Stephanie Dulany

I have learned so much since the beginning of our community service project. The first and most important thing that I have learned is that it is very rewarding to have responsbilities, more than your own, towards giving to the community. The most rewarding thing that we had the pleasure of being involved with was when we went to the Boys and Girls Club to tell them of the importance of keeping the local water streams clean of pollution. They all came from different places around Springfield, some from worse places than others, but they were all so interested in how they could contribute to keeping the local lakes and rivers clean of trash. They were able to come up with their own ideas of how they could help. In a way, it made them feel important that they, young kids, to contribute to a country-wide program of having clean water. I have definately changed as a person, and as a leader since this project began. It is so easy to get caught up in your own life of school, work, homework, etc. However, when you have the responsibility to teach young children things that you were never taught as a kid, it is eye opening. The only way to keep the entire country's water sources clean is to get as many people involved as possible. This aspect has taught me how to be a leader, and how to step out of my comfort zone and help a project that is bigger than myself and my life.