ACTBOLD Now and Always

Reflecting on my school experience, I get to take a step back and look at community service from a variety of perspectives. There is community service as a requirement at school, community service as a responsibility, community service as a passion, or maybe a combination of all of the above but it is interesting to think about the extent to which community service plays a role in the lives of people around the world. It is also interesting to think about what it means to “do community service.” Does it mean volunteering in your local community? In the global community? Does it mean donating money or advocating for a cause you’re passionate about? Does it mean taking a stand again an injustice? What I have come to realize is that it means all of that and it means something different to everyone.

For me, it has played an integral role in my life as a high school student. By being an active member of my community and opening my eyes to the world outside my high school “bubble,” I have learned what it truly means to be part of something and to be a citizen of the world. The service board at my school was my niche. It is where I found comfort, surrounded by other students who frequently volunteer and love giving back. That being said, community service isn’t a passion for everyone and that is okay, but I hope that in small ways, through the service board and my work with Girl Up, I can provide insight as to why your actions matter and give you confidence in your abilities to make a difference in a variety of ways.

What I can say for sure is that developing a habit of serving your community by donating your time and energy to a cause is one that develops in middle and high school. That is not to say that it is too late to start volunteering after you graduate from high school, but it is during those years when you commit to making the time that you develop a life-long commitment. No matter how busy you get, you will not stop making the effort to lend your time for the good of others once you have established a habit. And as we all know, habits are hard to break!

So as you end your school year and head into summer, however old you are, think about the ways in which you can use your unique talents and strengths to help someone else. Even if you do not make a huge commitment, you can better the life of one person and maybe more. So go out there, find what your passionate about or what you care about, and ACTBOLD.

One of my favorite quotes!

Cassidy’s Place

In New York City, well over 14,000 children sleep in shelters every night and every day over 600,000 children go hungry because they live in households in which parents must regularly choose between paying the rent and buying food.

Last year, almost 70,000 children were reported victims of child abuse or neglect. Each and every day, hunger, homelessness, physical and emotional abuse, abandonment, neglect, substance abuse, substandard housing, failing schools and disease endanger children’s welfare and undermine their future.

The Association to Benefit Children (ABC) creates model programs that are easily replicable, compassionate, comprehensive, cost-effective and sustainable. Their focus is on early childhood education programs. There are five early education programs across the New York area. I volunteer at Cassidy’s Place 120 preschoolers who live in poverty and suffer from severe disabilities, serious medical problems and have significant special needs develop, play and learn in nine dynamic and inviting classrooms.

Children, who might otherwise be unable to attend school, enjoy an enriched curriculum and the special therapies that help them achieve their highest potential.

Working with the children at Cassidy’s Place has given me a first-hand example of the value of an education. I am amazed to see the transformation in all the children from the beginning of the year until now. Children who would not say a single word, now will not cease to tell me stories about their day, their friends, and their family. Children who would throw tantrums and not sleep during naptime unless they could sleep on my lap, now sleep completely on their own and use their words when they are upset. Children who although started off the year refusing to participate in group activities or make eye contact with me are now some of the most active members of the classroom.

one of the kids enjoying the holiday party last year