YYGS provided us with the opportunity to listen to an alumni panel. The alumni talked about their experiences at YYGS and, most importantly, the initiatives that they started. I was able to draw a few parallels between myself and the alumni, and, most importantly, feel that I am not alone. I wish to follow the path of those alumni who have inspired me to grow my organization and put my best foot forward.
At the start of this school year, I organized a book drive. This was part of my agenda for the Biomedical and Life Science Youth Society (BLYS), an educational organization I founded in the summer of 2020. Unlike my other volunteering activities, this project was created, led, and executed by me. It involved building a wooden container, which, with permission from the homeowner association, was erected outside of my house. Over the course of the next month, the structure will remain open for donations from any willing passersby or neighbors. Donors are able to put old or unwanted books to good use while recipients (schools, shelters, daycare centers, etc.) enjoy new reading materials from a variety of topics and genres. When I first conceived the idea for this project, I was shy; this is the first time I have done something like this and I felt doubtful about the project’s potential. However, shortly after the project began, donations came pouring in. The drive collected over 100 books and the donations keep coming. Despite any initial impressions, I learned to confidently follow through with my dreams and ideas.