Be the change you wish to see!

There are so many times that we wish things in our neighborhoods, communities, countries, things in our world were better. That disease had cures, that everyone had a place called to call home, and possessed the basic necessities to survive. But a harsh reality shows us otherwise. As harsh as that we reality is there is a glimmer of hope, and it is within us. We can truly make our reality a lot brighter through service.

An individual who volunteers his or her time is worth anywhere between 18-21 dollars an hour. For someone who is specially trained in the service act they are providing the amount per hour shoots up to a remarkable 40-50 dollars an hour.  This is how much we are saving our local governments and social agencies when we lend a helping hand. And so with the economic issues that we face, volunteering becomes even more important is combating the grassroots issue that we face.


What I love about volunteering is that one can choose any cause and truly make a difference. Different life experiences cause us to champion different causes, and no matter what that cause may be, it is a worthy one. Community service is great for the community but also highly beneficial for the volunteer themselves.  Volunteers gain and develop skills, are able to network, gain new life perspectives and leadership skills just to name a few. 

I can go on and on and on about the benefits of service but I want to more than just tell people about it, I want to motivate them to go out there and be the change they wish to see. So how am I going to do this? By being and doing just that- being the change I wish to see! I am an avid participant with various organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Students Promoting Awareness Responsibilty Knowledge and Service (S.P.A.R.K.S) organization. Within these organizations I serve as a mentor, an event planner, a laborer and a fundraiser. I advocate for numerous causes that I am passionate about which includes but is not limited to: the importance of a healthy lifestyle, HIV awareness, cancer awareness, veteran issues, and the importance of service and education. I am also competing for the Miss Virgin Islands pageant (state pageant for Miss America) in July, with the hope that the position will allow me to inspire and motivate more people than I would on own.  I have also taken what I believe is the ultimate step of service, by enlisting in the US Army Reserve and serving in Afghanistan from 02/10-03/11.

I am only one person but I will always do whatever I can to make a difference. I pray that in reading this post you will be inspired to do the same; to make a difference through service.