Being able to see the lasting influence on the community near Enloe has taught me to appreciate the significant impact a single person can have. My first experience with student council was in my freshman year. My friend invited me to a caroling event, and I was originally hesitant. This ignited the spark within me to love the process of helping the community, traveling from house to house and meeting generous people who were happy to contribute to relevant communal issues, not because of our singing abilities but despite them.
After this experience, I had limited interactions with Charity Ball before my official induction into the council (apart from the dance). It was during my sophomore year that I volunteered for as many events as possible, and it was here that I realized the importance of individual contributions. I had the opportunity to travel to CASA, see the building, meet the tenants, and most importantly, see the outcomes of the contributions made by all the student council members. This feeling, this validation, and this evidence all helped me discern the value and clarity of the impacts of our work in real time.
These experiences, as previously mentioned, frequently recur as symbols in my life. Whenever I feel down, demotivated, or disconnected from the mission. I know that just by driving past Kings Ridge on the way home from school, I can have my personal worries minimized, stop taking my privilege for granted, and my fire to help all reinvigorated by a seemingly insignificant detour on my daily trip.
Overall, the truly local nature, the measurable impact on an individual level, and the accessibility of Enloe Charity Ball are themes that don’t stray from, but rather project and magnify the pillars on which it was founded.