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 hammer it with love and if you email [email protected], I will put you on the waitlist for a refined version.
We found out that a dance was possible in November, and we’ve been scrambling since. Scrambling to clean boxing gloves, to set up Eventbrites, and to fundamentally remember what Enloe Charity Ball means. After these frenzied weeks, I can confidently say that Enloe Charity Ball is a bunch of kids, Student Council and not, who believe that the world can be better than it is. That was true in 2004 when we partnered with Haven House Services for the first time. It was true in 2020 when we chose Haven House again after hours of Google Meet calls. It will be true in another five and another ten years.
I believe this because at every single opportunity to serve, someone has stepped up. When Roxie shouted into our Slack about a chance to volunteer the next day, five slots were filled immediately. Every morning of the last week before Charity Ball, students arrived at school early to sell coffee to their equally exhausted peers. Food Ark organized a huge drive of nonperishables to create holiday meal kits for Haven House and supplement Enloe’s own food pantry. With stunted prior experience and rapid turnarounds on every project, we came together—to me, inspiring doesn’t begin to cover it.
This season has been a sprint. But it proved that the Enloe Charity Ball spirit of collectivism has survived the most grueling circumstances. Coming back in support of Haven House, who served Raleigh’s most vulnerable youth without any breaks last year, is deeply fitting. And when all that’s left of the dance is abandoned shoes and swirling memories, that spirit will still be alive. It’s around for the long haul, and I am so proud and lucky to feel it.
To every single student who sat through our ticket announcements, raced around the bases at Kickball, and took time to consider the importance of Haven House’s work: thank you. You make Enloe the glittering, vibrant community that it is and it’s an honor to be your classmate.
Caroline Smyth
Student Body President