Author Archives : enloestuco

At the beginning of my Charity Ball journey in the Fall of 2019, I was an energetic and charismatic Freshman Senator that wasn’t quite sure of who I was, my purpose on Enloe Charity Ball, or even my purpose at Enloe itself. My time here has been characterized by hitting…

As I walk into my first student council meeting as a timid freshman, I become enthralled by the curated chaos that we call Greatco—I look at the board, and it states: “New freshman, stand up on your desks and say your walkout song.” Soon after I glance at the slide,…

Sitting on the cold tile floor of the atrium, staring at purples and teals smeared across the poster paper that would soon be hung in the atrium for all of the student body to see, I sat bewildered as a freshman seeing the power of publicity firsthand. As I watched…

I live in Southeast Raleigh. In my community, many of us live similar lifestyles. Living in a neighborhood where we know resources are slim but living with the sense that we have more than enough. I visibly see some of my neighbors going through health difficulties, many unable to get…

“17 seconds, from Game 7 or from Championship #6. Jordan…open…he shoots…CHICAGO WITH THE LEAD!” These are the words that were announced by the commentator as Michael Jordan made the jump shot that won him and the Chicago Bulls their 6th NBA Championship. They referred to that season as “The Last…

It feels like forever ago, when I walked into the haphazardly furnished, oddly polygonal, corner room that belonged to Ms. Schroeder. I didn’t know that at the time it belonged to Ms. Schroeder. I sat down on the cold, itchy carpet that reminded me of my first-grade morning Circle Time….

In order to reach our ambitious fundraising goal each year, Student Council cannot only rely on Charity Ball ticket sales and donations but also on events within our own school. Each fall, we plan an increasing number of activities like the kickball game, Space Jam, and chess tournament with the…

I’ve lived in many different places and met many different types of people. Despite all this, I can truly say that the students of Enloe Student Council are some of the most driven, passionate individuals I have ever been honored to encounter. When I first decided to run for student…

Monday, Room 607, 3:20 PM. From my corner, I observe the bustling committees—Outreach, Logistics, Publicity, Service, Finance; the fumes of diligence and passion seem to burst throughout the room. As someone begins designing a banner for the atrium and another begins allocating tasks for 2A Wars, I am reminded of…

For the past four months, the halls of Enloe High School have been buzzing with Charity Ball mania: fundraising, caroling, sending emails, volunteering and more. Hours of student council meetings and fundraising events all leading up to the night of charity ball. On December 10, hundreds of students dressed to…

Snowflakes are winter’s most alluring creations, formed by interactions with the atmosphere along their journey from the sky to the ground. The slightest chance of snow in Raleigh stirs so much excitement, yet the beauty of individual snowflakes is invisible to the naked eye. These mere specks of white hold…

Integrity, gratitude, privilege, and humility. These 4 words have meant so much to me in my life since I was born. My parents taught me these fundamental principles so I could grow and prosper with the greatest discretions. At first, I didn’t comprehend the critical applications of these values, but…

“What you are defined by is what you are willing to struggle for.” -Mark Manson Throughout my life, I’ve always been told to set my best foot forward. Whether this was inside or outside of the classroom, I’ve always set one foot in front of the other to achieve my…

The past few years have been filled with stops and goes. I remember the weeks of online school that closed in-person learning for over a year, and the rush of running from student council meetings to soccer practice to the library. I’ve learned a lot about myself, and I know…

They say a butterfly can flap its wings and cause a typhoon. How such a small thing can make such a significant impact might be hard to fathom, but on student council, I’ve had the amazing privilege to experience it for myself. Two years ago, when I first ran for…

I’ve learned so much in being part of Enloe Charity Ball for the past 2 years. I used to think that what mattered was getting donations; that someone’s contribution would only be measured in monetary value. However, I learned that what makes the organization isn’t how much money we raise,…

As I have grown older, I have realized the importance of being grateful for the things that you have. Spending time wishing you have what other people have makes for unhappiness, and I have learned to appreciate everything I have now. I am grateful for my parents and brother, my…

2022 marks my second year of being in the Enloe student council. So far, it has been such a great experience and each year it gets better and better. This year’s beneficiary, Alliance Medical Ministry, is an organization I’m truly honored to advocate for. I’ve personally had people close to…

“Did you get enough donuts, Mom?” It was December 4th, about a week before 2021’s Charity Ball. I was hosting a slew of other Enloe students to meet for caroling near my house. I checked the sign-up for it and was surprised to see that twenty-five students would be coming…

Hakuna Matata is a saying I have heard throughout my whole life. It is a phrase that slowly turned into something that only brought me anger and annoyance. My parents, The Lion King, and even kids in my classes would constantly tell me Hakuna Matata when presented with an obstacle…

“If you had to describe Enloe Charity Ball in one word, what would it be?” We were filming interviews for a documentary the publicity committee was making about ECB, so I walked in prepared to answer some hard-hitting questions. The answer to this one, however, was easy. Memories of us…

Throughout my past few years on Enloe student council, I learned how important spreading love and service is to a good community at school and in Raleigh. As a sophomore, I was nervous to run for student council because I wasn’t sure if I would get elected but I’m so…

This is my first and last time being a part of the Student Council in my high school experience. I wanted to join to be more connected to my school and the people in it. Being on the student council has always looked cool in movies, and I am glad…

It was 2020 and school had gone from two weeks of closure to a year. Being at home all day, barred from any kind of social interaction, some of us came back the next year prepared and ready to meet new people. But others came back too scared to converse…

This year we brought back Mini Charity Ball at Hunter Elementary. It was a lot of fun being able to teach the kids who we are and what we are doing, while still having loads of fun. I was in charge of sock hockey with Kevin and Rhiddik, we set…

Feeling safe, feeling that you’ll be okay, feeling sure that no matter what happens, your loved ones will be ok. Isn’t that something everyone wants? The assurance that you or your loved ones will be okay even in a matter of crisis. I never knew that this was something that…

I have played hockey for 10 years and lived on this planet for 16, but until this year I had never heard the phrase “Buy In”. “Buying In” is accepting of and being willing to actively support and participate in something. The phrase was first introduced to our hockey team…

What’s buzzing, filled with spirit, and black and white all over? The classrooms used for the Charity Ball Chess Tournament! Chess may be limited to a two-player game but its values extend to over millions of people. One of the most important skills to become a master at chess is…

The feeling I get when Charity Ball is around the corner is one of the best I’ve ever experienced. Charity Ball is the unity of Enloe students. People come together and enjoy one night with every grade and every Admin—a family gathering. I take so much joy in knowing we…

In my eyes, “home” begins not with the physical characteristics of one’s dwelling, but instead with the lives and dreams to which its amenities breed occupance. When returning to my quiet neighborhood after long days at school, victim to the lull of senior-year-induced exhaustion, I am challenged to uphold this…

I was nearing the end of my volunteering shift at Southeast Raleigh Elementary School when I grabbed a whiteboard eraser from a nearby container and started to wipe math equations off the table. A group of first-graders huddled around me, eagerly waiting for me to finish my task. They asked…

This year is my final ride with Enloe Student Council. I was blessed with this opportunity and I have been thankful every step of the way. Under the mentorship and guidance of Ms. Schroeder and Mr. Barilich, I thrived not only as a council member but as a person. Each…

When we hosted Mini Charity Ball at Hunter Elementary, it reminded me of my roots. I am an alum myself, having been shaped by the school in my six years of attendance. It really opened up my eyes to see that I was able to make an impact on the…

As I sat down in front of my computer on December 10th, 2021 to outline this post, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate last gesture to wrap up this particular Charity Ball season. This writing won’t be done slowly and it won’t be perfectly hammered out. But I will…

At 10 years old, I put on my light-up high tops, buckle up my seatbelt, and sit back and relax as my dad makes the journey towards 201 E Hargett St… otherwise known as Marbles Kids Museum. Marbles introduced me to the beauty of Raleigh, the wonderful city that we…

This year I spearheaded the Kickball Tournament. I had worked on the Kickball Tournament in my Sophomore year and I made jokes about having one this year in my campaigns. The Kickball Tournament is an event in which Enloe clubs come together to play Kickball, collect funds, and raise awareness…

Pointillism is a painting technique developed by French artist Georges Sureau, famous for his work titled A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. It consists of dots of color that, from a distance, create an image.  Enloe Charity Ball is the perfect piece of pointillist art. It…

Four years ago, I was hesitant. Hesitant to try new things. Hesitant to meet new people. Hesitant to go out of my comfort zone. This hesitancy became a wall that I had to climb in order to find myself and the potential that I could reach.  I was finally able…

I walk in, look around, look at all new faces, then I finally take a seat. I was at my first Student Council meeting. I never thought that I would even get here; on the day of the interest meeting, I sat there wondering how anyone could walk up to…

I had heard of Charity Ball since I was younger because my three siblings attended Enloe and had helped fundraise for the beneficiaries in the past. I have always remembered them being so excited to help reach the donation goal and for the day to come where they got to…

16 years ago, Charity Ball was merely an idea that could raise a few thousand dollars to help make an impact on a beneficiary in the Raleigh area. Now, Charity Ball is one of the largest unrestricted grants in all of North Carolina, and the only one of those run…

I feel like students are constantly going 100 MPH and are not able to appreciate the little things in life. We’re always thinking about the end goal and never about the journey to get there. Enloe Student Council as a whole has been able to slow down and take things…

I’ve always wanted to make an impact on the world. I was raised always being taught to give back and have a philanthropic outlook, and I plan to uphold those ideals throughout my lifetime. Just a few months ago, I was appointed to Enloe’s Executive Council and given a chance…

“Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies.” Edward Bulwer-Lytton was exceptionally perceptive when he made this statement back in the nineteenth century. While having never been a musician himself, he knew the power that verse and melody could hold over someone. But more…

Winter for me has always meant giant coats and freezing while walking to first period. I can vividly remember Charity Ball 2018 with snow lining the downtown sidewalks as I shivered in my dress and heels. Cold weather around here is synonymous with trying to cover up and shelter ourselves…

Before my tenure on Student Council began,  I saw Charity Ball as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s also for a great cause with donations to charity. With being a part of student council in tandem with in-person learning, Enloe Charity Ball has become much more than just a fun dance to…

Before the pandemic shut the world down, we presented a check of over $207k to Southeast Raleigh Promise (SERP) at our titular charity ball. SERP is dedicated to eliminating the intergenerational poverty that plagues the predominantly Black Southeast Raleigh Area. Getting to that moment was no easy task. Before that…

Charity Ball is a phrase I have been hearing since middle school. My sister would tell me all of her worries and wins that she faced during fundraising season when she was on student council and listening to her made me want to join student council so I could help…

One definition of community is “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals”. I have always loved being a part of something greater than myself. Enloe Charity Ball is a community filled with students, teachers, and leaders who work diligently to serve…

I’m in the West Gym Lobby, surrounded by students chatting and eating their lunches, peeling paper after paper off of the wall. The work is extremely particular, as one mistake could rip the banner we spent time carefully planning out, or could pull paint off of the newly-painted school walls….

Arguably, the highlight of the annual Enloe Charity Ball is the moment when the “Big 5” stand at the top of the Marbles Museum stairs with more than 1000 pairs of eyes glued to them. When I think back to my sophomore year Charity Ball and the end of my…

I have been fortunate to be a part of charity ball since my freshman year. Being able to contribute and work towards a goal fills me with an indescribable feeling. I am known as the girl with big puffy hair. As a girl with curly hair, I’ve come to terms…

The world stopped once the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Everything we had ever known changed in an instant. The exponentially burning light of the world suddenly got dimmer. Death, chaos, uncertainty, bigotry, and isolation replaced the warmth of the light with something much colder and harder. My faith and hope in…

In 2020, my first year at Enloe, I heard so much about Student Council and their impact on Enloe and the community. This year, I decided to join and experience it for myself. So far it has been such a great experience and has me excited for Charity Ball. This…

Chess is the game of life. A board game where all pieces on the board have their own intricate speciality, different position, and each with their own limitations. They cater to the board in all different ways, but with one goal in the end, to checkmate the opponent’s king.  It’s…

My parents always told me I needed to speak more. Whether it was around a group of kids my age, or meeting new people, I was never one to engage in a conversation with people I didn’t know. That was, until I joined Student Council. Student Council changed who I…

My whole life I’ve been told two is better than one. That the more you have, the better the outcome will be. I believed this but I never truly grasped this idea until being a part of Enloe Charity Ball, until I joined Enloe Student Council. Especially this year, I…

“Life is too short to walk fast”- Yaqub Brock   The past year and a half flipped my life upside down, I figured out how to learn virtually, found new ways to hang out with friends, and how to get through the hard times. This past summer, I had a close…

If you told me in 2018 that this is how I would spend my senior year, serving along with a dedicated and group of committed students, raising over 100k for charity, leading a cross country team as a captain, or even just talking and writing to corporations and stores, asking…

It’s 11:15. The long-awaited dance is over and the last of Enloe’s finest has finally filed out of the venue’s doors. The dance floor isn’t completely empty yet; napkins, cups, and the occasional pair of heels have all been tossed aside and are being gathered up by the remaining Student…

From my time of first coming to Enloe, Enloe Charity Ball has amazed me in the way that they are able to do such great work for our local community. By fundraising and hosting numerous events, the student body at Enloe has constantly risen up to the challenge of meeting…

It’s almost been 3 years since I was given the privilege and honor to have stepped foot through Mr. Lewis’ doors for the first Great Council meeting. Walking through those doors as a freshman was an unforgettable moment. As a freshman, I would never have guessed that Student Council would…

“Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.” -Maya Angelou For quite some time, I had felt like little more than a pair of listening ears, a pair of watching eyes; a mere witness to…

Throughout my life, my parents have always told me the importance of giving. That providing support and help to people is an important duty as a person. Because of this, I have always been seeking to find ways to give back to our community. Whether that’s through volunteering at a…

We have all been dealing with adversity for the past year and a half. Covid-19, the pandemic that has raged and killed millions in the past year. Police Brutality, the race epidemic, that has been a result of systemic racism for years. Political crisis, the fight for rights, equality, justice,…

Ever since I went to elementary school in downtown Raleigh, I have been exposed to people, specifically kids, who are so gifted in so many ways. Luckily at my elementary school, we had a magnet program that provides free arts classes to the kids that attend the school to help…

As a child, I was told by my parents, teachers, and mentors that I could change the world. I believed them at first but after a certain age, the concept of changing the world became unattainable. When I thought of people who had changed the world, I thought of Martin…

I’ve forever aspired to be great. Perfection, the irrational basis of human action, is the first thing in my mind. Charity Ball has taught me that greatness and perfection does not come in action, but rather in emotion, belief, and perseverance. The obstacles faced by high school students are immense….

Today, we are honoring Ellie Chappell, ECB’s 2016 Senior Class President. Due to COVID-19, the graduating class of 2020 was unable to experience traditional graduation celebrations and ceremonies. ECB interviewed each member of the 2016 senior leadership team to get a sense for how Enloe Charity Ball impacted their journey…

Today, we are honoring Christine Long, ECB’s 2016 Student Body President. Due to COVID-19, the graduating class of 2020 was unable to experience traditional graduation celebrations and ceremonies. ECB interviewed each member of the 2016 senior leadership team to get a sense for how Enloe Charity Ball impacted their journey…

Today, we are honoring Emma O’Brien, ECB’s 2016 VP of Service. Due to COVID-19, the graduating class of 2020 was unable to experience traditional graduation celebrations and ceremonies. ECB interviewed each member of the 2016 senior leadership team to get a sense for how Enloe Charity Ball impacted their journey…

Today, we are honoring Kevin Cao, ECB’s 2016 VP of Governing Procedures.  Due to COVID-19, the graduating class of 2020 was unable to experience traditional graduation celebrations and ceremonies. ECB interviewed each member of the 2016 senior leadership team to get a sense for how Enloe Charity Ball impacted their…

Today, we are honoring Isabelle Williams, ECB’s 2016 VP of Finance.  Due to COVID-19, the graduating class of 2020 was unable to experience traditional graduation celebrations and ceremonies. ECB interviewed each member of the 2016 senior leadership team to get a sense for how Enloe Charity Ball impacted their journey…

  Today, we are honoring Lyric Lin, ECB’s 2016 VP of Publicity.  Due to COVID-19, the graduating class of 2020 was unable to experience traditional graduation celebrations and ceremonies. ECB interviewed each member of the 2016 senior leadership team to get a sense for how Enloe Charity Ball impacted their…

Dear WCPSS Families, Enloe Charity Ball is proud to announce that our fund with the North Carolina Community Foundation has provided an emergency grant of $5,000 to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. We believe in a society that validates youth as capable of creating change for generations to come. We believe in…

I had a surreal moment this past Thursday where everything seemed to click into place. The picture in front of me finally came together, four years in the making and full of tiny pieces of passion, people and purpose that suddenly and miraculously formed a full picture before my eyes….

I don’t even know where to start. Enloe Charity Ball has raised over $1 million. In my four years alone, we will have raised over $700,000 for area nonprofits, money which has had a tangible impact on the Raleigh/Wake County community. We have helped address hunger, homelessness, inclusion, and poverty…

Why wait to make a change when you have time today? Enloe Charity Ball goes live today @ 7 pm. This dance is the place to be on December 7th, 2019. Enloe High School is giving a check to SouthEast Raleigh Promise for 200K to end the cycle of intergenerational…

Through my work with Enloe Charity Ball, I have learned tremendously about what community is and what a sense community is capable of doing. A community can be a group of students, a school, a neighborhood, a city, or a feeling.  Over the 15 years of Enloe Charity Ball, students…

You can’t spell Charity Ball without Art.  Why the word Art, you may be wondering? Why not Cat or Rat or Try or All or Chart or Itchy?  Well, Art is the aspect of Enloe Charity Ball that is not always obvious to the common eye, and wasn’t obvious to…

One of the many reasons that I have been excited about SERP being the recipient of Enloe Charity Ball 2019 is the voice that Enloe students have given to our mission and work.  A “Community Quarterback Organization” is a new concept for most people, and understanding what we do and…

Raleigh is a fast growing city. What were once low income neighborhoods are being torn apart and built into cookie cutter houses. While this may make Raleigh look more appealing to those moving into the area, many fail to recognize that this results in a large number of people being…

I am continuously asked the questions, “Mackenzie, why do you base your life around Enloe Charity Ball? Why are you okay with never having free time? Is it really worth it? Do you sleep…at all?” Though I chuckle in the moment while asked these frequent questions, I tend to stop…

The best part of Charity Ball is that its impact does not have a finite stopping point. So much of high school is spent in a blur, in a constant state of waiting to get to somewhere else. A feeling that this time will pass by and be over with,…

During the Thanksgiving season, we are always told to be thankful, mostly for the things we have. My parents take a different approach and remind me to be thankful for more than what I have. “Be thankful for the opportunities you have because some people don’t have them”, they say….

I joined student council just one year ago. After flying through the first two years of my high school tenure, I never took it upon myself to join the growing initiative of Enloe Charity Ball. I made the decision to join the organization due to its platform of providing students…

Unemployment, world hunger, homelessness are all issues that affect millions of people around the globe. Millions. Such problems are constantly dismissed in the minds of many, with excuses that there’s no way they can single handedly solve something as big as world hunger. But if everyone turns a blind eye…

I’ve struggled with my role in Charity Ball for over two years now. It seems like most people just naturally make their way to the position they’re meant to be in. Noah with Space Jam. Roxie with kickball. Angela with stubo. All three of them work on critical parts of…

Wake up at six. Go to school. Do homework. Go to sleep. This constant cycle of waking up, knowing that the upcoming day is about to be a struggle, leaves several high school students feeling discouraged and disconnected from their school. Although I know that this struggle is upon me…

Raleigh is lauded as a city of wonder, expansion, and development. It is a city where one can start a family, venture into business, attend renowned universities, and pursue passions. Over the past 11 years, I have grown to see Raleigh transform from an average American city into a bustling…

For the longest time, I have been a fan of super heroes. They could do things that normal humans simply couldn’t and that has always been a source of fascination for me since I was 6-years old. My favorite superhero of all time is Peter Parker, better known as Spider-Man….

“If you want it, and the more you keep hearing you can’t have it, you just go out and get it.” -Cardi B I have always been a person rooted in determination. If it’s from wanting to get an A on a final exam to wanting to get a bag…

Up until this week, I was failing at being a Charity Baller. While I was wholeheartedly involved in my role in the publicity of Enloe Charity Ball and raising money to meet our ambitious $200,000 goal, I was not fulfilling my role as a volunteer for Southeast Raleigh Promise. Being…

One thing I have learned from my role at Southeast Raleigh Promise is that community organizing is not easy! It can be messy and all-consuming. I can only imagine the work it has taken Enloe Charity Ball over the years to mobilize their community to create positive lasting change. Fortunately,…

I can describe the entire Enloe Charity Ball process in one word: Magical. I discovered the magic of Charity Ball last year when I was a sophomore, luckily appointed to council after losing the election for the second year in a row. I knew that I was at the lowest…

“Being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pressure.” Brene Brown A few days ago, I found myself in an unfamiliar situation. It was Sunday night, and my family had just finished dinner. As any Enloe student may agree, Sunday’s are the key to success…

Imagine this: there’s 5 minutes left in the game. You’re down by 5 points and the other team has the ball. Whistle blown. They throw it long, but wait, your team intercepted it! Whistle Blown. Your team now has the ball- it’s up to the quarterback. Will you win the…

I look forward to the moment that the check is revealed on December 7. The 2019 Enloe Charity Ball check, made out to the Southeast Raleigh Promise. While others in the crowd will see it, clap, and go back to dancing, I’ll be cheering because I know the lasting impact…

The room was flooded with students. Dresses of red, blue, gold, and silver filled the dance floor while everyone waited with anticipation for the final reveal. Heads were turned towards the main staircase as PrezVP ascended up the stairs, a large check in-hand covered by a black tarp. The excitement…

As a society we are often resistant to attempt change, not because we do not think we will have an impact, but because the issue we are trying to face seems far too impossible to tackle. I used to believe this too; that an organization like Enloe Charity Ball would…

Tens. Hundreds. Thousands. Walk past like there is nothing but dust. When I was in fifth grade, I traveled to my home country, India. Such a natural and beautiful country; however, it wasn’t perfect. But if I am going to tell this right, we have to start at the beginning….

I have always loved to fight for what I believe in. My passion cannot be contained, and I needed an outlet. Enloe Student Council has been that outlet, and now Enloe Charity Ball is my passion.  I am a new member on council, and I was nervous that I wouldn’t…

Last year was the start of my journey as a member of Enloe’s Student Council. Throughout the course of this incredible journey into the land of student leadership I have had the honor and privilege to work with some amazing people. My peers in Student Council have shown me the…

Perseverance. Obstacles. Challenges. Ever since I was a little kid I’ve been struggling with a speech impediment: stuttering. Even though it’s a struggle I work to improve and become better at speech every day. One challenge that came with student council was giving a speech during elections on why people…

As I work with my team in planning a fundraiser, or going canvassing, or sending email upon email and making phone call after phone call, I know that I am doing the same activities that I usually conduct every charity ball season, but I can’t help but notice a recurring…

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” ― Mahatma Gandhi Service is the will and ability to enrich the lives of others through the constant dedication of one’s time to make a difference. In the middle of my second Enloe Charity Ball…

Ever since sixth grade I’ve slowly become attached to Enloe Charity ball. My brother, Richard, was a freshman when he started working on Enloe Charity ball, and him raising money has shown me the broad impact Student Council has on the community. I was first exposed to ECB in 2016,…

On this past Wednesday, October 30th, I have turned 18. When I woke up, there was no change — no sudden feeling of getting older or more mature. Friends and family congratulated me and asked the question, “How does it feel to be 18? Do you feel different?” I replied,…

Right as I entered my first year of highschool, I wanted to help people and I wasn’t quite sure how. I was the new kid again, and I wasn’t sure of anything. I felt like I needed to do something for others, and I also knew that I wanted to…

“I have only just a minute, Only sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, can’t refuse it. Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it. But it’s up to me to use it. I must suffer if I lose it. Give account if I abuse it. Just a tiny little minute, but…

My dad once told me, “It doesn’t matter if you don’t speak; no one pays attention to that. But when you do, that’s when you have the ability to cause change.” That idea has been how I’ve lived for seventeen years. I can only cause change if I speak. There…

As I reminisce about my time in high school, my mind is consumed with memories of all that Enloe has provided me. Memories of freshmen year football games, where the student section chanted every cheer known to man while simultaneously losing 30-2, dance across my mind. Sophomore year friendships still…

There is a light that shines within us all. No one will ever see this light; no one will ever know its true color, warmth, or even be sure of its existence but nonetheless, this light is here. You’re going to have to take my word for it. Now, forget…

I’ve been playing the game I love which is football all of my young life. This game has provided me with so many opportunities that I’ve never thought possible. But, those opportunities didn’t come without a ton of hard work. Always working to get better, and be the best player…

It was a cold Wednesday afternoon when I found myself on State street, an affluent, arguably-gentrified neighborhood near Enloe. Each fresh gust of wind found its way through the holes in my sweater and directly onto my skin, and every so often my group would need to sit in my…

It was a cold and rainy November afternoon. “Shotgun!” I called excitedly, although Akul and I were the only ones in the car. As we waited for the car to heat up I pestered my brother to play some tunes. As I heard the elegant intro to Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway…

Apples to Apples is a card game where you try to match a ‘red apple card’ which features a noun, to a ‘green apple card’ which features an adjective. The objective of the game is to find the best match between an adjective and a noun. Here are some examples…

I’ll never forget my 15th birthday. My friends, classmates, teachers, and peers all gathered side by side in our formal winter attire, glancing up, anxiously anticipating the reveal of the check. “$118,000!” The entire building lit up with exuberance. The heartwarming atmosphere between the community and the recipients of the…

I had a dream last night… My dream was set to the night of Charity Ball. Not only was the event a huge hit throughout Enloe, but it was also a huge hit throughout Raleigh. In my dream, we successfully made over two hundred thousands dollars for The Autism Society…

Earlier this year, my Civilizations and Culture class was assigned a project where we all had to become a pseudo-philosopher and create our own philosophy. For this, we had to read an excerpt of Sophie’s World, a long, dense novel which offers an exploration of the great philosophical concepts of…

When I chose to run for Student Council my freshman year, I never knew the way it would make my heart leap out of my chest with an overwhelming sensation I can only describe as extraordinary. The fast paced whirlwind of Enloe Charity Ball has swept me off my feet…

“Are you gonna make it?” This is a question my fellow student council members and I get asked on a regular basis during Charity Ball season. Although I appreciate the curiosity of my peers, the issue always makes me feel a little queasy because I’ve never been sure how accurately…

Imagine if you could suspend your disbelief to take any narrative to the limits of your imagination. If you could design the atmosphere of your setting, or declare yourself any creature possible. Where do you think this freedom will take you? This is what I asked myself when going over…

Two hundred thousand Up in the air We’ve set our goal We’ll make it there   But though the money is important The money is not all There’s a lot more meaning Behind Charity Ball   We do what we do For feeling, for love For the community we believe…

For a long time, society has been conforming people to stick to what is “normal”, to not be different. We are afraid of being stared at, afraid of being looked down upon. When someone’s appearance looks a different way, eyebrows are raised. When someone acts a different way, judgemental looks…

While Thanksgiving is a time for family and gratitude, I think we can all agree that it can be overwhelming at times. Especially for kids with autism. They are used to a daily routine which means Thanksgiving can be very overwhelming and stressful since it differs from their daily routine….

Everyday, I wonder what my purpose is. The mere 17 years I’ve been on this Earth haven’t been nearly enough time for me to figure out the true reason I am here. Freshman and sophomore year, I’d see Student Council members put their heart and soul into Charity Ball. Some…

“Why won’t he talk to us”, “Why is he making those faces”. My five-year-old self would think. I always would hear the word “inclusion”, said by my preschool teacher at Learning Together: Developmental Day Center in Raleigh, NC. Comprehending a word like inclusion had proven itself difficult for me. I’ve…

In our society, the ability to achieve success is defined by one’s privilege: whether it be racial, socioeconomic, or ability. But for those who lack certain privileges, those who are at a disadvantage because of circumstances they cannot control, becoming successful- according to society’s standards- is often a seemingly impossible…

As I sit and reflect upon the past four years of high school, I am overwhelmed with emotion. Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful for all that Enloe has provided me, but it has also brought a lot of stress and pressure into my life. The past few…

My friend asked me, “So what the h*ll went wrong?” Faint screams echoed through my mind as I reflected on Saturday night’s ball. The atmosphere was animated, all 1000 attendees seemed electrified after the huge check was presented to the Raleigh-Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness. Though unnoticeable at…

This Charity Ball season, I have been reflecting a lot on ‘after’: How are my former students doing after high school? What work will I do after I eventually step down from Student Council (not an announcement!)? How are some of those students who needed more support and care doing…

If you know me, then you know I love the concept that every unique aspect of the current moment will impact the reality of the future. I talk all the time about how mesmerizing it is that when I wake up in the morning, I never know what the end…

Walking into my very first Friday Fun Night at IGNITE, I had no idea what to expect. Here I was at the same place I had toured many times, the place I was a part of choosing as the 2018 Charity Ball Beneficiary, the place where I had built IKEA…

I notoriously have a horrible concept of time. I assume that I live about 20 minutes away from everything, which is rarely correct, and I have been known to spend all day on things that I thought would take an hour tops. But lately, as a Senior in high school,…

Imagine waking up in your comfortable, loving home only to leave and go into uncertainty. Imagine persevering through bullying on the bus and at school because you are pursuing an education. Imagine your own sister being embarrassed to sit with you on the bus. This was the daunting reality of…

Everyone’s life is its own individual perspective on the same story. We’re connected by our daily interactions and the fundamental experiences that make us human. It’s not a matter of if your story will cross paths with autism, it’s a matter of when and how often. There are an estimated…

As a senior, I reflect on the past years I have gone through at Enloe and see the process unfolding for many others. Freshman– It is a time to ask questions, all the questions, no matter how small. Charity Ball can be seen as big and scary for someone not…

On August 3rd, Travis Scott released his third studio album “ASTROWORLD” which shook the entirety of his rap fan base. The modern, hip-hop album includes a cross between retro melodies and trap. As stated in an interview, Scott named his album after a Houston theme park which closed in 2005….

On October 1st, I sat with my knees to my chest and fingernails bitten so badly, they were bleeding. My student council advisor sat beside me while my right leg shook uncontrollably. As much as I wanted to say every thought swimming through my head, it felt as if no…

In our society, our role models and biggest influencers are generally those who are older than us. I always believed this to be the case until my brother was born. This summer, my five-year-old brother sold lemonade and donated the profits. Seeing my brother exceed my productivity at such a…

In third grade, I volunteered to work with my peers on the autism spectrum at my school, helping them interact with fellow students and develop social skills. After every session, I was left with one question. Why didn’t they come back to class with me?  The answer wasn’t simple. Acceptance…

Towards the beginning of this year, at one of the first few meetings we had as a whole student council, Ms. Schroeder(our club mom and advisor) told us all to “be proactive” when we go out to fundraise. She said we should always be prepared to inspire people we meet…

The idea of more fortunate people caring for those who are less fortunate is described in the French phrase “noblesse oblige”. For me, service is a commitment; it is a responsibility vital to helping the world around us grow. I never had to worry about basic necessities, and perhaps my…

It’s a cold, snowy night near the end of Fall And all of Enloe is preparing for Charity Ball The girls do their makeup As the boys fix their ties For they all know tonight will be the night of their lives   While everyone else is still getting dressed…

The word “impact” is defined as having a strong effect on someone or something. It’s so ubiquitous of a word that most of us have probably never stopped to think about how interesting and vast its connotations are. We use the word “impact” in a myriad of situations and occasions…

The first time I heard about Student Council at Enloe, which was from a friend, I immediately knew that I had to run for a position. Knowing all the challenges that would come my way and all of the responsibility that I would have to take on, I was a…

One of my favorite movies of all time is the Disney movie, Ratatouille. The movie is about a talented rat who has a passionate love for food. However, he feels that he is unable to pursue his dream, because of what he is and what those around him think. He…

I’ll never forget the first time I met the leaders of Enloe Charity Ball. Last spring, several dozen people from various local charities gathered to learn more about Charity Ball, each hoping that their organization would be the incredibly fortunate one to be chosen this year. The student leaders’ eyes…

The first thing that popped into my mind when I first applied to student council was Charity Ball! I’d always heard about it from Enloe Students, and I was eager to have an experience of my own. As young leaders, it’s vital that we give back to our community, and…

Life is like a game of Clue. You start out with cards that are handed to you by chance, sometimes you get lucky and get what you need to prepare yourself for the future, and sometimes you are left wondering. As you go on, the choices you make and the…

  This has been it! My very first charity ball season and already I have seen the power a small group of people has; when we work together to unite the community and promote a good cause, I can only imagine the things we could do if we strived to…

As I throw myself into the wave of my fourth year working on Charity Ball, it is easy to look around and see how much the student group has grown over the years. Our goal is more streamlined. The administration and chain of command modernized and reorganized to give our…

I would like America to look like the fall semester at my public high school. Fall is Charity Ball season, an annual effort to generate support and awareness for a select nonprofit. Charity Ball brings a wide diversity of our student body and community together to accomplish a big goal….

One of the best feelings you can get as a student is to do well in school. Being an Enloe student has made me value my academic achievements enormously. What separates Enloe from other schools is how much we appreciate and celebrate academic prosperity. We continue to take challenging classes…

At the core of Enloe Charity Ball is a strong and supportive community, seeking to make a meaningful impact in the world. This community has remained consistently eager to help, from the very first Charity Ball in 2004 and certainly for years to come. My freshman year, Enloe Charity Ball’s…

To bring comfort to individuals with autism affected by Hurricane Florence, the Autism Society of North Carolina is asking our community to help assemble Sensory Kits. Enloe Student Council is incredibly fortunate to be a part of a community that strives to serve others. The Raleigh-Wake County community is so…

It was a cold and rainy November afternoon. One of those days where you want to lay on your couch in a fuzzy Costco blanket and binge watch Netflix with a bowl of popcorn warming up your lap. But alas, the unlucky cross country athletes of Enloe High School found…

A few days ago I found myself in a familiar situation. It was Sunday night and my family was wrapping up dinner. Dakota was reluctantly heating up some store bought queso (he’s only allowed Moes once a week), Jesse was going on about how much healthier his diet was (as…

The first time I visited the Oak City Outreach Center was at the end of the 2016-2017 school year to spray paint flowers with my peers; the area was calm and quiet as we tinted the ground various shades to symbolize a welcoming area for Raleigh’s homeless. I was thoroughly…

Building with a purpose is something that I strive for everyday in my professional career. As a Project Manager with Gilbane Building Company, I have the pleasure of engaging with the Enloe Student Council as one of our Stakeholders for the Wake County Multi-Services Center Project. We at Gilbane are…

“Beat It” is the name of a song released by Michael Jackson in 1983. In the song, Jackson pours out his feelings about how he can’t be held down and how he should beat anything that in his way so that he can prosper. When listening to this song, there…

With the Charity Ball 2017 only days away, I am overwhelmed with memories of the incredible experience of Charity Ball. I am retired now but I had the honor of being the Executive Director of Learning Together, the Enloe Charity Ball 2015 partner.  The time shared with the Enloe students…

It was a warm, sunny November morning at downtown Raleigh’s Oak City Outreach Center, and my fellow student council members and I were serving hot chocolate to the homeless. As I was filling up Styrofoam cups with steaming cocoa and handing them to men and women smiling their thanks, I…

Ever since I was a little girl I always enjoyed being a part of groups working to make change. Students can be underestimated at times but anyone is capable of making change ! When I first joined student council I was amazed at how a group of students could raise…

In a position of comfort, it is easy to say nothing is majorly wrong with the economic, social and political systems in this country. It is easy to expect that a certain number of people will live in poverty and a smaller number will be homeless. We rationalize to ourselves…

“In life, it is important that you prioritize. A hundred years from now, it will not matter how much money was in my bank account, or what sort of car I drove… but the world may be different because I was important in the life of someone else.” — Forest…

It’s that time of the year… Time to try our absolute hardest to raise thousands of dollars for charity. Time to annoy every single person until they consider donating. Time to make a change in our community. Of course it requires a tremendous amount of work, but it is all…

I remember serving as an assistant principal at Enloe Magnet High School thirteen years ago when a student, Rachel Escobar, came up with the idea to hold a charity ball to support Haven House, and Principal Lloyd Gardner supported her efforts.  The students worked hard to get art donated for…

On a cold night in February, my volunteer group and I assisted at an event benefiting the local people who experience homelessness. Before this, I had no knowledge about what being in a state of homelessness was truly about. Even today, it’s still difficult for me to understand it. There…

Urban Ministries experience with the Enloe Charity Ball 2016 was nothing short of amazing. It’s less about the money than it is about the presence. We met an exceptional group of students giving an exceptional amount of time helping their community be a better place. The students were hospitality and…

It’s the terrifying concept of advantage and disadvantage, rich and poor, academic and misguided. As a society, we never dare to utter the word that names this idea of separation, because we don’t want to villainize ourselves. We can never seem to bring it up in conversation, as it’s the…

In a world that’s so fast-paced, it’s easy to loose touch of all the privileges we have. However, when the holiday season comes around and we have a break from the routine of our daily lives, things become much clearer. Between gathering with family, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,…

If you ask the majority of adults in Raleigh to describe typical high school students, many responses might contain words like “uninspired”, “selfish”, or “unmotivated”. And for some, this may be the case. But ask anybody involved in Charity Ball to describe Enloe Student Council and I can guarantee that…

Every Thanksgiving my family gathers around the table, in front of more food than we could finish in a week, to talk about what we’re thankful for. My mom’s thankful for our family’s health, my brother’s thankful for the food on our plates, and I’m thankful for the roof over…

I’m 17 years old, and in the eyes of most people around me, a kid. My peers and I aren’t old enough to vote and some of us can’t drive, have a job, or do anything else on the laundry list of adult things one can do. That minuscule age…

Being a freshman in student council was a little overwhelming in the beginning not gonna lie, but with all the amazing people in council to guide me and answer all the questions that I had was truly wonderful. I’m honestly very blessed to be part of such an amazing experience…

Volunesia.(n) that moment when you forget you’re volunteering to help change lives, because it’s changing yours. Whenever I volunteer, I always think I’m making a greater impact on the people I’m helping, but it always ends up being the opposite. Every volunteer opportunity that I participate in makes an impact…

Music is a very complex art form. There are many different moving pieces to it. Every instrument and every sound lends a hand in creating one satisfying and cohesive product. Different instruments are needed to make a fantastic song. Conflict is also needed within music also. However, the song always…

“Stranger Things” first aired in July 2016. The hit science-fiction thriller tells the story of 3 adolescent boys and their small Indiana town as they investigate the disappearance of their best friend, Will Byers. As the search for Will intensifies, the characters come across a government laboratory with more than…

“We’re not interested” That’s the sound I usually get from going door to door. After giving them the spiel, most of them turn me away, and those who don’t usually give like $10. To be perfectly honest, most of Charity Ball fundraising is pretty draining. Getting the door shut on…

Imagine not knowing whether or not you would have a meal during thanksgiving, let alone any dinner, or a bed to sleep in. Imagine having your home constantly changing. It could be the nearest place with coverage from rain, a source of heat, a place to hide. Imagine staying strong…

To everyone, there are four seasons in a year — spring, summer, winter, and fall. But the students of Enloe High School, there’s a fifth season that is also undoubtedly our favorite: Charity Ball season. I have the privilege to enjoy the changing of seasons and the beauties each new…

The students of Enloe High School have always taken pride not only in being part of the community but trying to help the community. In Raleigh, 1 in 30 children have experienced some form of homelessness.  In a typical classroom at Enloe, there are 20-30 students. When I look around…

Imagine trying to explain to someone who’s been blind their whole life what red looks like. You could say that red is the color of a rose or a heart but you could never describe the color red itself. In fact, what I see as the color red may be…

It has been about 2 and a half months since I left my sheltered Raleigh bubble for the potentially more sheltered bubble of Wooster, Ohio. I have spent this time navigating the dichotomy between a liberal college community and an extremely conservative town, and struggling to understand how a community…

I came across a video on Bustle earlier this year, even before we chose the beneficiary of our 13th annual Charity Ball, that discussed the topic of homeless women. How do homeless women cope with periods? Women’s hygiene products are expensive. These women have limited access to pads and tampons…

Charity Ball isn’t just an event giving back to the community, it’s a spirit. Freshman Retreat Sitting around the conference table, the 14 members of freshman council compiled a list of fundraising ideas and agreed on a goal of $12,000. We were all lethargic at first to contribute our ideas…

13 years ago, I was a freshman at Enloe High School and, 13 years ago, I attended the first Enloe Charity Ball. If you asked me 13 years ago if I would be back at Enloe, working with Charity Ball, as Student Council advisor, I would’ve told you that you…

Testing.

“In the history of mankind, there has never been a people who’ve strived harder or done more than we Americans to help all who are truly in need.” ~President Ronald W. Reagan, 1984 Radio Address to the Nation Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. These three rights have defined…

I held my phone up to my right ear and cleared my throat. “Hello?” “Hi, my name is Michelle Gan and I’m a representative of Enloe Student Council. Every year we host an annual Charity Ball to benefit a local nonprofit, and our goal this year is to raise 140…

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”  – Coretta Scott King Best.  Fastest Growing.  Healthiest.    These are just some of the words used to describe our area in national rankings.  Wake County is the place to be.  That’s why each…

Charity Ball is a dance that Enloe High School hosts every year in the month of December to celebrate student-led efforts in raising money for local non-profit organizations through compassion and philanthropy. This year we have the pleasure of working with the Raleigh/Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness. Most…

Sometimes, we get ahead of ourselves. In the modern age, our lifestyle is so fast-paced that we tend to shift our attention from one futile topic to another. This volatility is apparent during our Charity Ball fundraising season, for we are constantly seeking donations, and after one, we quickly shift…

There is a single concept that has been most notable to me throughout Charity Ball season. It is that Charity Ball is more than me. 30 minutes after school let out last Thursday I was leaning against the counter of the Raleigh Boys & Girls Club Teen Center planning the…

We often take the things we have for granted without realizing it. When our heater is broken, we get upset that we have to wear a jacket around the house. When our water filter needs to be repaired, we complain about having to drink from the tap. To us, these…

Senior year: bittersweet and so surreal. How in the world have I already been a high school senior for 48 days?? It feels like just yesterday I was walking into Enloe for the first time. I didn’t know I would ever take a class like AP Latin, or join an…

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” -Coretta Scott King To most people, late October to Early December is autumn, but to the students at Enloe High School, this time of year is a wonderful period known as “Charity Ball Season.”…

I remember sitting in the conference room last year at our Fall retreat and hearing a reflection from Etan Seebaluck about what Charity Ball meant to him, and as he was speaking he said something that still gives me chills; he said, “we are kids doing not kid things.” I…

When I found out that our 2017 benefactor would be Raleigh Wake Partnership to end homelessness, I was ecstatic. For four years I have been volunteering at their Oak City Outreach center with my youth group. This being my first year on student council, having previous experience with the benefactor…

Before last year, I didn’t really understand that I could make a difference in people’s lives that I didn’t know. I’m not rich or famous, and I am only a kid. I would see someone alone on the streets begging for money, my heart would break, but I would tell…

Through a shared vision and common goal, Charity Ball has grown into what it is today: an opportunity to inspire and impact the Raleigh community. Charity Ball gives every student at Enloe an opportunity to channel their education, talents, and vision towards engagement with real-world problems in an attempt to…

Urban Ministries of Wake County is enormously grateful to have been selected as the 2016 beneficiary of the Enloe Charity Ball.  We’re having a great time working beside Enloe students to gather resources for a great cause.  They continue to be amazingly responsive, creative and dedicated partners – in some…

I think our greatest gift to our community is that we’re a place where volunteers give back. The story is that we were founded by an interdenominational group of churches and synagogues when two homeless men froze to death on the streets of Raleigh. That’s the formal story. The real…

“Tis the season to be jolly fa la la la la la la la laaaaaaa.” Ahh Charity Ball season; the most wonderful time of the year. The girl sitting next to you winces as she hears her stomach growling and hopes that she isn’t distracting anyone in class. She cringes…

I’ve always figured that if I could make someone happy when they were sad or make them smile then I’ve done my job. Going up to people, talking to them, and making friends to just make them smile and be happy has always been my goal; that’s why I decided…

Being a freshman, my experience with Charity Ball has been hectic. We have been busy planning these first few weeks, and are constantly hearing stories about how the hard work pays off. Urban Ministries is a great example of this mindset. Urban Ministries provides much needed assistance to the families…

Student council retreat is always a whirlwind of experiences, from dressing up in costumes and playing games to hours spent huddled around a computer with limited wifi in the hopes of getting some form of confirmation from yet another business. But the focus is always centered on how Council as…