Reflections of a High School Youth Ambassador - What could be better than providing community service?

When students realize that impressive academics is only one characteristic of a well rounded and successful student, they begin to value learning experiences outside of the classroom, such as community service, much more. Community service is one thing that, as a High School Youth Ambassador, I have devoted much of my free time to.

 

I believe that the act of serving the community gives students like me a learning experience that is just as valuable, if not more, than a classroom learning experience. During the course of my high school years, I have participated in countless community service projects and have held positions of leadership on the advisory board of the Newseum (news history museum) in Washington, D.C. and the Youth Ambassadors UNICEF Club. I value community service greatly and can honestly say that the community service projects I have participated in have helped shape who I am today. I believe in the quote by Gandhi, "Be the change you want to see in the world," and have personally witnessed that with the right plan, a lot of hard work, and big hearts, even a few high school students can get together and make great things happen.

Some of my most cherished high school memories are actually those from community service events that my friends and I have participated in. Whether we were making ConKerr Cancer pillowcases to deliver to young cancer patients in local hospitals, fundraising to help alleviate the troubles of water shortages in less economically developed nations, or advocating against teen dating violence within our own community, we were always excited to participate, anxious to learn, and pleased to be making a difference.

Knowing that something I do, no matter how small it is, can benefit the life of someone else is what keeps me willing to continue participating in community service projects, yet, when volunteering, I not only get the satisfaction of helping others, but I am also able to learn more about myself (my skills and interests) and the world around me. One instance where community service has helped me become a more informed citizen is when the Youth Ambassadors UNICEF Club was advocating the importance of water and the affects of water scarcity in less economically developed nations.  In order to successfully advocate this, it was necessary for me to learn all about it; learning about how hard a basic necessity like water is to obtain for some people inspired me to conserve more water and stop taking it for granted. I have enjoyed participating in community service projects so much that I have even based my career plans for the future on it and am planning to continue to serve the community for as long as I can. Mother Theresa once said, "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."

I am proud of all of the community service that I have done as a High School Youth Ambassador and am also proud to be a role model for younger students, such as my two little brothers. I am glad that they can learn, from me, the value and importance of community service, not only for the community, but for their personal enrichment as well.  I owe a lot to the school faculty and sponsors who were willing to devote their rare free time to guiding me and my peers through community service projects. None of it could be possible without them. Consequently, I believe that community service should be strongly encouraged in all schools, and am thankful for the community service opportunities that were given to me as a High School Youth Ambassador.    

Djellza Ramadani

 

True Love, True Reality Reception

In Reach Raises Awareness about Teen Dating Violence
 

 

 

Hyattsville, MD |  On February 15, 2013, In Reach’s Youth Ambassadors held True Love, True Reality, a Teen Dating Violence Awareness Reception and Program to recognize National Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Month which included awarding the winners of their first county-wide poetry competition.

Statistics show that nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience abuse from a dating partner in a single year, or roughly 1 in 3 teens.  “The Youth Ambassadors are amazing and have worked really hard to raise awareness about such an important issue. The poetry contest and the reception have allowed us to reach communities throughout Prince George’s County.” said executive director Ms. Toni Smith.

Congratulations again to our True Love, True Reality Poetry Contest winners and Honorable Mentions:

First Place - Justina Molokwu, senior, Parkdale High School, for Broken Cycle of Tears

Second Place - Marie Iyomahan, sophomore, DuVal High School, for Dashuri (Albania for Love)

Third Place - Bethel Babayemi, freshman, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, for The Many Faces of Love

Honorable Mentions - Amber Patton and Maria Lorditch of Bowie High School and Damilola Adeyemi of Largo High School

In addition to the winners, congratulations and thank you to the Parkdale artists who provided the beautiful artwork for the awards: José Lima Rosas, Joshua Newman and Jamilet Cordan.

A special thank you Dr. Judy Dubose, Director of the Prince George’s County Department of Family Services - Children, Youth & Families Division for bringing greetings and Ms. Dannielle Glaros, Chief of Staff, Prince George’s County Council Member Eric Olson’s (D-3) office for presenting the Youth Ambassadors with a Proclamation and making our program a successful and memorable event. We could not have done this without your support. 

In Reach would like to thank all 23 of the Poetry Contestants:

Bowie High School - Maria Lorditch, Amber Patton, Coco N. Terry

Frederick Douglass High School - Noelia Cruz

DuVal High School - Marie Iyomahan

Fairmont Heights High School: Karim Kambo          

High Point High School - Karina Escobar

Largo High School - Damilola Adeyemi, Nnedi Agubokwu

Laurel High School - Cierra Major

Parkdale High School - Christian Bautista, Elvin Cruz, Elmer Hernandez, Deon Magnus, Justina Molokwu, Jissella Urquilla

Potomac High School - Ja’Kwan Craddock

Eleanor Roosevelt High School - Bethel Babayemi

Suitland High School - Gabrielle Durant

Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr., High School - Gilberto Hernandez, Maryam Siddique, Patrice Sykes, Diamond Ward

Read more about the True Love, True Reality Project, view event videos and pictures, download the poetry souvenir book, and sign up for the mailing list on our informative teen dating website, www.truelovetruerealitypgc.inreachinc.org.

The Youth Ambassadors, based at Parkdale High School, offers students a variety of opportunities to become college and career ready, build financial literacy life skills, and engage in meaningful service learning projects, like this one, to address the issues that directly impact them.

Based in Cheverly, MD, In Reach, Inc., is a tax exempt 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization designed to prepare students for college, work and life. Founded in 1999, In Reach envisions healthy, productive and prepared young adults in every family.