Service Blog Posts

Learning by Experimenting

Dylan Delarosa

I enjoy contributing to my community through the enrichment of the kids and students within it. I have been volunteering every year at the local Children’s Science Center Lab since 2016. During that time, I have gotten to know the staff better and observed how much they care about the experiences of the children that go there. My responsibilities at the center were to prepare the science experiments according to the instructions and outlines given to me by the staff that actually worked there. I would later then use these experiment kits that I had prepared as a demonstration for any of the kids that wanted to see the experiment. These kids would either follow along or do the experiment afterwards by following what I did in order to do the experiment correctly. Working on the preparation of the experiments showed me how meticulous and thought out these experiments were because the kits were obviously made by the staff to prioritize the experience of the kids rather than using the cheapest materials. Seeing how much thought was put into these experiments helped me understand why the kids who came enjoyed it so much. The enjoyment the kids got from doing the experiments in turn not only justified why the staff put some much time into these activities, but also showed me the importance of encouraging the youth to pursue more knowledge. These interactions with the staff and kids helped me better understand how much my community values education which definitely drives me to want to help them and others in achieving that goal.

I am very passionate about pursuing firefighting because I love to help people and I want a future that is enjoyable, challenging, and gives back to the community. Firefighting will be exactly this and I will be able to help so many people everyday. If I learn more about it, I will be able to stay safer, keep my team safe, and keep the community safer. I’ll also be able to better understand the duties of a firefighter and all that they do in a day. In order to pursue firefighting I plan to train my strength and endurance with specific exercises that relate to the fitness test firefighters must pass. There is also a firefighting academy course available to all FCPS students which I have signed up for and I will be taking the fitness test for during the summer. In this course, if I get in, I’ll learn everything that someone would learn in the actual fire academy including how to administer medical care, deal with hazardous material, extinguish all types of fires, and so much more. There are so many things that pull me towards firefighting. For one the excitement and ever changing duties on calls. There is also the routine and consistency of common calls, my coworkers, daily duties in the firehouse, and dinners with my team. The most intriguing thing about firefighting though is that I will get to help people in need everyday. I couldn’t imagine anything that would be better than saving people everyday.

Firefighting

Callie Desrosier

Image: Firefighters working hard

Influence of Good Leadership

Tyler Whiteman

Image: Talking to Basketball Team about Game Strategy

One of the few times I've helped serve for my community was taking on a leadership role in my local basketball league, as a volunteer basketball coach for the 9th grade age group, alongside my two other friends that helped assistant coach my team for the year. One of the main things that I learned about myself from this service experience is that a good leader or a leaders’ success is based on the mindset of the people that they are leading. If the leader can put the people they are leading in a good mindset and maintain this mindset, then they will be a very successful leader. I implemented this strategy after our first few games, encouraging them to have fun, no matter the outcome of our game or the score that was on the clock. This caused the team to not only respect me as a leader but also convinced them to try their best, even in tough game situations or outcomes. By doing this, even in the most devastating losses or blowouts, everyone on the team was able to keep a strong mindset from my encouragement, and the kids on my team had a successful and entertaining season. From this service experience, I was able to learn how to be a successful leader, and gained the skills that I would need if I was ever put into a leadership role, in or out of a service opportunity. I also learned about the impact that service can have on a community, even something as small as coaching for a basketball team can really help out in the long run, by allowing kids to have a fun time, and parents to enjoy watching their child play a sport that they love.

Grace Kim

Cooking

When a recipe calls for basil pesto, it is only reasonable to use the convenient store-bought pesto…right? Whether fortunate or not, that is not the case for me. With a mortar and pestle, pine nuts crumble under my weight's pressure, and basil leaves are torn apart fiber to fiber. After sprinkling some basic seasonings, I add grated Parmigiano Reggiano and light drizzles of olive oil. Making everything from scratch has always been my greatest satisfaction; however, it also makes me relentless. From countless hours preparing bread the night before it is baked to patiently waiting for a pot of broth to boil, my time cooking has only extended over the years. But through this extended time I am able to take a rest and appreciate what goes on around me. Watching bubbles begin to awaken within the dough, being enveloped in the sounds and smell of nature, anticipating the rumble of the pot on the stove — here lies my peace. Making food by scratch with friends and family is where some of the best moments can unexpectedly bloom. Chimes of laughter harmonizing with the bell of the oven timer while making pizza with friends become the jingle stuck in my head. Having time to appreciate the world around me, whether through nature or people, is what makes cooking from scratch meaningful to me. The beauty of making food by scratch is not simply derived from the result, but the time spent in between. Cooking can have so many aspects that bring enjoyment. Aside from the literal action of cooking, discovering how to cook has brought waves of excitement and anticipation. Although I have already learned various techniques and recipes, a constant desire to discover sensational dishes and flavors always keeps me motivated. Taking in countless videos and online blogs about cooking has left me with an open mind when it comes to cooking, and I never expect an end of content waiting for me to learn from. Simply the joy of discovering and incorporating new combinations inspired from great minds across the globe has left me in awe of the progression of the culinary world. Traditional dishes in a woks and skillets, modified dishes emerging from online trends, and discoveries I find myself through modifications have always left me active to learn and understand how cooking works. There is never an end to cooking. Although I am often discouraged by those around me with thoughts about entering the culinary world, my dream is to become a cafe owner. I am ambitious to have others try what I would take years upon years of experience to develop and create. Perhaps as a retirement plan, but hopefully sooner, I plan on developing a cafe that embraces the multifaceted aspects of cooking and my own personal touch. Although only an idea and dream now, I aspire to create a place where I can share my joy with others.

Image: Bread

Chantilly Operation Smile

Eunice Choi

Image: cards made by the Chantilly Operation Smile Club for healthcare workers

Researching possible ways to help my community, I came across a website called Operation Smile that sought to aid children who require cleft lip surgeries. After browsing through the website and investigating more into cleft lip disorders, I decided that I wanted to create a club at my school called Chantilly Operation Smile in hopes of helping children with cleft lips and cleft palates. Along with my passion for surgeries and helping children, our club goes through several fundraisers and service projects in order to help these children who don't receive enough support. At the Chantilly High School chapter of Operation Smile, we have worked on creating cards for healthcare workers and spreading awareness to our school and others through social media. We have also made get-well cards, and are in the process of making toys for children to enjoy while they are receiving their surgeries. Currently, we are in the process of partnering with local hospitals, such as the Fairfax Inova Hospital, to send them recovery bags that we have made for children to receive after they have completed their surgeries. Although my club isn’t too big right now, I hope to continue to make an impact in not only my community, but also in other communities through preparing materials for kids with cleft lip and cleft palate disorders. By building a club from scratch and providing aid to hospitals and patients with cleft lip disorders, I feel content and satisfied that my clubs’ work is making an impact in children’s lives, and I hope to continue making a difference in the future.

There is a lot that can be learned in the middle of a chaotic yet exciting moment in your life. As the dirt flies, the wood gets cut and people chatter loudly, I feel proud of my planning and preparation that led to this moment. My dad says, “See, If I helped you that day, you wouldn’t stand here feeling proud. I’m proud of you.”

I’m proud of everything I have achieved in life. I won chess tournaments, went to regionals for soccer, ran in one of the most competitive track tournaments in Virginia, and competed in Worlds for Odyssey of The Mind. But what I never realized is the planning behind all these activities. My parents took care of everything from food to hotels and I never learned the lesson.

It took me 16 years of my life to finally understand the struggle of planning and preparation. Boyscouts is all about preparation. Since I needed no help packing for my campouts and signing my forms, I felt like I knew everything there is to know about planning. When I went to others’ Eagle Scout Projects, I was oblivious to all the work they did behind the scenes. When it came time for my own, it hit me. I KNOW NOTHING. I, once again, went to my dad to help me plan. He instantaneously said no, and as the words reached my head, I panicked. Questions just started pouring out my mouth, none of which my dad replied to. Why are you doing this to me? How can I do this myself? What can I do?

Eagle Project

Charan Narra

Image: Scouts building a boardwalk for Sully Historic Site

I was mad but determined to show my dad that I could do it myself. I started finding stores that supply wood and the tools I needed. I found places that would provide food and drinks for my project. I had to make flyers and recruit friends and family. I made an excel sheet with everything I needed and I marked things off as I went. As part of the project, you have to complete a project report on how everything went. How I led, how I planned, and how I overcame challenges. I forgot to account for this in my original plan. There I was, planless with my project report.

The thing is, when you think you planned everything, there’s always got to be that one thing that you forget. It can be a pain in the butt, but it teaches you a lesson that won’t ever be forgotten. Ever since my project, every morning I repeat the Scout motto in my head: “Be Prepared” “Be Prepared” “Be Prepared.” But occasionally, My dad’s “no” rings in my head and I reminisce on how one word changed my entire way of life.

The Purpose of Music

Allision Oh

Image: Performing at the Riderwood Retirement Community Benefit Concert

As a prescription from my pediatrician to channel my bursting imagination through a form of art, I discovered my passion for piano at the tender age of five. Throughout my early stages of performing and competing, I never truly understood the purpose of music. Naturally, I thought that practicing hours a day and winning competitions was all there was to it. As I grew older, I began to question what was the true meaning of music and wondered how I could form a deeper connection with piano. Through an effort to begin serving and giving back to the community, I had joined The Tacy Foundation in middle school. The Tacy Foundation’s goal is to “inspire hope note by note” and heal and bring our community together through music. After seeing consistent smiles, hearing appreciative thank you’s, and seeing the impact music has on patients and seniors, I had finally realized the true meaning of music through volunteering. I began my volunteering journey at an Alzheimer’s Care Center, performing for patients with varying levels of Alzheimer’s. This center is a particularly special place to me, for I had witnessed the great effects music can have on one’s memories. The music would move the patients to tears, bring light into their facial expressions, and have them calling out for loved ones. This was when I understood that music’s purpose is to be shared. Sharing music with the patients at the Alzheimer’s center and the seniors at different retirement homes became more rewarding to me than winning a competition. As the audience members would hold my hands tightly as I arrived and as I left each time, they would look into my eyes with a bright smile thanking me for my service. Though I had begun volunteering in order to give back to the community, the community had given me far more in return. After learning that music is meant to be shared with others, I saw performing in a new light and as an opportunity to tell a story to an audience. Not only had I formed a deeper connection with music, but volunteering had become my second passion.

Community Service

Kaavya Karthikeyan

While I was growing up I relied on my parents to help me with my education. I also had my older brother who was willing to help me whenever I needed help. However there are kids across the county who do not have the same opportunities and support that I did. I have always wanted to help them, however I did not know how to. This led me to reach outside of my community and try to find places to serve. I first discovered a club named homework helpers, by my brother, because he was part of it, and he loved helping his community. It inspired me to find things I could do in my community to serve others. After hearing about my brother's actions of service I found a multitude of places to serve. My parents also volunteered in soup kitchens and other cultural organizations, which influenced me to want to serve my community. At first I started volunteering at a food kitchen to provide the homeless with food that they needed. I learned a lot from this experience because I realized how fortunate I am and I also learned that I should not take anything for granted. I also joined homework helpers and helped students in title 1 schools with their education, since the pandemic made learning especially difficult for them. I learned a lot from this experience, such as organization skills as well as communication skills. Homework Helpers is a student run organization, so I had a lot of tasks that I was in charge of which led me to become more responsible. I also started helping at my dance studio and teaching younger students the basic steps, which allowed me to learn how to lead and help others who all have different strengths. I also helped my dance teacher plan all of her recitals which taught me how to organize and plan things. From volunteering at all of these places I learned how to understand things from other people's perspectives and realize other people's feelings. All of the kids that I taught were very different, some of them would get frustrated really fast, or get distracted very easily, but I learned to understand their reasoning and engage them. I also loved the feeling of being able to help people greatly, especially less fortunate people who needed help.

Image: This is a picture of me teaching at my dance studio.

For the first time in my life, I had a chance to see that bright, beautiful ringed planet in our dark sky. I saw Saturn with my own eyes! After an evening stargazing event hosted by the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum, my curiosity in space exploration was piqued. I pursued my curiosity by applying and being accepted to the Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) program in 11th grade. As a high-performing scholar, I was invited to the VASTS Summer Academy. After a thorough interview, I was selected as the Multimedia Specialist on the Strategic Communications team. Designing the mission patch, a unique emblem worn by all affiliates and placed on every mission-related document, was one of the efforts I volunteered to lead. Notorious for receiving backlash, the mission patch needed to attract the largest audience to obtain maximum support for the mission. An additional requirement for submission was the digitization of the mission patch. This was a technique I was very inexperienced with, so I quickly learned how to use Snapseed, a professional photo editing software, to digitize my drawings. My final product was approved by VASTS Headquarters, and commended for creativity by the Project Engineer, my department managers, and a NASA Specialist. From observing Saturn through a telescope to designing the first manned space mission to Mars, I found inspiration in humanity’s space travel achievements. VASTS taught me a team's success is not dependent on their existing skills, but rather their courage to navigate the unknown.

Challenging Yourself in a Group Setting

Rama Mittal

Image: Navigating the Unknown

In the winter of 2020, I decided to create custom Christmas ornaments for friends at my gym, and pay it forward for their support, which has made me mentally and physically stronger. I sold these ornaments and raised over $350, to donate to Youth for Tomorrow, an organization that helps children dealing with severe mental health issues. Everyone needs at least some help to overcome obstacles so it was heartwarming to know that these children would be getting the care they deserve.

I found it interestingly challenging to decorate the ornaments, and it took some trial and error. I had to learn the balance of applying enough pressure on the orb to prevent it from rolling, but not enough to break it. In addition, I could only erase mistakes on certain types of ornaments and some types of ornaments’ paint became damaged by my paint markers. Thus, through this experience, I had to be very patient and not be discouraged when things didn’t go as planned.

With over 40 ornament orders to decorate, I felt overwhelmed at first about how I was going to complete them, especially with school work and extracurriculars on top of it. However, since the task was enjoyable for me, I decided to take short breaks from homework each day dedicated to decorating, up until Winter Break. In conclusion, this act of community service allowed me to learn resilience and time management, skills which I hope to utilize in future educational and volunteering endeavors.

Ornament Decorating

Caitlyn Kantaparn

Image: Ornament that was sold to raise money for Youth for Tomorrow

My passion for sports

David Fareid

Image: Washington Commanders print ad made by David Fareid for a Sports Marketing Assignment

When asked what I am passionate about, one thing always comes to mind…Sports. I am not the most athletic person, but I always stayed active growing up. I was always playing sports, whether it was in my neighborhood with friends or competing on a team in a recreational league, but playing sports is not exactly what I mean. I love to watch the games more than anything. I grew this passion when I was in third grade and opened a pack of football cards. I gradually started watching more and more football and basketball until I got hooked. Everyday I want to learn more about the experiences these pro athletes went through to get to the level they are at. Hearing the hard work they put in and the determination they had to push through all the ups and downs just amazes me. I want to learn more because I find it very interesting how multiple entities of sports tie together to make them the game they are. I pursue my passion for sports all the time. I am currently a second year Sports and Entertainment Management/Marketing student at Chantilly High school and have chosen to take on the Major Sports Marketing and Media at one of the most prestigious flagship universities, LSU, this coming fall. I have tried many different things, from podcasts to sports highlight editing, to enhance my knowledge of sports. Although not all of my projects have worked, the experience I got trying is invaluable. Many things draw me to sports. Watching the unbelievable skill that these athletes display game in and game out is something I never want to miss. The scenarios that go through my head when rumors pop up of a player being signed or traded, the marketing and front office aspects of teams, and the emotional real life stories about players are the things that draw me towards sports every day of my life.

Two years ago, I received the opportunity to volunteer at a non-profit organization called Rise Against Hunger. Prior to that day, I was not an active volunteer and didn't frequently partake in such opportunities. However, that day completely changed my life. As soon as I entered the room, I was overwhelmed by the bustling individuals carrying baskets of rice, pasta, and cereal. I could hear rice grains spilling across the floor, the crinkling of brown paper bags, and tape making its way across the heavy cardboard boxes. Despite initial hesitation to join, I made my way to join a group of kids who were filling containers with beans. While I couldn't identify it at first, I soon realized I was having more fun than I thought I would. When I delivered a box filled with food to the director, she asked me if I wanted to ring the gong in the front of the room. Confused, I asked her what it was for. She smiled and told me it was a milestone for the number of meals we packed: 5,000. As I hit the gong with astonishment, the room erupted in applause. Satisfied, I headed back to my station to continue to pack meals. Before I knew it, we packed 10,000 and then 20,000. Until then, I never understood the power of volunteering, the benefits created for underprivileged individuals, and the happiness the person volunteering could receive. On account of this, I want to keep volunteering as part of my life and continue to make a true impact in my community.

The Power of Giving

Shreeja Tangutur

Image: Rise Against Hunger Logo

Dance Costumes

Dana Schofield

The satisfaction of knowing that I am helping the dreams of young dancers around the world come true is the best reward I could receive for my hard work. Dance costumes are the only thing a dancer holds close to them, in fact I have kept all of mine since I began dancing in 2006; some of them I consider my most prized possessions. The nonprofit organization Dance Fairies encourages dancers to donate their gently used dance costumes to provide for dancers who are not fortunate enough to be able to afford their own. Although I was sad to see my costumes go, when I first donated to Dance Fairies, the joy I felt was unreal. Realizing that my costumes would get a second life made me so happy, for myself, and for the dancer that would soon wear them. This bliss is what prompted me to become an ambassador. As an ambassador, I worked with local dance studios and dancers to collect dance costumes. I then would sort, pack, and ship the exquisite costumes around the world to dancers in need. In 2021, I dedicated over 250 hours to my ambassadorship. As others entrust me with their valuable costumes, I get to share my joy with them. My favorite part though, is knowing that on the other end of this, an aspiring dancer is receiving a dance costume they never thought they would wear, and experiencing the same joy as me, and all the other dancers that are part of this beautiful process.

Image: Me and a few of the dance costumes I collected!

Volunteering is something I think is not only beneficial for the group or people you are helping, but also the people who are volunteering. One of the places I helped out at was CACI. One of the first things I did was help the kids with tasks such as decorating cookies, and making crafts. I think it was very fulfilling to help both the kids and the parents by watching over the kids. I think before I volunteered for that event, I didn't understand how much work kids can be. You have to constantly be watching them to make sure they aren't getting into trouble or hurting themselves. As for the company as a whole, I have a better understanding for how much effort and help it takes to run a business, be an employee, and make sure that your kids are being taken care of. I think I have gained immense respect for those who make the big step into starting a business, or even a new job while they have kids. I really enjoyed being able to take one of the many stresses off of the employees back, allowing them to take a deep breath and relax for once. I think the luxury of not having to worry about your kids is something not a lot of parents get to experience that often, and I was really glad to help. After reflecting on my time volunteering with CACI, that is probably one of the most beneficial things I could have done for the busy parents of the community. I am really glad that I was able to help.

The Workplace

Lily Agan

Diverse Connections

Nicole Ortuno

I am passionate about representing my family and their sacrifices, through the impact I aspire to have within a career in mechatronics engineering. I am passionate about innovative technology and the power it has in advancing our modern society. I was drawn to the field because of the lack of adversity within it and the potential it has to bring change within low-resource communities. In efforts to execute my goals, I joined GirlsComputing League’s national team, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting emerging technology among young students and increasing diverse environments. I also created a virtual STEM club for kids at a local homeless shelter, using computer science as a tool to engage students within low-income communities. Developing my curiosity within a field I had little guidance in, I was naturally inclined to different aspects of technology and engineering through the programs I participated in and challenged myself to pursue a STEM career, regardless of my viewed identity. When I was younger, I used to go to summer camps and work on various side projects, which piqued my interest in engineering. Using computer science to connect with my community, I created a programming club at my school to develop a collaborative environment where we compete in the American Computer Science League and run a coding club at a local middle school. Through guest speaker events held in my club, I have expanded my network, learning from professionals in various STEM fields. Involved in programs that geared my interest into many areas of engineering, I was most inclined to robotics after participating in my school's robotics team as the lead programmer. Motivated to pursue a career in mechatronics engineering, I am passionate about evolving modern technology to be used in all aspects of society in efforts to bring about change.

In my junior year of high school, I was voted to become captain of the J.V. team. I was so excited once I heard the news. I even did a little dance after I heard the great news. The only way I learned to become a good captain was to have good communication skills. Every practice and every game we had, I would speak out to each of my teammates and help them with skills, new plays and try to encourage them to do better. I definitely encountered some obstacles during my season. Most of my teammates were new to the school and to the sport so I had to remember they didn't know the rules or the basics of the game. It was a little hard being one out of three juniors on a J.V team trying to teach younger classmen but I had a great team that I could cooperate with and help them as much as I can. On our last home game, I wanted it to be special. I made a little speech for them before and was thanking them for a wonderful season and I am so glad we were put together to become a team. And I told them let's kick Westfield's butt right after...and we did! I think just giving that little boost to our teammates really helped us on the field in order to win our games. In my perspective, a leader is someone who is willing to help others and communicate with others whenever someone needs to. Leadership is a big role and it helps so many other people in the world that I want more people to try to make a little difference by taking action and show more interaction with others.

Field Hockey Captain

Kaitlyn Nguyen

Life, Liberty and the Necessity of Human Rights

Aarthika Krishnan

As an American-born Indian, my perspective of the world is largely centered around my childhood experiences. Whenever I’d visit my relatives in our village, it was impossible not to notice the stark differences between the wealthy and poor: lack of access to sanitary pads, violence in the streets, and people without homes.

The shocking living conditions of everyday people continued to go unnoticed. Wealth inequality was on the rise, ordinary citizens were struggling to survive, all while their governments remained apathetic to the issue.

Regardless of their starting point, every child deserves to have the opportunity to realize their ambitions. Their stories are not only worth sharing, but a gift that we must cherish and support in order to tackle the issues of tomorrow.

My experience volunteering at clothing and food charities has opened my eyes to the current injustice that affects not only “third world” countries, but also highly developed countries like the U.S. No matter how prosperous a nation may seem, poverty cannot be swept under the rug. People should not have to endure circumstances limited by their government’s inaction.

Every individual is biased by their own cultural lens, yet these differences are not inherently divisive. It is our wide range of unique backgrounds that builds the foundation of America’s rich history.

I aim to grow as a global citizen through directly supporting people of poorer backgrounds. Progress starts with genuine, meaningful compromise. To accomplish this goal, I seek to redefine the cultural lens through which I view the world through first-hand experience through service to under-served communities. Most of all, I aspire to fulfill the hopes of my extended family back at my home village, who had always longed for a way to rise above their circumstances and one day witness their lives change for the better. To them, our generation is that new beginning.

We have the power to make that change.

Team

Caroline Li

There is an event in swimming called the girls mixed age relay, a relay that consists of the fastest girl in each age group. With a total of 4 girls, I was the oldest swimmer.

As the oldest, I was responsible for leading the girls throughout the race process. I had to make sure we all stuck together and were all pumped for the race. It was a huge difference, I was used to being the younger one and I now needed to make sure I was the proper role model for them.

I thought about the ways that I felt leadership and camaraderie from the older swimmers and aimed to spread those feelings to them during the race process. I encouraged them before the race, made sure to set an example by cheering for the current swimmer in the water, and congratulated them after. However, after the loss of our first race, the girls were dejected and I realized that my impact and encouragement would be greater if I fostered a closer bond with the girls.

I sought them out during practice and talked to them. During practices, I made sure to request for some time to practice our relay and improve our teamwork. Before our races, I made sure to get them hyped up, whether that be writing “eat my bubbles” on their arm or covering them with a million temporary tattoos of our team mascot. After races, I focused on our improvements, such as a faster relay time, and advised them on their swim technique.

Throughout the season, I honed my advice and encouragement towards them, tailoring it in a way that they would benefit the best from, such as focusing on certain aspects of their swimming. At the end of the season, we made posters for each other and cheered wildly for one another’s individual events.

Through encouragement, advice and support, I taught the girls that although swimming is an individual sport, the people within it create a team.

The Impact of Volunteering at a Homeless Shelter

Rakendu Malladi

I volunteered at homeless shelter serving food to those in need. Every month, my family and I would go and serve food to the elderly, preparing and cooking Indian dishes to serve to the people at the shelter. It would be a whole family effort, my sister and I helping my mom cook the food, and my Dad driving us and helping manage the serving with the staff at the shelter. I have fond memories as a child, waking up early to drive into DC, going down the familiar road to the shelter, carrying the food trays into the back and getting ready to serve. My family had always been active volunteers, going to play bingo at an elderly shelter, serving food at multiple homeless shelters in DC, and donating money to multiple charitable organizations. A sense of duty has been instilled in me by my parents, to help those in need, and give time, money, or just effort to help those who are less fortunate than you. By establishing a scheduled time to go every month to sever food, it made volunteering not seem like a chore but a fun, routine task. By seeing those who are less fortunate, and seeing their gratitude and happiness to the volunteers made me recognize how grateful I should be for my life and the privileges I have. Listening to their stories and their advice is so insightful, as their perspective is very unique and most of them have experienced so much already in their life times. Being able to hear their stories, helped fuel me to strive for my dreams and above all, be happy in life. The advice I have gained from serving at the homeless shelter will stick with me for the rest of my life, and the memories I have will always remind to keep dreaming.

One of my favorite service opportunities happened sophomore year when I joined the Chantilly choir's annual caroling group. Each year, choir and non choir students volunteer to carol around the school, country clubs and retirement homes and sing festive favorites from “Jingle Bells” to “Feliz Navidad”. It was kind of overwhelming at first because in the first rehearsal everyone is handed out a giant binder of carols , but the more we worked on it, the easier the alto harmonies came. After weeks of CT rehearsals we finally solidified our harmonies, intonation, and constants and couldn't wait to perform. On the day we performed at the retirement home, I remembered we got to leave early from school and Mr. Ayars provided us with Santa hats to help spread the holiday cheer. One of the upperclassmen parents drove us all there and I remember singing carols all the way there, surprised that we weren't sick of them yet. One we got there, we sang around 10 Christmas carols and even got the members to sing and clap along. It was such a personal and fun experience that I look forward to doing every year. Before we left one of the residents passed out candy canes to the whole group and thanked every single one of us for coming. I’ve loved singing and performing my whole life but this experience impacted me tremendously simply from the response and sincerity from each of the members, even when I graduate I plan to continue caroling at retirement centers due to its joy and fulfillment in serving my community.

Community and Christmas

Katie Jaynes

The Color Yellow

Rachel Kang

The scrunched look when an unfamiliar stranger is invited to my yellow smelling home. The puzzled stares at my yellow skin when my friends and I walk down a street speaking in Korean. The “jokes” centered around my yellow ethnicity when I am sitting at the lunch table in my high school. But what does yellow mean to me? Yellow is confining. It traps me into a box of stereotypes. Instead of a student who was born in America who can speak fluent English, they see my yellow skin with my yellow family. It may seem harsh but that is the impact the color yellow has on me. To others, this may be the only thing they remember about me when they hold open the door or walk past me on the street. To me, I am beyond a word. The word yellow has given light to the problems that Asian Americans endure every single day. Yellow has given me the opportunity to fight for the causes that truly matter. To not be a “model minority” but instead make a difference. During the summer, I was able to spread awareness on these issues through social media, participating in peaceful protests, as well as having friendly debates with those who did not agree with what I believed in. I had fellow classmates who would call me racial slurs and turn around and laugh at me. They wouldn’t look at my confused face thinking if I should take this lightly or wonder if this is what they really thought about me. Before I redefined the color yellow, I would have stood there thinking it was nothing personal to me. I am not that same person. Now, I am able to stand up for others and myself in defense of unfair prejudice against us. I took my yellow personality and made it my own. I became myself. After the confidence that I gained after the summer, I knew I could be able to lead the charge of change. A family friend of mine was attacked in her salon after a customer did not want to pay her. They beat her to the ground. A 50 year old yellow woman. In many eyes, a fragile woman. She, however, changed the narrative and fought back. She staked her claim in the salon she built with her hard earned money. In this very moment, I decided not to be a bystander but to be like her and change the perception already given to me. I started to rally my friends and began investing time in researching Asian American hate crimes. I was devoted to something I was passionate about. This passion turned into fruition. More friends began to contact me to learn more about how they could raise awareness. I was beginning to see a change in my community through the spreading of my activist efforts. This all became possible because I was rediscovering my identity in yellow. Yellow is no longer something that is holding me back but pushing me further. I see a future in persistent activism and independence because I know I can do it. The confidence I have built from finding my identity not only progresses my community forward but also the future communities I will be a part of. Yellow was how I expressed myself before finding its true meaning but now I can firmly put my stamp on the color yellow.

During my Senior year of middle school I reached out to my neighbor in an attempt to help her and receive hours for my NJHS seal. My neighbor, Brenda, is disabled. She can have trouble getting around and especially has trouble with doing certain work around the house like cleaning and mowing her lawn. Instead of having to pay outlandish prices for services, I was there to help her out. Before working with Brenda I had never before been around or interacted all that much with someone who couldn’t live most of the normal life that I did every day. In doing work for her and seeing what difficulties she had to deal with, I gained a better understanding of little things I had never come to realize. I was told stories of how she was being fired from her job for not being able to work as well as she used to, how, at first, thoughts of self pity and doubt were common, and the noticeable difference in the way she was treated when living as disabled. My new experience working for my neighbor gave me insight into a part of the world otherwise locked off from me at the time. This new understanding helped me treat others with more respect and thought before making assumptions. In later years me and my family would have to take care of my grandfather who would fall ill. Again, my previous experience came in and helped me make a bigger difference in aiding him both physically and, more importantly, mentally.

Getting to Know My Neighbor

Peter Barrett

Breaking Through

Kiera Davenport

Amid a global pandemic, a surge in police brutality, systematic racism, and injustices towards the black community festered throughout the United States. Every social media platform, news outlet, and voice were speaking on the issues and posting videos of young black men and women passing away right before my eyes. These instances clouded my brain for months. I was constantly afraid to leave my house or speak to anyone about the situations happening within my community; all I wanted to do was escape. I allowed my mental and physical health to plummet and I wasn’t able to find my voice or motivate others to speak out on these problems. Suddenly, I received a message: to my surprise, I was asked to bring a group of black students together to speak on the subject prevailing in the community. The coordinator mentioned that I exhibited a hardworking and energetic spirit that would fit well into the leadership position. At that moment I wanted to ignore the message as a whole because I didn’t believe I had what it took to take on such an important role. However, this was the wrong attitude. Instead of hiding in the shadows of a crucial issue affecting my community of black individuals, I decided to take on the leadership role and encourage a group of black students to discuss the obstacles they face not only in a school setting but also in society. Together, we hosted a virtual meeting called the Black Student Town Hall where we presented and made light of the situation to over three thousand students and staff members. Leading and participating in the virtual meeting completely changed my perspective of what it means to be a leader and an activist. I was a voice for students who were afraid to speak up and became an individual for people to talk to when there was no one to listen to them. I motivated individuals to speak out on problems they were passionate about and to use their platforms to get their voices heard. Being able to inspire multiple individuals to talk about controversial topics has allowed them to have conversations with their peers and have informed discussions in classrooms, ultimately making individuals around them aware of issues in our society and around the world. My leadership skill to motivate others has given them the confidence to take lead and host empowering events including student panels and protest on imperative subjects. Since then, my school has had built-in advisory lessons in which they discuss an array of topics that are crucial for students to understand, namely mental health, and allowing for more social justice clubs and organizations to be formed. Having the opportunity to present my leadership skills and use them to impact others has created a stronger and more inclusive community and allowed the spread of ideas, opinions, and beliefs to flourish.

Learning to Fix Bikes

Sam Romasanta

One organization I volunteer at is called WheelsForAll. At WheelsForAll we collect donated bikes, fix them, and donate them to less fortunate families. Over the summer of 2020, I was in charge of fixing the donated bikes. During the summer, other team members from WheelsForAll kept giving me bikes to fix. My shed and front porch were filled with bikes. Although, when I started, I didn’t know how to fix the bikes I was given. I had all these bikes, yet I didn’t know where to start. I only knew the basics: fixing and adjusting the seats and filling tires with air. Unfortunately this wasn’t enough. The bikes needed other things to be fixed. In order to gain more in-depth knowledge about fixing bikes, I reached out to my uncle, who owned a bike shop at the time, to teach me. He came to my house a couple days a week and he taught me how to properly fix bikes. I would occasionally visit his bike shop to help. At the bike shop he showed what the things he does on a regular basis and what it’s like running a bike shop. In addition to learning how to fix bikes, my uncle lended me some tools that he uses. After learning how to fix bikes, I was able to apply that knowledge to fix the bikes WheelsForAll collected and while using proper and high quality tools. I was able to fix brakes, fix the gearing, adjust spokes, adjust the handlebar, and many other things. I spent a lot of my summer fixing all the bikes that were given. Towards the end of the summer, the bikes were donated to less fortunate kids. Not only did I get to something that I enjoyed doing, but I got to help others while doing so.

My Growth as Senior Patrol Leader

Charles Nowicki

I have always been a quiet kid that prefers to get jobs done in the background rather than directing events. I never imagined myself as a leader, much less the Senior Patrol Leader of my Scout Troop. But when my Troop needed a leader, I stepped up and ran for SPL. I learned a lot about leadership and planning through my position as SPL. Not only did I have to do the normal planning and coordinating required of an SPL, but I was also in charge of transitioning from virtual meetings and activities to an in-person environment during a global pandemic. I have learned a lot about what it truly means to be a leader. I’m not in charge of every detail, I enable other Scouts to step up and grow as future leaders. While I do coordinate all of the meetings, the specific activities are led by other Scouts. I give them the opportunity to grow and learn valuable life skills. I help to foster the next generation of leaders. One of the greatest challenges I have faced is the transition back to in-person activities as life starts to go back to normal after the global pandemic. I had to plan the first Troop Campout we have had since the pandemic first hit. Not only did I have to plan for camping, something none of us had done for over a year, but I also had to account for current Covid guidelines and safety. Because of the complexity, I needed to account for all the details and make sure that everything we did would be a good re-introduction to camping. To add even more complexity to the mix, I had a Cross Country Invitational the first morning of the campout, so I had to show up late to the campout. I had to coordinate with my ASPL, my second in command, to make sure that he fully understood the plan and was confident in himself to follow it. While I may not have been directly in charge, I was behind the scenes laying the groundwork for a successful campout. I may not have been at the first part of the campout, but I ran all of the planning meetings, I coordinated with the Troop quartermaster to make sure all of the gear was available, and I made sure that all the groups had meal plans for the campout. I have learned that I can effectively coordinate and plan for a large group of people, and that by being a Scout I have learned many of the key skills needed to lead people successfully.