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 serve. I learned of the different backgrounds, cultures, languages, and traditions that make up the people of our city. In Marbles, we were one.
For 17 years of my life, I have lived in Raleigh, North Carolina. When I think of this city, Dorthea Dix, Crabtree Mall, or even Enloe High School are just some of the places that come to mind. Whether it be weekly strolls around Pullen Park, playing chess with friends on Fayetteville Street, sipping coffee in local shops, I have realized how lucky I am to live here.
But what makes these places so special? What makes Raleigh so special?
The answer’s simple: It’s the people behind it.
It’s the stranger that taught me a checkmating strategy, the old man that offered me some seed to feed to the pigeons, the jewelry shop employee in Crabtree who always gives me peppermints every time I visit. It’s the students of Enloe High School who stay until 4 PM every Monday. It’s the people who work in Physical Publicity, coming into room 1306 every lunch to create banners. It’s the people putting in effort outside of school, making graphics, taking pictures, and editing the website. It’s the people creating 50 Google Docs to plan events such as open mic, kickball, or chess tournaments.
Enloe Charity Ball is another example of a living, breathing organism. It will continue to serve the great people of Raleigh, and continue to inspire the community. Now, I will return to Marbles to celebrate my last Charity Ball. But my mission to be Alive with Purpose does not end after December 11th, it will continue to invigorate me for as long as I live.
Siri Dronavalli
Student Body Vice President of Publicity