Image courtesy of Hannah Busing
By Sofia Calderon
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
At the beginning of my freshman year, I joined my school’s biggest club. With over 200 members, our club had its eyes set on supporting our community in any way we could. Through a student-led board, leaders of the club reached out to other community organizations to find out when and where we could help. One of my very first events was the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. At a local park, we helped to pass out water and T-shirts and inform visitors of the event. The summative activity was a walk on a two-mile pond loop. My friends and I walked, talked, and laughed about the past few hours and how hard we had worked. That day, we also learned about Alzheimer’s and heard stories from people who have been affected by it in every way.
A year and a half later, I’m on the executive board of this club, working hard and helping my community. Working with this club has taught me a lot. Volunteering at least once a month, I’ve come to understand how helping others makes me and the people around me feel; leaving feeling better than when we arrived. I’ve also found that participating in this club has allowed me to spend more time with my friends. Every chance we get, me and my best friend sign up to volunteer together helping children at sports classes or cats and dogs at the local animal shelter. At the sports classes, children with disabilities are prioritized, getting to have fun with each other and learning how to play different games and skills including hand-eye coordination and how to work together. We volunteers are vital members of this organization’s activities, without us the kids wouldn’t get the attention they deserve.
The most unexpected part of joining this club was the leadership knowledge I would gain. While the club has always been student-led, I never thought I would be one of them. After finding out how much I enjoy volunteering, I ran for a board position and got elected. Through this position, I’ve gotten to meet some amazing people, on the board and off. It’s also introduced me to other community leaders I might have never known otherwise.
Volunteering improves the lives of those around you and proves you a larger sense of purpose. Passionate community volunteers are the lifeblood of many organizations, allowing them to function and support adults, seniors, and children across communities. When’s the next time you can volunteer for your community?
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