“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 Witcraft
This quote was hanging in my eye doctor’s office when I visited this past October. I have been going to the ophthalmologist since I was 3 years old, and I’ve never noticed it before, but I thought it perfectly described the reason why I am so invested in Charity Ball.
I was in the car leaving the doctor’s office with my mom, and we had just received bad news about the pressure in my eye. My mom wanted to talk to me about it, but I was obviously engrossed in something else. “Rayna, Dr. Freedman said you could need surgery. How do you feel about that?” “I don’t know. Which wording sounds less formal – ‘would you be willing to contribute’ or ‘will you consider donating’?” “Rayna, this is important-“ “But so is Charity Ball, I promise we can talk about it after I send this email.”
This is typical behavior for me during Charity Ball season. It’s not that I mean to be dismissive, it’s just that for 8 weeks, I have blinders on, and all I can see is the goal ahead of us, and what it will mean to those who receive the fruits of our labor. I am a terrible procrastinator, but I can always find the motivation to complete my Charity Ball work, even when I forget about homework or eating/sleeping, etc. I am not alone in this: Student Council, Enloe, and even the Raleigh community at large is alive with purpose, and eager to help us raise money for the beneficiary, and I’m sure that on December 9th, that passion and love will be reflected in not only the number on the check, but in the pure joy on everyone’s faces.
However, in the past, my charitable work has come to a halt after CB. My life returns to “normal,” my GPA starts rising out of the hole that it entered in the beginning of October, and my enthusiasm about helping others is tucked away until the next fall. This is necessary to an extent. I attend Enloe High School, an academically rigorous environment where at sporting events we chant about SAT scores. As a 16 year old, school is one of my top priorities; yet, despite my constant fear of failing, every year Charity Ball creeps up to the top spot, and I love every minute of it. But, Junior Year has been the most challenging year of my academic career and if Charity Ball was any longer, my GPA would be saying “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” The work of providing for others can also be exhausting. At this point of Charity Ball season, our weekly Student Council meetings just look like a collection of happy Teenage Zombies talking about “the grind,” and after Charity Ball, I think we all deserve a nap. In order for me to continue to serve others, I have to be my best self (and graduate from Enloe), so it’s implausible for me to go at a Charity Ball speed 24/7.
The problem is, the issues that Charity Ball seeks to combat don’t cease to exist because our work on them stops. Though homelessness lasts for an average of 46 days, for some it is the marathon of their life, and deserves better than to be treated with solutions than are sprint-like —bursts of relief that are intense and passionate, but fleeting.
I totally understand that prioritizing the needs of others over other things in life is very challenging, and sometimes requires sacrifice. Shana Overdorf, the Executive Director of the Raleigh Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness, has dedicated her life to the Partnership and their mission: “To end homelessness as we know it.” Every time she talked to our Council about the Partnership, she spoke with passion and love for both the organization and the people that it served. But once, at retreat, Shana talked to us about how her job can be isolating, and that she was glad to be able to get out and see us. But despite all of these things, there is no doubt in my mind that the work I am doing now will be some of the most meaningful, collaborative work I do in my entire lifetime and I believe that if I served more often, I would feel more connected to my community.
The money that we raise for Charity Ball this year will help The Raleigh Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness open up a new multi-services center that will serve as a one-stop shop for the needs of the unstably housed, like showers and clothing. This building will have a great deal of resources, but without volunteers and people who will work for the Center, no one will receive the help.
At the Partnership, they are committed to serving all who enter under their threshold with dignity and respect. They make it a point to prioritize this all year long. That’s why I’m so proud to support them, and because of Student Council and the lessons that Charity Ball has taught me over the past 3 years, I will make sure to continue to make serving others my priority, and I encourage you to do the same. And it is my belief that if we prioritized helping others on a more frequent and consistent basis, the world would be a much better place. We have 8 days left to reach our goal of $150,000, and a lifetime to keep up the momentum.
If you would like to join me in commit to serving others all year long, donating to Enloe Charity Ball via charityball.webconnex.com/2017 is a great start 🙂
Rayna Young
Executive Council Member