; be caring, open minded, have good manners and remember to smile. ~ Paivi McKittrick

18. Look into your child’s eyes. Stop what you are doing, sit down, and just look into them. Do that every day and you will change the world. ~ Noel Cocca

19. Be a true you…positive energy attracts. ~ Jane George

20. Love. ~ Stephen Kreins

21. I quote the great Horatio Lee Jenkins: “Don’t worry—everything is going to be awesome!” ~ Carl Dangers

22. Find someone that needs a smile and give them that smile, once a day for the rest of your life, and like a ripple in a pond it will be carried onwards. ~ SoulLife Searcher

23. Speak without saying a word. A lot can be said without words. ~ Ralph Rocha

24. Learn to be aware of all the wonder we have around us , let the past be in the past and not part of the future. Choose life every day, be grateful for whatever you have, and most important share, share, share—spread as much love as you can. ~ Lula Insfran

25. Hakuna mattata, one love, pay it forward. ~ Kerin Colby

How are you making a difference in the world?

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About Lori Deschene

Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She’s also the author of  Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal , Tiny Buddha's Worry Journal , and Tiny Buddha's Inner Strength Journal  and co-founder of  Recreate Your Life Story , an online course that helps you let go of the past and live a life you love. For daily wisdom,  join the Tiny Buddha list here . You can also follow Tiny Buddha on  Facebook ,  Twitter , and  Instagram .

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Cultural Diversity Essay & Community Essay Examples

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If you’ve started to research college application requirements for the schools on your list, you might have come across the “cultural diversity essay.” In this guide, we’ll explore the cultural diversity essay in depth. We will compare the cultural diversity essay to the community essay and discuss how to approach these kinds of supplements. We’ll also provide examples of diversity essays and community essay examples. But first, let’s discuss exactly what a cultural diversity essay is. 

The purpose of the cultural diversity essay in college applications is to show the admissions committee what makes you unique. The cultural diversity essay also lets you describe what type of “ diversity ” you would bring to campus.

We’ll also highlight a diversity essay sample for three college applications. These include the Georgetown application essay , Rice application essay , and Williams application essay . We’ll provide examples of diversity essays for each college. Then, for each of these college essays that worked, we will analyze their strengths to help you craft your own essays. 

Finally, we’ll give you some tips on how to write a cultural diversity essay that will make your applications shine. 

But first, let’s explore the types of college essays you might encounter on your college applications. 

Types of College Essays

cultural diversity essay

College application requirements will differ among schools. However, you’ll submit one piece of writing to nearly every school on your list—the personal statement . A strong personal statement can help you stand out in the admissions process. 

So, how do you know what to write about? That depends on the type of college essay included in your college application requirements. 

There are a few main types of college essays that you might encounter in the college admissions process. Theese include the “Why School ” essay, the “Why Major ” essay, and the extracurricular activity essay. This also includes the type of essay we will focus on in this guide—the cultural diversity essay. 

“Why School” essay

The “Why School ” essay is exactly what it sounds like. For this type of college essay, you’ll need to underscore why you want to go to this particular school. 

However, don’t make the mistake of just listing off what you like about the school. Additionally, don’t just reiterate information you can find on their admissions website. Instead, you’ll want to make connections between what the school offers and how you are a great fit for that college community. 

“Why Major” essay

The idea behind the “Why Major ” essay is similar to that of the “Why School ” essay above. However, instead of writing about the school at large, this essay should highlight why you plan to study your chosen major.

There are plenty of directions you could take with this type of essay. For instance, you might describe how you chose this major, what career you plan to pursue upon graduation, or other details.

Extracurricular Activity essay

The extracurricular activity essay asks you to elaborate on one of the activities that you participated in outside of the classroom. 

For this type of college essay, you’ll need to select an extracurricular activity that you pursued while you were in high school. Bonus points if you can tie your extracurricular activity into your future major, career goals, or other extracurricular activities for college. Overall, your extracurricular activity essay should go beyond your activities list. In doing so, it should highlight why your chosen activity matters to you.

Cultural Diversity essay

The cultural diversity essay is your chance to expound upon diversity in all its forms. Before you write your cultural diversity essay, you should ask yourself some key questions. These questions can include: How will you bring diversity to your future college campus? What unique perspective do you bring to the table? 

Another sub-category of the cultural diversity essay is the gender diversity essay. As its name suggests, this essay would center around the author’s gender. This essay would highlight how gender shapes the way the writer understands the world around them. 

Later, we’ll look at examples of diversity essays and other college essays that worked. But before we do, let’s figure out how to identify a cultural diversity essay in the first place. 

How to identify a ‘cultural diversity’ essay

cultural diversity essay

So, you’re wondering how you’ll be able to identify a cultural diversity essay as you review your college application requirements. 

Aside from the major giveaway of having the word “diversity” in the prompt, a cultural diversity essay will ask you to describe what makes you different from other applicants. In other words, what aspects of your unique culture(s) have influenced your perspective and shaped you into who you are today?

Diversity can refer to race, ethnicity, first-generation status, gender, or anything in between. You can write about a myriad of things in a cultural diversity essay. For instance, you might discuss your personal background, identity, values, experiences, or how you’ve overcome challenges in your life. 

However, don’t feel limited in what you can address in a cultural diversity essay. The words “culture” and “diversity” mean different things to different people. Above all, you’ll want your diversity essays for college to be personal and sincere. 

How is a ‘community’ essay different? 

cultural diversity essay

A community essay can also be considered a cultural diversity essay. In fact, you can think of the community essay as a subcategory of the cultural diversity essay. However, there is a key difference between a community essay and a cultural diversity essay, which we will illustrate below. 

You might have already seen some community essay examples while you were researching college application requirements. But how exactly is a community essay different from a cultural diversity essay?

One way to tell the difference between community essay examples and cultural diversity essay examples is by the prompt. A community essay will highlight, well, community . This means it will focus on how your identity will shape your interactions on campus—not just how it informs your own experiences.

Two common forms to look out for

Community essay examples can take two forms. First, you’ll find community essay examples about your past experiences. These let you show the admissions team how you have positively influenced your own community. 

Other community essay examples, however, will focus on the future. These community essay examples will ask you to detail how you will contribute to your future college community. We refer to these as college community essay examples.

In college community essay examples, you’ll see applicants detail how they might interact with their fellow students. These essays may also discuss how students plan to positively contribute to the campus community. 

As we mentioned above, the community essay, along with community essay examples and college community essay examples, fit into the larger category of the cultural diversity essay. Although we do not have specific community essay examples or college community essay examples in this guide, we will continue to highlight the subtle differences between the two. 

Before we continue the discussion of community essay examples and college community essay examples, let’s start with some examples of cultural diversity essay prompts. For each of the cultural diversity essay prompts, we’ll name the institutions that include these diversity essays for college as part of their college application requirements. 

What are some examples of ‘cultural diversity’ essays? 

Now, you have a better understanding of the similarities and differences between the cultural diversity essay and the community essay. So, next, let’s look at some examples of cultural diversity essay prompts.

The prompts below are from the Georgetown application, Rice application, and Williams application, respectively. As we discuss the similarities and differences between prompts, remember the framework we provided above for what constitutes a cultural diversity essay and a community essay. 

Later in this guide, we’ll provide real examples of diversity essays, including Georgetown essay examples, Rice University essay examples, and Williams supplemental essays examples. These are all considered college essays that worked—meaning that the author was accepted into that particular institution. 

Georgetown Supplementals Essays

cultural diversity essay

Later, we’ll look at Georgetown supplemental essay examples. Diversity essays for Georgetown are a product of this prompt: 

As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you. 

You might have noticed two keywords in this prompt right away: “diverse” and “community.” These buzzwords indicate that this prompt is a cultural diversity essay. You could even argue that responses to this prompt would result in college community essay examples. After all, the prompt refers to the Georgetown community. 

For this prompt, you’ll want to produce a diversity essay sample that highlights who you are. In order to do that successfully, you’ll need to self-reflect before putting pen to paper. What aspects of your background, personality, or values best describe who you are? How might your presence at Georgetown influence or contribute to their diverse community? 

Additionally, this cultural diversity essay can be personal or creative. So, you have more flexibility with the Georgetown supplemental essays than with other similar diversity essay prompts. Depending on the direction you go, your response to this prompt could be considered a cultural diversity essay, gender diversity essay, or a college community essay. 

Rice University Essays

cultural diversity essay

The current Rice acceptance rate is just 9% , making it a highly selective school. Because the Rice acceptance rate is so low, your personal statement and supplemental essays can make a huge difference. 

The Rice University essay examples we’ll provide below are based on this prompt: 

The quality of Rice’s academic life and the Residential College System are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What personal perspective would you contribute to life at Rice? 

Breaking down the prompt.

Like the prompt above, this cultural diversity essay asks about your “life experiences,” “cultural traditions,” and personal “perspectives.” These phrases indicate a cultural diversity essay. Keep in mind this may not be the exact prompt you’ll have to answer in your own Rice application. However, future Rice prompts will likely follow a similar framework as this diversity essay sample.

Although this prompt is not as flexible as the Georgetown prompt, it does let you discuss aspects of Rice’s academic life and Residential College System that appeal to you. You can also highlight how your experiences have influenced your personal perspective. 

The prompt also asks about how you would contribute to life at Rice. So, your response could also fall in line with college community essay examples. Remember, college community essay examples are another sub-category of community essay examples. Successful college community essay examples will illustrate the ways in which students would contribute to their future campus community. 

Williams Supplemental Essays

cultural diversity essay

Like the Rice acceptance rate, the Williams acceptance rate is also 9% . Because the Williams acceptance rate is so low, you’ll want to pay close attention to the Williams supplemental essays examples as you begin the writing process. 

The Williams supplemental essays examples below are based on this prompt: 

Every first-year student at Williams lives in an Entry – a thoughtfully constructed microcosm of the student community that’s a defining part of the Williams experience. From the moment they arrive, students find themselves in what’s likely the most diverse collection of backgrounds, perspectives, and interests they’ve ever encountered. What might differentiate you from the 19 other first-year students in an Entry? What perspective would you add to the conversation with your peer(s)?

Reflecting on the prompt.

Immediately, words like “diverse,” “backgrounds,” “perspectives,” “interests,” and “differentiate” should stand out to you. These keywords highlight the fact that this is a cultural diversity essay. Similar to the Rice essay, this may not be the exact prompt you’ll face on your Williams application. However, we can still learn from it.

Like the Georgetown essay, this prompt requires you to put in some self-reflection before you start writing. What aspects of your background differentiate you from other people? How would these differences impact your interactions with peers? 

This prompt also touches on the “student community” and how you would “add to the conversation with your peer(s).” By extension, any strong responses to this prompt could also be considered as college community essay examples. 

Community Essays

All of the prompts above mention campus community. So, you could argue that they are also examples of community essays. 

Like we mentioned above, you can think of community essays as a subcategory of the cultural diversity essay. If the prompt alludes to the campus community, or if your response is centered on how you would interact within that community, your essay likely falls into the world of college community essay examples. 

Regardless of what you would classify the essay as, all successful essays will be thoughtful, personal, and rich with details. We’ll show you examples of this in our “college essays that worked” section below. 

Which schools require a cultural diversity or community essay? 

Besides Georgetown, Rice, and Williams, many other college applications require a cultural diversity essay or community essay. In fact, from the Ivy League to HBCUs and state schools, the cultural diversity essay is a staple across college applications. 

Although we will not provide a diversity essay sample for each of the colleges below, it is helpful to read the prompts. This will build your familiarity with other college applications that require a cultural diversity essay or community essay. Some schools that require a cultural diversity essay or community essay include New York University , Duke University , Harvard University , Johns Hopkins University , and University of Michigan . 

New York University

cultural diversity essay

NYU listed a cultural diversity essay as part of its 2022-2023 college application requirements. Here is the prompt:

NYU was founded on the belief that a student’s identity should not dictate the ability for them to access higher education. That sense of opportunity for all students, of all backgrounds, remains a part of who we are today and a critical part of what makes us a world class university. Our community embraces diversity, in all its forms, as a cornerstone of the NYU experience. We would like to better understand how your experiences would help us to shape and grow our diverse community.

Duke university.

cultural diversity essay

Duke is well-known for its community essay: 

What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well.

cultural diversity essay

A top-ranked Ivy League institution, Harvard University also has a cultural diversity essay as part of its college application requirements: 

Harvard has long recognized the importance of student body diversity of all kinds. We welcome you to write about distinctive aspects of your background, personal development, or the intellectual interests you might bring to your Harvard classmates.

Johns hopkins university.

cultural diversity essay

The Johns Hopkins supplement is another example of a cultural diversity essay: 

Founded in the spirit of exploration and discovery, Johns Hopkins University encourages students to share their perspectives, develop their interests, and pursue new experiences. Use this space to share something you’d like the admissions committee to know about you (your interests, your background, your identity, or your community), and how it has shaped what you want to get out of your college experience at Hopkins. 

University of michigan.

cultural diversity essay

The University of Michigan requires a community essay for its application: 

Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong and describe that community and your place within it. 

Community essay examples.

The Duke and Michigan prompts are perfect illustrations of community essay examples. However, they have some critical differences. So, if you apply to both of these schools, you’ll have to change the way you approach either of these community essays. 

The Duke prompt asks you to highlight why you are a good match for the Duke community. You’ll also see this prompt in other community essay examples. To write a successful response to this prompt, you’ll need to reference offerings specific to Duke (or whichever college requires this essay). In order to know what to reference, you’ll need to do your research before you start writing. 

Consider the following questions as you write your diversity essay sample if the prompt is similar to Duke University’s

  • What values does this college community have? 
  • How do these tie in with what you value? 
  • Is there something that this college offers that matches your interests, personality, or background?  

On the other hand, the Michigan essay prompt asks you to describe a community that you belong to as well as your place within that community. This is another variation of the prompt for community essay examples. 

To write a successful response to this prompt, you’ll need to identify a community that you belong to. Then, you’ll need to think critically about how you interact with that community. 

Below are some questions to consider as you write your diversity essay sample for colleges like Michigan: 

  • Out of all the communities you belong to, which can you highlight in your response? 
  • How have you impacted this community? 
  • How has this community impacted you?

Now, in the next few sections, we’ll dive into the Georgetown supplemental essay examples, the Rice university essay examples, and the Williams supplemental essays examples. After each diversity essay sample, we’ll include a breakdown of why these are considered college essays that worked. 

Georgetown Essay Examples

cultural diversity essay

As a reminder, the Georgetown essay examples respond to this prompt: 

As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you.

Here is the excerpt of the diversity essay sample from our Georgetown essay examples: 

Georgetown University Essay Example

The best thing I ever did was skip eight days of school in a row. Despite the protests of teachers over missed class time, I told them that the world is my classroom. The lessons I remember most are those that took place during my annual family vacation to coastal Maine. That rural world is the most authentic and incredible classroom where learning simply happens and becomes exponential. 

Years ago, as I hunted through the rocks and seaweed for seaglass and mussels, I befriended a Maine local hauling her battered kayak on the shore. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, I had found a kindred spirit in Jeanne. Jeanne is a year-round resident who is more than the hard working, rugged Mainer that meets the eye; reserved and humble in nature, she is a wealth of knowledge and is self-taught through necessity. With thoughtful attention to detail, I engineered a primitive ramp made of driftwood and a pulley system to haul her kayak up the cliff. We diligently figured out complex problems and developed solutions through trial and error.

After running out of conventional materials, I recycled and reimagined items that had washed ashore. We expected to succeed, but were not afraid to fail. Working with Jeanne has been the best classroom in the world; without textbooks or technology, she has made a difference in my life. Whether building a basic irrigation system for her organic garden or installing solar panels to harness the sun’s energy, every project has shown me the value of taking action and making an impact. Each year brings a different project with new excitement and unique challenges. My resourcefulness, problem solving ability, and innovative thinking have advanced under her tutelage. 

While exploring the rocky coast of Maine, I embrace every experience as an unparalleled educational opportunity that transcends any classroom environment. I discovered that firsthand experience and real-world application of science are my best teachers. In school, applications of complex calculations and abstract theories are sometimes obscured by grades and structure. In Maine, I expand my love of science and renourish my curious spirit. I am a highly independent, frugal, resilient Mainer living as a southern girl in NC. 

Why this essay worked

This is one of the Georgetown supplemental essay examples that works, and here’s why. The author starts the essay with an interesting hook, which makes the reader want to learn more about this person and their perspective. 

Throughout the essay, the author illustrates their intellectual curiosity. From befriending Jeanne and creating a pulley system to engineering other projects on the rocky coast of Maine, the author demonstrates how they welcome challenges and work to solve problems. 

Further, the author mentions values that matter to them—taking action and making an impact. Both facets are also part of Georgetown’s core values . By making these connections in their essay, the author shows the admissions committee exactly how they would be a great fit for the Georgetown community. 

Finally, the author uses their experience in Maine to showcase their love of science, which is likely the field they will study at Georgetown. Like this writer, you should try to include most important parts of your identity into your essay. This includes things like life experiences, passions, majors, extracurricular activities for college, and more. 

Rice University Essay Examples

cultural diversity essay

The Rice University essay examples are from this prompt: 

The quality of Rice’s academic life and the Residential College System are heavily influenced by the unique life experiences and cultural traditions each student brings. What personal perspective would you contribute to life at Rice? (500-word limit)

Rice university essay example.

Like every applicant, I also have a story to share. A story that makes me who I am and consists of chapters about my life experiences and adventures. Having been born in a different country, my journey to America was one of the most difficult things I had ever experienced. Everything felt different. The atmosphere, the places, the food, and especially the people. Everywhere I looked, I saw something new. Although it was a bit overwhelming, one thing had not changed.

The caring nature of the people was still prevalent in everyday interactions. I was overwhelmed by how supportive and understanding people were of one another. Whether it is race, religion, or culture, everyone was accepted and appreciated. I knew that I could be whoever I wanted to be and that the only limitation was my imagination. Through hard work and persistence I put my all in everything that I did. I get this work ethic from my father since he is living proof that anything can be accomplished with continued determination. Listening to the childhood stories he told me, my dad would reminisce about how he was born in an impoverished area in a third world country during a turbulent and unpredictable time.

Even with a passion for learning, he had to work a laborious job in an attempt to help his parents make ends meet. He talked about how he would study under the street lights when the power went out at home. His parents wanted something better for him, as did he. Not living in America changed nothing about their work ethic. His parents continued to work hard daily, in an attempt to provide for their son. My dad worked and studied countless hours, paying his way through school with jobs and scholarships. His efforts paid off when he finally moved to America and opened his own business. None of it would have been possible without tremendous effort and dedication needed for a better life, values that are instilled within me as well, and this is the perspective that I wish to bring to Rice. 

This diversity essay sample references the author’s unique life experiences and personal perspective, which makes it one example of college essays that worked. The author begins the essay by alluding to their unique story—they were born in a different country and then came to America. Instead of facing this change as a challenge, the author shows how this new experience helped them to feel comfortable with all kinds of people. They also highlight how their diversity was accepted and appreciated. 

Additionally, the author incorporates information about their father’s story, which helps to frame their own values and where those values came from. The values that they chose to highlight also fall in line with the values of the Rice community. 

Williams Supplemental Essay Examples

cultural diversity essay

Let’s read the prompt that inspired so many strong Williams supplemental essays examples again: 

Every first-year student at Williams lives in an Entry—a thoughtfully constructed microcosm of the student community that’s a defining part of the Williams experience. From the moment they arrive, students find themselves in what’s likely the most diverse collection of backgrounds, perspectives and interests they’ve ever encountered. What might differentiate you from the 19 other first-year students in an entry? What perspective(s) would you add to the conversation with your peers?

Williams college essay example.

Through the flow in my head

See you clad in red

But not just the clothes

It’s your whole being

Covering in this sickening blanket

Of heat and pain

Are you in agony, I wonder?

Is this the hell they told me about?

Have we been condemned?

Reduced to nothing but pain

At least we have each other

In our envelopes of crimson

I try in vain

“Take my hands” I shriek

“Let’s protect each other, 

You and me, through this hell”

My body contorts

And deforms into nothingness

You remain the same

Clad in red

With faraway eyes

You, like a statue

Your eyes fixed somewhere else

You never see me

Just the red briefcase in your heart

We aren’t together

It’s always been me alone

While you stand there, aloof, with the briefcase in your heart.

I wrote this poem the day my prayer request for the Uighur Muslims got denied at school. At the time, I was stunned. I was taught to have empathy for those around me. Yet, that empathy disappears when told to extend it to someone different. I can’t comprehend this contradiction and I refuse to. 

At Williams, I hope to become a Community Engagement Fellow at the Davis Center. I hope to use Williams’ support for social justice and advocacy to educate my fellow classmates on social issues around the world. Williams students are not just scholars but also leaders and changemakers. Together, we can strive to better the world through advocacy.

Human’s capability for love is endless. We just need to open our hearts to everyone. 

It’s time to let the briefcase go and look at those around us with our real human eyes.

We see you now. Please forgive us.

As we mentioned above, the Williams acceptance rate is incredibly low. This makes the supplemental essay that much more important. 

This diversity essay sample works because it is personal and memorable. The author chooses to start the essay off with a poem. Which, if done right, will immediately grab the reader’s attention. 

Further, the author contextualizes the poem by explaining the circumstances surrounding it—they wrote it in response to a prayer request that was denied at school. In doing so, they also highlight their own values of empathy and embracing diversity. 

Finally, the author ends their cultural diversity essay by describing what excites them about Williams. They also discuss how they see themselves interacting within the Williams community. This is a key piece of the essay, as it helps the reader understand how the author would be a good fit for Williams. 

The examples provided within this essay also touch on issues that are important to the author, which provides a glimpse into the type of student the author would be on campus. Additionally, this response shows what potential extracurricular activities for college the author might be interested in pursuing while at Williams. 

How to Write a Cultural Diversity Essay

You want your diversity essay to stand out from any other diversity essay sample. But how do you write a successful cultural diversity essay? 

First, consider what pieces of your identity you want to highlight in your essay. Of course, race and ethnicity are important facets of diversity. However, there are plenty of other factors to consider. 

As you brainstorm, think outside the box to figure out what aspects of your identity help make up who you are. Because identity and diversity fall on a spectrum, there is no right or wrong answer here. 

Fit your ideas to the specific school

Once you’ve decided on what you want to represent in your cultural diversity essay, think about how that fits into the college of your choice. Use your cultural diversity essay to make connections to the school. If your college has specific values or programs that align with your identity, then include them in your cultural diversity essay! 

Above all, you should write about something that is important to you. Your cultural diversity essay, gender diversity essay, or community essay will succeed if you are passionate about your topic and willing to get personal. 

Additional Tips for Community & Cultural Diversity Essays

cultural diversity essay

1. Start Early

In order to create the strongest diversity essay possible, you’ll want to start early. Filling out college applications is already a time-consuming process. So, you can cut back on additional stress and anxiety by writing your cultural diversity essay as early as possible. 

2. Brainstorm

Writing a cultural diversity essay or community essay is a personal process. To set yourself up for success, take time to brainstorm and reflect on your topic. Overall, you want your cultural diversity essay to be a good indication of who you are and what makes you a unique applicant. 

3. Proofread

We can’t stress this final tip enough. Be sure to proofread your cultural diversity essay before you hit the submit button. Additionally, you can read your essay aloud to hear how it flows. You can also can ask someone you trust, like your college advisor or a teacher, to help proofread your essay as well.

Other CollegeAdvisor Essay Resources to Explore

Looking for additional resources on supplemental essays for the colleges we mentioned above? Do you need help with incorporating extracurricular activities for college into your essays or crafting a strong diversity essay sample? We’ve got you covered. 

Our how to get into Georgetown guide covers additional tips on how to approach the supplemental diversity essay. If you’re wondering how to write about community in your essay, check out our campus community article for an insider’s perspective on Williams College.

Want to learn strategies for writing compelling cultural diversity essays? Check out this Q&A webinar, featuring a former Georgetown admissions officer. And, if you’re still unsure of what to highlight in your community essay, try getting inspiration from a virtual college tour . 

Cultural Diversity Essay & Community Essay Examples – Final Thoughts

Your supplemental essays are an important piece of the college application puzzle. With colleges becoming more competitive than ever, you’ll want to do everything you can to create a strong candidate profile. This includes writing well-crafted responses for a cultural diversity essay, gender diversity essay, or community essay. 

We hope our cultural diversity essay guide helped you learn more about this common type of supplemental essay. As you are writing your own cultural diversity essay or community essay, use the essay examples from Georgetown, Rice, and Williams above as your guide. 

Getting into top schools takes a lot more than a strong resume. Writing specific, thoughtful, and personal responses for a cultural diversity essay, gender diversity essay, or community essay will put you one step closer to maximizing your chances of admission. Good luck!

CollegeAdvisor.com is here to help you with every aspect of the college admissions process. From taking a gap year to completing enrollment , we’re here to help. Register today to receive one-on-one support from an admissions expert as you begin your college application journey.

how can i make a difference in society essay

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How Can One Person Make a Difference in the World (With Examples)

By: Author Valerie Forgeard

Posted on Published: February 20, 2022  - Last updated: April 6, 2022

Categories Inspiration , Leadership , Self Improvement

If you want to make a difference in the world and are frustrated because you can not make a difference, know that one person CAN make a big difference.

Do not fool yourself into thinking that no matter what you do, it will not make a difference, because that’s only partially true. It is true that you may change one life, but the ripple effect of your actions could affect many lives.

Examples of People Who Have Made a Difference in the World

Mahatma gandhi.

Mahatma Gandhi changed the world by leading India to independence from British rule. He was a pacifist who used peaceful methods of protest and persuasion and called his movement “Satyagraha,” a Sanskrit word meaning “the power of truth.”

Gandhi’s nonviolent struggle inspired many other leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, who used similar methods to lead movements for civil rights and against apartheid. His life also influenced generations of activists who brought about political change without violence through passive resistance. Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy is still making a huge impact on today’s society.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was a great leader who spent his entire adult life working for equality and justice in South Africa. Mandela inspired people around the world to fight for human rights.

Nelson Mandela believed that people can change their beliefs and actions if they are sufficiently informed and educated. He knew that violence would have set South Africa back even more, and he chose peace instead.

He advocated peaceful protests as a means to end racism and discrimination in South Africa and impact British bias of South African education.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, and that dream changed the United States of America for the better.

Martin Luther King Jr. was an influential figure in the civil rights movement. He is best known for using non-violent protests to gain equal rights for African Americans and is often considered one of the most important figures in the history of the United States.

Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa is known throughout the world for her virtues and the love she showed in serving the poor. She was a missionary who dedicated her life to helping the poor, the sick, the orphaned, and the dying, living among them in the slums of India.

She was loved by many people and respected for her work. She was a symbol of hope for poor people who had lost everything. Mother Teresa was a woman with a big heart who cared for those in need.

George Washington

George Washington changed the world because he was the first president of the United States. He has been called the “Father of Our Country” because he led America during its most critical years and set many important precedents for future presidents and for the nation, including defending the port city of New York. George Washington was also the only president to be elected unanimously.

Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist who has gained international recognition for arguing that humanity is facing an existential crisis due to climate change. At the age of 15, Greta Thunberg began advocating for action on global warming, and today she influences older and young people all over the world.

What Does It Mean to Make a Difference in the World?

The idea of making a difference in the world is not just an idealistic dream, but something that anyone can do. You do not have to be a special person to make a difference in the world, as many may think. It’s as simple as taking one step at a time to reach a goal.

You do not have to be a special person to change the world, as many may think. It is as simple as taking one step at a time to achieve a goal.

There are people who think you have to be rich or famous or come from a rich country to make a positive difference in the world, but that’s just not true. There are so many people who have accomplished great things without having any special powers or abilities. The one great thing they had was their own drive and determination to achieve what they set out to do.

The true definition of “making a difference” is that which makes the soul feel alive and the inner light shines brightest. The reason we want to “make a difference” is that when we do, we become happier – and often the people around us are happier, too.

How an Ordinary Person Can Make a Positive Difference in the World

I believe that every person can make a difference in the world. Because if each individual did just one good deed a day, and each of those deeds affected just one person, we could change the world.

So if you are worried about not having enough influence or power to make a huge impact on the world, do not be. The truth is that anyone can change the world!

Whether from a poor or rich country, every single person has the tools and skills necessary to make a difference in someone’s life. It’s how committed and passionate we are about using those tools and skills to make a difference that matters.

The most important thing to remember is that no matter who you are or what position you hold in life – YOU can make a difference too!

  • by being an example to others . You do not have to be a great leader or inspire thousands of people. If you can help just one person, your life is worth living.
  • by avoiding stress for others, help them overcome obstacles, and finding solutions to problems, you become a better person and the world becomes a better place.
  • by giving yourself confidence and trying new things . Even if you fail at something, do not let that stop you from trying again in a different way. The world needs more people who are not afraid of failure because they know they will succeed in the end.
  • by working hard and doing your best in your everyday life . If we all did our best every day, we would not have so many problems in this world!

How Can You Make a Difference in the World?

In the chaos of our daily lives, we can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the world and forget what we really want to do. How can an ordinary person like you or me ever make a difference? I have asked myself this question for years and have come to this conclusion:

You do not have to be extraordinary to make a difference. You do not have to be a billionaire or a genius to do good in this world. All you need is drive, passion and maybe a little money.

Making a difference does not have to be big or grandiose. I think that’s what makes it so great. There are so many things you can do to make a difference in the world. And they do not have to be big.

You can make a difference just by being there for someone when they need you most and helping them with their problems. Or you could make a difference by showing up to work on time every day with a smile on your face and doing your job well. You could make a difference by going to school every day and getting good grades, or by getting involved in your community by volunteering at the animal shelter or soup kitchen.

You can make a difference just by being nice to your fellow loved one(s) and treating him with kindness and respect. If everyone made an effort to do this, the world would be a much better place!

You can change the world by being kind to yourself and others, giving back where you can, helping others when needed, and volunteering for causes that are important to you, like environmental protection or local charities.

With the Right Attitude, Anything Can Be Achieved

If we want to achieve something, it’s not enough to wish for it. We have to do more than that. We have to take a step forward every day until we get to where we want to be. It’s a question of consistency, and for that, you need the right attitude.

Attitude is everything. It determines how you approach your problems and how you treat those around you. Attitude determines success or failure in life.

The right attitude can help you positively influence the world around you, while the wrong attitude can destroy everything, including yourself.

Related: What Are Positive Influences

Here are some ways you can make a difference:

Everyone is struggling with some kind of problem, and being kind does not cost you anything, but it can make someone else’s day better. Smile at someone who looks dejected on the bus, hold the door open for someone who has their hands full, compliment your neighbor on their garden, or offer to babysit for free so a single mom can get out of the house for a few hours.

Spread Positivity

If you want to help change the world for the better, you have to start with your thinking. It’s not about changing other people or the world, it’s about changing ourselves. As Gandhi said, “We must be the change we want to see in the world.”

One of the biggest problems in our society is that people are unhappy and it’s often apparent on social media. Many people are unhappy because they do not feel fulfilled and do not know how to find happiness and joy.

To be happy, you have to think positive thoughts and do positive things. When you are happy, it shows in your face and body language. A smile is an expression of happiness that can be easily recognized by others. Happiness can spread like a virus when it enters another person’s mind through a smile or other positive gesture.

Stop Complaining

Complaining will not help you in making a positive change. The more you complain, the less they’ll want to listen to you. And if they don’t listen to your complaints and ideas, they’ll stop taking them seriously.

If you want to make a big difference, stop complaining and start putting your complaints into action. Complaining can become an addiction – it’s easy and doesn’t take much effort – but it doesn’t help improve your life or make the world a better place.

Take Responsibility for Your Actions

When we blame others and don’t take responsibility for our actions, we relinquish our power and become victims of our circumstances and other people. We feel that we’ve no control over our lives and that others decide what happens to us.

Taking responsibility means accepting that we’re responsible for our lives, that we shape the outcomes we achieve in life by the actions we take or don’t take, by the way, we respond to situations and opportunities that come our way, and by the way, we exert and engage ourselves.

Helping People Without Expecting Anything in Return

We all have our own ways of dealing with people and situations. Some of us believe that respect must be earned, while others believe that respect is reciprocal. I’m a firm believer in the latter. I believe in respecting others without expecting anything in return.

Take Care of Yourself

You can’t be successful if you don’t take proper care of yourself and your mental health. Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want, whenever you want – that’s not sustainable or productive. Taking care of yourself means knowing what kind of fuel your body needs to get through your everyday life, avid stress, and making sure you get it. Try to eat healthily (which I don’t always succeed at), I make sure I drink enough water, and I exercise regularly.

Take Action

Whether you want to take on volunteer opportunities or make a big difference in a different way, from small acts that make a huge difference, taking action can really make an impact. But the first action to make a positive change starts with being a better person, first in your interactions with your loved one, followed by friends and family, and then in the world.

Don’t Give Up

When one door closes, a new one opens elsewhere. Don’t get discouraged or depressed if things don’t go as planned. There’s always another option that you may not have considered. Always remember: when one door closes, another one opens somewhere else!

Success Is a Mindset

You must believe in yourself and your ability to achieve a great thing. If you don’t, who will? Many people are too afraid to take risks, so they don’t even try. It’s hard to be successful if you don’t try.

True success requires respect, appreciation, integrity, and patience – all qualities that are really hard to achieve by human nature – especially in the face of modern marketers who relentlessly deceive us, control our thoughts, and usurp our independence to increase their profits.

You can’t make a huge difference in the world alone – sometimes we need a little help and small acts from our loved one(s), friends, family, or more. And the best way to make a lasting positive difference is probably not what you think.

It’s easy to get lost in the minutiae of life and lose sight of what’s important – especially when it comes to your job. But it doesn’t have to be that way: taking stock of why you do what you do can help you approach your daily tasks with more purpose and passion, which could lead you to make a huge difference in the world.

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Changes in Society Essays

by Arvind Sharma

how can i make a difference in society essay

Essay on the Impacts of Shopping

by Vishav (Punjab)

I scored 6 in my writing, but I need minimum 7 band. Please check my essay, it will be very helpful for me. Shopping is becoming more and more popular as a leisure activity. However, some people feel that this has both positive and negative effects. Why is shopping so popular? What effects does its increase in popularity have on individuals and on society? In free time, people spend most of the time in purchasing something in showrooms or markets. Although, every person have different opinion on shopping and some believe that shopping works as a stress buster and it helps in keeping us up-to-date in market. But, I believe shopping leads to a problem because people buy lot more Unnecessary things and till the end they stuck in financial problems. On the one hand, Shopping is very much famous in terms of passing time. There are many reasons behind this, like weather conditions in these days are very unpredictable. So, people spend most of the time in window shopping in multi-brand malls where air conditions works for 24 by 7 in case of summers and heaters in season of winters. In recent research,it was found that every weekend cloths outlets are earning 5 times more than weekdays. On the other hand, increment in popularity of shopping has effected tragically to the many people and leads to weaken the social life of individuals. Earlier people used to meet each other in free time; So, that time they were socially very much active. But, now people spend time in purchasing things on their credit cards which turns out to be another problem for them. According to an article of New York times, 20% of suicide cases were due to financial crises which arisen because of loans taken for person needs. In conclusion, I believe we should not spend our precious time into shopping and instead of that an individual can go out for travel and spend less time and money in shopping. In this way, people will be able to make better social life yet money will spent in traveling but it will also release stress and motivate to work more and earn.

Essay on Change

by Svetlana (Russian Federation)

Some people prefer to spend lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. It is true that people perceive change in different ways. Some members of the community believe that change is always for the better, while others think otherwise. Those who are in favor of change may argue that it poses a possibility for a particular person to improve him- or herself, both mentally and socially. From the mental perspective, changes relating to traveling and receiving education help one broaden one's mind and learn something new. As for the social perspective - it is empathy for others that he or she may acquire after suffering changes in his or her private life, because it is known that those who experienced various changes in relationships with their family or acquaintances may then better understand other people's feelings. This way, change improves not only person's mental, but also social and private aspect. In contrast, those who avoid changes point out the difficulties to readapt to them that many people experience. For instance, some large companies, Finnair for example, practice giving professional psychological and medicine support to those employees who were sacked due to companies' structural changes. Apparently, such policies infer that a spate of people may suffer from the difficulty to accustom to the changes and find their new way in life. In addition, it can be pointed out that changes regarding private affairs not always make a person better. For many people such changes simply cause a nervous breakdown, and, again, may jeopardize their health, since psychological aspect of a person is tightly connected to his or her general well-being. In conclusion, my view of the problem is that change is an indispensable part of our lives, so people should accept this fact and try to learn how to tackle it rather than avoid it, which is impossible. Please give me feedback for my essay on change

A Country's Problems Essay

by vishal (India)

Countries around the world will be facing significant challenges relating not only to the environment, but population and education as well. What problems will your country face in the next ten years? How can these problems be overcome? Time 5.06 pm Human being and related problems are such issue which is globally spread around the globe. The major issues are related to the welfare of human kind, for example , Poverty , Rise in population and Illiteracy are the least but not last , prevails in human society globally. This essay will highlight such issues and associated reasons with them. It also emerges with solution for such crisis. Beginning with the point of such issue which are being faced by an every realm is Poverty, Population and Education. The rising population around the world is producing the need of money which is the big reason for any nation. Increasing number of people establishing the scarcity of resources. The further problems; like, Education and environment are dependent on population. This is very clear to understand that more people need more food , education, homes which can be bought by money is earned by the people . But more people and less jobs does not give opportunity to earn enough money. That is the reason, people could not think for education and environment and in next 10 years possibly my country will not have miserable condition . Considering the possible way out economics suggests in my country is to break vicious circle of poverty by introducing investment, so that more jobs could be created and people can survive in the world peacefully. Many organisations like “International Monetary fund” evaluates the performance of each nation and provides fund to the nation so that Poverty and other crucial problems, Environment and Poverty can be resolved. Home country’s government also generates revenues, from the Industry, taxes and penalties, which is used by the authority to invest and generate earning sources for the people. This is the one authentic solution which proves it best. Based upon the above paragraph, it can be said that yes each nation struggles more or less the common problems like Poverty, Education and Environment. But it is not impossible and unsolved problems. The appropriate investment and right use of money can easily resolve it. Time ends 5.40

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  • Comparing and contrasting in an essay | Tips & examples

Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay | Tips & Examples

Published on August 6, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

Comparing and contrasting is an important skill in academic writing . It involves taking two or more subjects and analyzing the differences and similarities between them.

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Table of contents

When should i compare and contrast, making effective comparisons, comparing and contrasting as a brainstorming tool, structuring your comparisons, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about comparing and contrasting.

Many assignments will invite you to make comparisons quite explicitly, as in these prompts.

  • Compare the treatment of the theme of beauty in the poetry of William Wordsworth and John Keats.
  • Compare and contrast in-class and distance learning. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?

Some other prompts may not directly ask you to compare and contrast, but present you with a topic where comparing and contrasting could be a good approach.

One way to approach this essay might be to contrast the situation before the Great Depression with the situation during it, to highlight how large a difference it made.

Comparing and contrasting is also used in all kinds of academic contexts where it’s not explicitly prompted. For example, a literature review involves comparing and contrasting different studies on your topic, and an argumentative essay may involve weighing up the pros and cons of different arguments.

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As the name suggests, comparing and contrasting is about identifying both similarities and differences. You might focus on contrasting quite different subjects or comparing subjects with a lot in common—but there must be some grounds for comparison in the first place.

For example, you might contrast French society before and after the French Revolution; you’d likely find many differences, but there would be a valid basis for comparison. However, if you contrasted pre-revolutionary France with Han-dynasty China, your reader might wonder why you chose to compare these two societies.

This is why it’s important to clarify the point of your comparisons by writing a focused thesis statement . Every element of an essay should serve your central argument in some way. Consider what you’re trying to accomplish with any comparisons you make, and be sure to make this clear to the reader.

Comparing and contrasting can be a useful tool to help organize your thoughts before you begin writing any type of academic text. You might use it to compare different theories and approaches you’ve encountered in your preliminary research, for example.

Let’s say your research involves the competing psychological approaches of behaviorism and cognitive psychology. You might make a table to summarize the key differences between them.

Or say you’re writing about the major global conflicts of the twentieth century. You might visualize the key similarities and differences in a Venn diagram.

A Venn diagram showing the similarities and differences between World War I, World War II, and the Cold War.

These visualizations wouldn’t make it into your actual writing, so they don’t have to be very formal in terms of phrasing or presentation. The point of comparing and contrasting at this stage is to help you organize and shape your ideas to aid you in structuring your arguments.

When comparing and contrasting in an essay, there are two main ways to structure your comparisons: the alternating method and the block method.

The alternating method

In the alternating method, you structure your text according to what aspect you’re comparing. You cover both your subjects side by side in terms of a specific point of comparison. Your text is structured like this:

Mouse over the example paragraph below to see how this approach works.

One challenge teachers face is identifying and assisting students who are struggling without disrupting the rest of the class. In a traditional classroom environment, the teacher can easily identify when a student is struggling based on their demeanor in class or simply by regularly checking on students during exercises. They can then offer assistance quietly during the exercise or discuss it further after class. Meanwhile, in a Zoom-based class, the lack of physical presence makes it more difficult to pay attention to individual students’ responses and notice frustrations, and there is less flexibility to speak with students privately to offer assistance. In this case, therefore, the traditional classroom environment holds the advantage, although it appears likely that aiding students in a virtual classroom environment will become easier as the technology, and teachers’ familiarity with it, improves.

The block method

In the block method, you cover each of the overall subjects you’re comparing in a block. You say everything you have to say about your first subject, then discuss your second subject, making comparisons and contrasts back to the things you’ve already said about the first. Your text is structured like this:

  • Point of comparison A
  • Point of comparison B

The most commonly cited advantage of distance learning is the flexibility and accessibility it offers. Rather than being required to travel to a specific location every week (and to live near enough to feasibly do so), students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows not only for a wider geographical spread of students but for the possibility of studying while travelling. However, distance learning presents its own accessibility challenges; not all students have a stable internet connection and a computer or other device with which to participate in online classes, and less technologically literate students and teachers may struggle with the technical aspects of class participation. Furthermore, discomfort and distractions can hinder an individual student’s ability to engage with the class from home, creating divergent learning experiences for different students. Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

Note that these two methods can be combined; these two example paragraphs could both be part of the same essay, but it’s wise to use an essay outline to plan out which approach you’re taking in each paragraph.

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Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

  • The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
  • The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

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Does Social Class Make a Difference? Essay

Social class is an integral parameter especially in regard to access to important resources as well as various opportunities in life. People who are presumably from high social class seem to control most resources in our society today. Hence, they determine what people from lower social classes should get. I strongly believe that those who belong in higher social class control myriad means of both basic and secondary production which is heavily relied upon by those in lower social class.

In most cases, individuals of high social class tend to have no barrier in social mobility in comparison to their counterparts in lower social ladder. Therefore, it is pertinent to note that social mobility of an individual is highly likely to be influenced by social status in society. For instance, it takes spans of generations for one to change his or her social class particularly with people of disadvantaged background, wealthy parents tend to have wealthy children’s as poor parent continues to have poor children.

This trend continues for indefinitely long period of time. Social class will also affect the way individuals perceive things within their environment. Different social classes affect people’s perception. For instance, people from high social class will probably perceive those who are suffering as poor people since they feel poverty is connected with suffering.

A person from low social class may perceive suffering to be caused by emotional and physical problems which are not connected with poverty. Hence, different perceptions arise depending on individual’s social class owing to the fact that different problems are experienced by people from different social classes which later influences their attitude and perception towards life.

Social class diversity also creates differences on people relate with each other. Different component of social class determines relationship of individuals from different social classes. For instance, I am of the view that class diversity at workplace has always influenced the way promotions and demotions are determined in organizations.

Different diversions of social classes determines the way top management relates to individuals who are at the lower social ladder and it is what determines placement in organizations. When there is absence of management strategies to evaluate and monitor performances of different social classes, majority of the low class will be perceived different in organizations. Your assigned social class determines your role and position in society which on the overall makes a difference in your achievement.

I am of the opinion that social class affects an individual’s work and determines his role in the religion. Most individuals choose religions and work depending on their social status, certain works are meant for people of certain social class. In our everyday life, jobs like cleaning and gardening may be meant for people of low social class as some executive jobs like management positions are meant for people of high social class.

This has been enhanced by several factors such as discrimination and perception that people have on different types of jobs. The association of different social classes to certain types of employment depending on technical knowledge has enhanced the application of social class in determining the nature of work place.

It is only religion which tends to unite both social classes irrespective of one’s county of origin. Individuals from both classes share religion with different denominations regardless of one’s social class.

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IvyPanda. (2018, October 10). Does Social Class Make a Difference? https://ivypanda.com/essays/does-social-class-make-a-difference/

"Does Social Class Make a Difference?" IvyPanda , 10 Oct. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/does-social-class-make-a-difference/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Does Social Class Make a Difference'. 10 October.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Does Social Class Make a Difference?" October 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/does-social-class-make-a-difference/.

1. IvyPanda . "Does Social Class Make a Difference?" October 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/does-social-class-make-a-difference/.

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how can i make a difference in society essay

How to Write the National Honor Society Essay + Example

how can i make a difference in society essay

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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Intel Receives $8.5 Billion in Grants to Build Chip Plants

The award, announced by President Biden at a plant in Arizona, is the biggest the government has made under a new program that aims to rebuild the nation’s semiconductor manufacturing industry.

A large construction site, with an excavation several stories below ground and a crane overhead.

By Zolan Kanno-Youngs ,  Madeleine Ngo and Don Clark

Zolan Kanno-Youngs reported from Chandler, Ariz., Madeleine Ngo from Washington and Don Clark from San Francisco.

President Biden on Wednesday awarded $8.5 billion in grants to Intel, a major investment to bolster the nation’s semiconductor production, during a tour of battleground states meant to sell his economic agenda.

Speaking from the Intel campus in Chandler, Ariz., Mr. Biden said the award would support thousands of new manufacturing jobs, including ones that do not require a college degree.

“It’s going to transform the semiconductor industry,” Mr. Biden said. “Where the hell is it written saying that we’re not going to be the manufacturing capital of the world again?”

The award, which will go to the construction and expansion of Intel facilities around the United States, is the biggest the federal government has made with funding from the CHIPS Act , which lawmakers passed in 2022 to help re-establish the United States as a leader in semiconductor manufacturing.

The Biden administration, equipped with $39 billion in subsidies to distribute, is spearheading an ambitious effort to ramp up production of the tiny chips that power everything from smartphones to computers and cars. The effort is at the center of Mr. Biden’s goal to reduce America’s reliance on foreign countries: Although semiconductors were invented in the United States, only about 10 percent of the world’s chips are made domestically.

“Nearly all manufacturing of leading-edge chips across the entire industry moved overseas to Asia years ago,” Mr. Biden said. “That’s why today’s investment is such a big deal: We will enable advanced semiconductor manufacturing to make a comeback here in America.”

In addition to the grants, the federal government is planning to award Intel up to $11 billion in loans on what the company characterized as generous terms. Intel is also expected to claim federal tax credits that could cover 25 percent of the expense of its U.S. expansion projects, which are expected to cost more than $100 billion over five years.

The grants are intended to help fund the company’s construction plans in Arizona, Ohio, New Mexico and Oregon. The projects are expected to create more than 10,000 manufacturing jobs and roughly 20,000 construction jobs, according to Biden administration officials.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, whose department is overseeing the distribution of the grants, said the award would help ramp up the country’s production of the most advanced semiconductors, which are used in artificial intelligence, smartphones, supercomputers and the most sensitive military hardware. The United States currently produces none.

Ms. Raimondo said the Intel award would be the single largest grant to a chipmaker under the new program. The investment will help put the United States on track to produce roughly 20 percent of the world’s leading-edge chips by the end of the decade, she said.

“This investment will enable Intel to produce leading edge, the most sophisticated chips in the world that will power our economic and national security,” Ms. Raimondo said at the Intel campus on Wednesday.

In Arizona, the money will help fund Intel’s recent construction of two advanced plants and the modernization of another facility. The money will also help establish an entirely new site near Columbus, Ohio, starting with two factories, in its first move to a new U.S. region in more than 40 years.

In Rio Rancho, N.M., Intel will use the federal funds to transform two plants into advanced packaging facilities, where chips are assembled together to enhance performance and reduce costs. The company will also expand and modernize an innovation hub in Hillsboro, Ore., which is expected to further the company’s technological leadership and development of new innovations.

Mr. Biden and his Democratic allies view the semiconductor investments as a key way to try to turn around perceptions of the economy among voters in battleground states like Arizona.

“We have not been talking to folks about the issues that President Biden has been delivering on, and that’s what we are determined to do,” Yolanda Bejarano, the Arizona Democratic Party chairwoman, said on Tuesday, adding that Democrats would need to talk more about the effects of the semiconductor investments.

Although Intel will have to meet certain milestones before the money is distributed, senior Biden administration officials said they expected the funds to start flowing to the company by the end of this year.

Patrick Gelsinger, Intel’s chief executive, told reporters in a briefing on Tuesday evening that the government incentives represented a proud moment for his company and a major achievement for politicians of both parties. Though satisfied with the incentives earmarked for Intel, he said officials might need to invest more in the industry to reverse decades of shifting investment from the United States to countries in Asia.

“It doesn’t get fixed in one three- to five-year program,” Mr. Gelsinger said. “I do think we’ll need at least a CHIPS 2 to finish that job.”

Intel is the fourth company to receive a federal award under the new program, and brings the total announced grants to more than $10 billion. The first three grants — to GlobalFoundries, Microchip Technology and BAE Systems — were to makers of legacy chips, which are created with older production processes but are still used in many products like cars and dishwashers.

Biden administration officials are expected to announce more awards in the coming months to other major chipmakers, including the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Samsung and Micron Technology. Those companies have also made major investments in new or expanded semiconductor manufacturing plants in the United States in recent years.

The United States’ dependence on Asia for its chips has become even more pronounced with the rise of artificial intelligence. Nearly all chips used to power the latest generative A.I. services were manufactured in Taiwan by T.S.M.C., though designed by the Silicon Valley company Nvidia.

Intel has been trying to change that by developing new manufacturing technology, beginning to build chips designed by other companies and lobbying heavily for the legislation. The investment in Intel is intended to help enable U.S. companies to lead in the A.I. industry by ensuring there is a domestic supply of advanced chips.

About $50 million of federal funding will be set aside for Intel to spend on training and developing “a new generation of workers for the semiconductor industry,” Mr. Biden said. Many semiconductor companies and industry groups have voiced concerns about potential shortages of technicians, engineers and other workers to fill all of the positions that will be created once the facilities are constructed.

In total, private companies have announced more than $240 billion in semiconductor and electronic manufacturing investments since Mr. Biden took office, according to administration officials. Some chipmakers, however, have run into obstacles while trying to expand their domestic manufacturing capacity, resulting in delays.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a White House correspondent, covering President Biden and his administration. More about Zolan Kanno-Youngs

Madeleine Ngo covers U.S. economic policy and how it affects people across the country. More about Madeleine Ngo

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