Sophia G., Kettering Fairmont High School
Having Fun While Helping Others in Your Community!
“ In every job that must be done there is a element of fun; you find the fun, and snap, the jobs a game.” - Mary Poppins. Most people when they are doing their jobs aren’t having fun! But since I am only 14 years old I am not old enough to have a job. Therefore, I found some activities to do around my community to help others and have fun at the same time. For example, last summer I did something called summer of service. So my church group and I would go to a apartment complex and we would feed families and play with the little kids there!
As a result of doing this service project my dad always asked me if I was having fun. I would reply with the same answer and always say yes! He would then go on to ask me why, I would say it is because I love to see the smiles on the little kids faces when they see a big kid asking them if they wanted to play. When I would serve these little kids food it would give me a sense of peace and closure knowing that these little kids weren’t going to bed with an empty stomach at night. Which made me very proud of my church group and I. It made me just want to help more and more!!!
Likewise, one day all the kids and the volunteers were playing a big game of kickball. After the game of kickball the little kids kept saying that we had to play again and again. But, the look on the little kids faces when they were told that we had to leave was heartbreaking. I remember I met the cutest little girl ever. The last day of our service project I had to tell her goodbye. She started to cry and gave me a big hug. But the best thing she said to me and I’ll always remember this, she said to me Thank you. Those two simple words have changed my life forever.
For this reason, I went home to my mom and I thanked her for signing me up for the project. I told her I wanted to do it next year and that she should do it too because she will just have the best of times with those little kids! And afterwards you will realise that others may not not have it as good as some of us. But, afterwards you will feel like you have made an impact in their life because they have made one in yours.
In the end you should always find something in life that helps others, helps yourself, and of course you have fun while doing it! So I would completely recommend Summer of service! Your face will light up along with everyone there! As has been mentioned help others and you’ll get an award. The award of having fun and feeling great about yourself and your community.