I have noticed the deterioration of inter-community relations within my town. As a suburb of NYC, the influx of new "conscious" parents has led to the stripping away of inter-community projects. With more and more events being taken out of the students' hands, I decided to begin a quest to re-unite my community. A school district consisting of K-3, 4-5, 6-8, and 9-12 schools, I believe there are tremendous opportunities for each school, and each grade to interact with one another. In doing so, I strive for help to be given, education to be spread, time to be spent, and our community to be strengthened. As President of the high school's Cultural Awareness Club, I plan on having events that focus on specific schools within the district as well as some district-wide informational days. With a predominately white population, our community could only gain from increasing their knowledge of other cultures, which exist themselves within our schools. As Debate Team Captain, I also hope to open a public-speaking after-school workshop for those in grades 6-8. Growing up in the world of technology, many students have not been exposed enough to public-speaking, and quite a few are terrified. I hope to increase the confidence of these students and better prepare them for their futures. Additionally, as a dancer with classical training and as a member of our high school's Dance Crew and Dance Team, I have already began talks with administration about opening up a dance workshop for the K-3 school, hopefully to be spread to other areas in the district as well. The balance, focus, and self-confidence created by dance are benefits that I have enjoyed, and I hope to spread to others. As a choreographer for the Irvington Dance Crew, I have asked other dancers and choreographers to lend their time, training, and teaching abilities to my cause. An overwhelming number responded enthusiastically with promises of much-needed help down the road. While my efforts may seem small, I believe that every student within the district has something to learn from one other, and my projects can hopefully be the catalyst for more projects to be created. This idea first came to me when I was at the K-3 school, reading to the kindergarteners. They were amazed that a high school senior not only wanted to come to read to them, but was interested in their stories and lives. Their smiles warmed my heart and spurred a whirl-wind of images to fly through my mind, reminding me of all the other ways I could have already interacted with them but was prevented. This project is to take that feeling and turn it into action. This project will not only give to me, but will hopefully give to current students as well as future ones.
