Volunteering and being apart of groups or clubs has always been a HUGE part of my life! I never like to sit idle when there is something going on; I'm just not that kind of person. Some say it's just being nosy and trying to look better than everybody else, but this is usually coming from those who do nothing other than go to school, eat, sleep, go on Facebook/Twitter and play video games. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with all that, but there's so much more out there to do in addition to those things! The activities that I'm involved with, were never to be nosy or "out-do" anyone. It was more to make new friends and experience the world outside school and home.. corny, I know. "Spicing It Up" is all about taking risks and putting yourself out there, so that's what I've been trying to do all along.
Wouldn't everyone love to say that being a leader is easy! To be that leader you need to have people willing to follow under your lead. From experience, I believe that the best way to do this is to get your name out and show people who you are and what you can do. Getting involved in different kinds of activities doesn't hurt either! Some days you might see me in the gym with the badminton team. Other times I could be tutoring a student in the library. And at the annual Christmas and Spring concerts you'll always find me proudly wearing my blue, band shirt playing my clarinet along with the rest of them. Every year is a busy year for me!
I've already mentioned in another blog posting how I use to be involved in a group called "Circle of Friends". This was back in elementary school but, it was my first crack at feeling how volunteering can pay for itself. Working with disabled students was always a challenge because you never knew what they were going to throw at you, but that's what made it special. Every day with them, taught me something different. And the best days were when I could get them to laugh and smile. :)
It may come with having a little sister, but I've always loved working with kids. At the library I volunteer with the Junior Reading Club, and in the summer, at Killdevil Camp. I've learned that I've got to watch what I say and do because to those children, I can be seen as a role model. It's such a great feeling when a younger child feels comfortable enough to come up to you and ask a question, for example. When I was a kid, tall people were scary! It took me ages to gather up the courage to ask a question or for help! So when a little one approaches me or tells me I'm doing a good job, it's the best feeling in the world!
At school, my role I suppose, is that of a leader. I'm a member of student council. I'm not the president or anything, but I've always been actively involved in spirit days, fundraisers and other school events. I'm a leader in the school band, helping out the younger and the less experienced players. And academically, I've always been a leader when it comes to tutoring other students in various subjects. I like tutoring for the fact that I have to be able to explain how to do something to someone else. It can be extremely difficult at times! All and all, I like the challenges being a leader brings on.
Growing up I was never involved in piano lessons, guides or cadets like most kids seem to have been. That never really bothered me, especially now when I've just dived head first into everything else. Recently, I've even started taking guitar lessons. There's always something new to learn or something else to get into. Who knows, by next year I could be training to be a mountain climber or want to be apart of the latest mall, flash mob. I don't necessarily have to be involved in a world-changing movement, just the involvement part is important to me. You'll never see me sitting idle and I think that's the way it should be.
