Yearbook Advertising/Community Copy

Megan Gillespie, Westwind
West Henderson HS (Hendersonville, N.C.)

Hands on experience

Sitting in class with a smile on her face, sophomore Stephanie VanWingerden reflected on the previous day. She felt good about putting smiles on the kids’ faces at Mainstay by volunteering a little of her time.

“I love volunteering,” VanWingerden said. “It’s fun to be able to help others and be there for them. I like baby sitting at Mainstay because I absolutely love little kids, and I wanted to help out. I also went on a mission trip to Mexico with my church last summer. There was a five-year-old boy named Jose, and he was the cutest little boy. He was very small and everyday I would hold him so long that my arms would be numb. It was extremely hard trying to communicate with them the way I would have liked. One day we were playing and we started yelling back and forth. It was one of the funniest things because in a weird say it was like we had something in common.’

Junior Tonya Young said, “ I feel better about myself knowing when I volunteer, I’m a role model to the kids I babysit at Mainstay. When I first started to volunteer, I need the hours, but now I do it to help others.”

Several students recognized the need for volunteers in the community. They chose to lend out a helping hand.

“Students shouldn’t volunteer for the sole purpose of having something else to write on a college application,” senior Anna Hinsahw said. “Students should start volunteering because they are devoted to the cause. Community service projects provide the opportunity for people to help make a positive difference tin the community, meet new people who care about the same issues, and get involved in something they enjoy However, a nice bonus for those who do volunteer is having a better-looking application.”