Liam TaylorGrade: 11
Weekly Service Sites: Add on Math at Barton Hill What is your favorite Chadwick Service memory? My favorite Chadwick community service memory happened during weekly service during fall of my Freshman year. We had gone to the service site (at Barton Hill Elementary) only a few times before, and we were starting to build connections with the children. On that day when we went to Barton Hill, I saw the kids' eyes really light up and all of them were very excited to see us. This moment was my favorite because the children's reactions affirmed to me that my peers and I were having a positive impact on them and were contributing in providing a memorable experience for them in their young lives. Why do you do service? The main reason I do service is to help the world become a more connected, accepting, and better place. I believe this can happen in a multitude of ways. You can seek to bridge the gaps and inequalities present in our communities through positive interpersonal connections and contribute to fostering a more fulfilling and meaningful experience in people's lives. You can also seek to improve the world by focusing on projects that are not only intended for one certain type of person, but are intended to improve the lives of many. Service can involve a lot of people coming together to make a considerable impact, but service can also be someone doing the little things: picking up trash, doing small acts of kindness, or even checking in on people that you do not usually interact with. To me, service is something that everyone can contribute to in promoting a better community. There are many opportunities to serve, and these opportunities are so customizable to your preferences and passions. I view service as an opportunity to give back and contribute to a worldwide mission through your passions and your gifts—a meaningful experience for not only the people you serve, but also a meaningful experience for yourself. What have you learned about yourself through service? I learned that in order to find meaning within myself and fully appreciate life, I must have service present in my life. I strongly believe that all are in need of some sort of support, whether it be little or small, and that everyone can help one another in promoting the best community possible and becoming the best people we strive to be. I have learned that in a world that is open and not afraid to help one another, we can be vulnerable, collaborate, and connect with one another more easily, especially in times of uncertainty. Besides service, what else are you involved in? In school, I am involved with the Ability Affinity Group, which has given me the opportunity to learn a lot about neurodiversity. I also play soccer for Chadwick and a club team, and I volunteer as a referee in my local AYSO region. |