Community service.
It's not everyone's cup of tea. Getting involved? Helping people? Taking the leap of faith, the risk? Stepping out of the comfortable realms into the unknown? Socializing? Getting to know more of the community outside the walls of school and home?
These questions went through my mind as a sixth-grader, too shy to even get involved in after-school clubs, but somehow still worthy enough to get honor roll all year. I was afraid of socializing with people, yet my passion was to help people. How ironic, right? I doubted myself and liked where I was. I was comfortable with being quiet, comfortable with staying in my 'personal bubble.' It felt like the good life.
But then seventh grade came and turned all those questions into a reality.
Having received honor roll in sixth grade allowed me the chance to get inducted into the middle school's National Junior Honors Society (NJHS) in seventh grade. There was one condition, though, that had me standing on the line: in order to be inducted, I had to be involved in at least one club. Reality hit me like a wall. Me, getting involved? I was too shy, too quiet. No way! If I really wanted to be inducted, I had a choice in front of me. After all, my passion was to help people. Why not act on it and start now? I crossed the line and joined Builder's Club (the middle school version of the high school's Key Club). My life forever changed as I stepped out into the world of community service. As a club, we collected the recycling around the school, participated in the walk for autism, dressed up as elves at Christmas to give toys to kids, gardening in the local park, and so much more. By the induction ceremony in late May 2010 (the cover photo for this article), I felt I had really stepped out and made a difference in such a short time of getting involved. By eighth grade in September 2010 and into 2011, I was involved in Guitar Club, Builder's Club, Global Citizen's Club, and became the Secretary for the American Baptist Girls of Pennsylvania and Delaware.
After that, I couldn't wait to join clubs at the high school I would be attending. As a freshman, I wanted to get involved, help people, and be myself in the process. I joined my church's softball team as a right fielder and pitcher. I read the Bible at the back of the capitol steps in Washington, D.C. I became a part of my youth group's student leadership. I joined Key Club and Habitat for Humanity, two very different clubs, yet both did community service. Being in art classes had me involved in the art show each year. Combining the two clubs, so much was happening: the annual spaghetti dinner for the community held in November each fall, car washes, Cops n' Kids, bake sales, fundraisers, road clean-up, ice cream socials, care packaging, etc. Late junior year in March 2014, I won the Bob Bagan's Unsung Hero Award at a Key Club Convention that I couldn't make it to, but was presented at that day's meeting, for being involved. Taking it home, I was blown away by the word 'hero.' Me, a hero? I wasn't being a hero. I was being myself and following my passion, because that is where my heart is, and that's what it means to me.
I feel that's what drew me to the college where I am. Being involved and community service is big at the college and I wanted to continue to do so. I'm involved in so much on campus, which surprised many during Freshman year (because I'm still quiet at times) to the point where classmates were blown away. I have met many wonderful people in the process through involvement so far...and I'm only a Sophomore. I am and have been part of the improv group on campus (FADED), Secretary for Cedar Crest Christian Fellowship, a writer for the student-run newspaper (The Crestiad), Preterite, RHRA, Needles and Hooks, and a student volunteer at Community Bike Works for my Ethical Life class. Even still, I can't wait for more opportunities to come, opportunities I wouldn't have if I didn't get involved earlier and had a passion for it.
To everyone out there, no matter where you are in life: get involved. I know it seems that the world is a scary place, but when you look deeper, you look past all that. Community service means taking a risk. You get out of your comfort zone, your 'personal bubble.' It gets you to realize that there is so much more going on outside of your world than you realize. Even if you're scared of socializing, don't be afraid to! Even a single word of encouragement or a helping hand to a person you're helping can brighten their day and put a spark in their life. You have no idea how you touch a person's life until you take that step, that uncomfortable step, that risky step and do so.
It's worth it. Being involved in community service is worth it!
