Students from local high schools attended United Way Youth Leadership Day, which focused on teaching students how to help out the community. Attendees also learned about several organizations in the community that promote the United Way focuses of education, financial stability and health.
“More students should take the time out to help,” senior Jorvis McGee said. “someone else could need help, and we just wouldn’t know because we’re to busy trying to help our own self, but we should help others in the process of helping ourselves.”
This event was planned by the United Way Youth Leadership Cabinet, which is formed by students from local high schools. The organization helps students become better leaders and also helps volunteer around the community.
“I hope that everybody here will realize that they were leaders when they walked in,” United Way marketing director Laurie Garret said. “And, they can maybe do some things they never thought that they would be doing.”
Besides learning about volunteering around the community, students also learned how they can be better leaders through tours of some of the United Way agencies around the community, service-oriented skits, and a keynote speaker from United Way.
“It’s how we develop ourselves to become the people we are if we’re good leaders,” United Way CEO Hank Roraback said “We are setting an example for other people in the community to do the same, so it really is what makes a community successful is to have good leadership.”
For junior Nash Porter, being a part of the United Way Youth Leadership Cabinet is an opportunity to give back to the community.
“[Being a leader] gets you far in life,” Porter said. ” I think a lot more people can give a lot more than they think they can.”
Other students have also noted the need for student leaders, to serve as role models and to benefit the community.
“I think some people just need a role model and some people just need that extra push to help keep them growing,” BHS student Marissa Fava said. “It’s a learning experience for everybody.”
