On October 21st, I visited the Oak City Outreach Center for the first time when it was open and alive with guests. The goal of our visit was to get an idea of different games and activities the guests would enjoy over the next few weeks. Being there for such a short period of time, I was not expecting to get much out of it, but it has given me the motivation that is still driving me 15 days before Charity Ball.
It was a nice morning, so a lot of the guests at the center were outside enjoying the sun. But I spoke to a man for the majority of my time there that morning and he was alone inside reading a newspaper. When I pulled a chair out beside him and sat down, his face turned to me and lit up with the largest smile I had ever seen. I have never seen so much joy come across in a simple look. I introduced myself and told him why I was there. He quickly took initiative of the conversation and took it far beyond whether he wanted to play bingo or trivia.
As our conversation grew, he asked me one question that really stood out. It was quite a common question, but not one that I was expecting to hear. He said, “What is your favorite movie?” — “I love the Harry Potter movies.” I responded. While shaking his head said that I needed to become more cultured in my movie watching. I laughed and returned his question. He answered, “Have you ever seen the movie Hidden Figures?”
Hidden Figures is a movie about a group of brilliant African American women who are mathematicians for NASA. As the movie is set in 1961, NASA is just developing and African American women had a low economic status. The women were stuck in a separate building completing the complex equations needed by the white male astronauts. The women broke the barriers set before them by race and gender as they solved a series of equations that allowed NASA to complete their mission. Their success led them to hold high positions within NASA and become true American heroes.
“You wanna know why this is my favorite movie? These women were stuck in a situation they could not get out of because of their race and gender, but they didn’t let this stop them. The women took their situation and made the best of it. They held their ground and fought for the credit and position they deserved, which ended up leading to NASA’s success. This is exactly what myself and every other guest that comes to this center has to do. Whether or not we are homeless, unemployed, or veterans, we are all in hard situations. We have to take advantage of the opportunities given to us in order to better ourselves and that is exactly what this center offers.”
When I left the center that afternoon, I could not stop thinking about what he said. The passion he had about making his life better rather than sitting still challenged me to take a look at how I live my life.
Charity Ball is an opportunity that gives myself and the rest of our council a chance to give more of ourselves than anything else. As high school students with a passion to help and make a difference, we must take to take advantage of the opportunity we have to make a difference. Whether that be raising $150,000 or serving coffee at the center, we are in a position that can give someone the motivation they need to make a change in their lives. Our money this year is going directly to the funding of the new Oak City Center which will provide a vast amount of resources that will help guests just like the one I spoke to start to improve their situation. I personally could not be prouder to be involved with a group of 70+ students who want to take advantage of our situation, who want to make a change.
Abby Scarborough
Executive Council Member