Breaking Boundaries

In 10th grade I put together a petition and a proposal letter for the club idea, which I gave to my principal for consideration. After a year of struggling with financial concerns from the Board of Education, the club was permitted to be instituted as an "unofficial club" at our high school. We participated in Autism Speak's Walk now for Autism, held fundraisers such as Karaoke for a Cause and a Spring Festival, visited special education classrooms in our district, and held a "Parent-Member Connection," a night of arts-and-crafts and socialization for special needs children. We are currently in our second year, planning to do all of the same things, with the addition of more fundraisers and trips. I am personally in the process of getting Breaking Boundaries installed in other schools. Students from Happauge High School and Smithtown High School have expressed interest in starting the club at their school and, recently, it was approved to run this year at Sayville High School. At college I plan to start another club whose purpose will be to spread the High School club to more High Schools. The benefits of Breaking Boundaries have been massive in our community's eyes; the children have had more opportunities for socialization, the parents are delighted with the work we've done, and the community has become more aware and accepting toward the cause. Yet, to me, the greatest outcome of the club has been on it's members; I have witnessed members step out of their comfort zones to reach out to children, to fall in love with these amazing children and learn to appreciate and understand them. We have truly all grown from the experiences that our events have granted us.