Looking Inwards

By Liam Ambrosino

 

As summer winds to an end, it’s time to reflect back on a year of volunteer experiences and efforts. When I first started writing these newsletters, I had no idea how eye opening the experience would be for me. Not only did I not realize how many noble causes and efforts were happening in our community, but I got to see the results in real time. 

 

My first experience with Start 1 Spark was interviewing volunteers at a Martin Luther King Day of Service event at Falling Creek Middle School. Volunteers were preparing sets for the school’s spring theater production. Being able to interview these volunteers face to face was an extremely eye opening experience. 

 

That experience did not stop there. As the months went on, I interviewed more and more people who put in countless hours of work. As I conducted more and more interviews, I was able to see the progress of the theater production in the background. 

 

This culminated in an interview with volunteers who helped make the production’s opening night a success. As the interview progressed, I felt myself growing proud of the team of volunteers and their dedication, despite only being on site for a single day. 

 

It just goes to show the power of community and togetherness. Every event I went to or wrote about had its own unique purpose, but they all shared one common goal: bringing people together to make a positive difference. I saw firsthand how even small acts of kindness could have a meaningful impact.

 

Another amazing thing about writing these newsletters is the wide array of people I spoke to - students, teachers, community leaders, and longtime volunteers - all of whom had different stories to tell and viewpoints to share. It really allowed me to immerse myself in my community and get perspectives I would’ve never originally had. 

 

As summer comes to a close and the school year starts to begin, I hope I was able to highlight not only the incredible work of Start 1 Spark and its volunteers, but also inspire others to get involved in their own communities. Whether through volunteering or supporting local initiatives everyone has the ability to make a positive impact. I'm thankful to have been part of sharing these stories, and I look forward to seeing how our community continues to grow in the years ahead.