SUPERHEROES

Home  /  Posts  /  SUPERHEROES

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. His motivation for taking up this mantle and fighting for others was his Uncle Ben who told him, “With great power, comes great responsibility”. This quotation has so many implications, but it was not until I reached the start of my senior year that I realized that it can be applied in reverse also: “With great responsibility comes great power.”

One could argue that I was a leader ever since I had the ability to discern right from wrong, and being the first-born in my family, I was placed in a position where my siblings looked to me for guidance. However, I shied away from accepting this inherent responsibility for many years. Whenever there was an option for me to lead or follow I would shun the responsibility and gladly allow others. Looking back, this might have stemmed from a fear of failure in the execution of the given situation, but regardless I still fled from all non-mandatory responsibilities.

This mindset eventually began to evolve when I decided that I wanted to make a change in the lives of others, but I did not know how I could make such an impact. I eventually ended up running for Senior Class President my junior year and surprisingly won. This role has given me so much insight and I now can see the real-life application of Uncle Ben’s original quote and it’s reverse presentation better than I could ever before. One of the biggest privileges and responsibilities the members of Student Council have is fulfilling our promise to our beneficiary Southeast Raleigh Promise (SERP), an organization dedicated to ending intergenerational poverty in the Rock Quarry Corridor in Raleigh. 

At first it’s easy as a member of student council to think “Oh yay, we’re raising money for a local charity, woo hoo”, but for me, as well as for a lot of my other fellow council members, the real gravity and importance of our work really sets in once you meet the people whose lives are actually being affected: the children. As well as fundraising for Southeast Raleigh Promise, Student Council members also have the privilege to volunteer at Southeast Raleigh Elementary School. When talking to the children you really see the potential they have to grow into outstanding individuals.  Each of them has their own unique personality and talents. While volunteering I have been approached by multiple children asking me to explain their homework assignments to them, not giving off a sense of “here, do this for me”, but rather a genuine desire to learn. 

The thought of them not having this new facility where their passions and aspirations can be fostered is a solemn one, but a motivator all the same. Now that these children do have this opportunity, it’s up to all of us to help SERP to keep this dream alive. The power of being on student council comes with the responsibility of making sure that our promise to support this organization and more importantly that the children are being served. I also realize that the responsibility of helping this organization comes with the power to make a real and tangible change in the lives of these children and future generations, which is the most important power of them all. 

Hilton Stallworth
Senior Class President

DONATE now


2 Comments so far:

  1. Reseian Gaither says:

    Excellent work!

  2. Dotty Barco says:

    What an amazing, insightful article. I am so impressed that you and your peers have harnessed your “super powers” for good.