As we have slowly been finishing our curriculum, the Student Service Program was fortunate to have Dr. Nekeshia Hammond as a guest speaker. She spoke on the last habit from our curriculum book [The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens] and used the wise words of Gandhi to inspire us, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” They were the perfect words of encouragement as we began to embark on our fundraising project. They were inspirational, as I believe we finally realized that as teenagers, we could still make a difference. Our project is allowing us to take on roles that adults have as their occupations. Knowing that we are able to accomplish our project’s goals, gives us the spark to continue making change for the rest of our lives. Dr. Hammond gifted us with beautiful glass plaques containing the quote. Today, it sits on my bedside table and is one of the first things I see every morning. I am able to wake up every morning knowing that I have the Power of Giving and that I can make a change every day for the rest of my life.
— Nedi Ferekides