As the snow dances through the air outside my bedroom window, I sit back with a cup of hot chocolate and reflect on my time with Student Council. It’s been an incredible experience: four different charities, four different GreatCos, and of course, four different checks (stay tuned for the fourth!)
Walking into the Stuco Interest Meeting freshman year, I had absolutely no idea what I was in store for. I had heard of Enloe Charity Ball from my older sister, and scrolled wondrously through the flood of CB posts on my feed in winters past, but I had always just imagined it as an elaborate school dance. You can picture my surprise when I learned that it was an entirely student-led fundraiser that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.
Through weekly Monday meetings, hours spent sending emails and going caroling, and gazing up at the check presentation each year, I’ve truly fallen in love with this organization and what we stand for. I’ve seen my peers around me grow so much and continue to thrive each year, bringing new fundraising initiatives to the table with endless enthusiasm.
Getting to step into a Big 5 role this year has been a privilege. Working with Note in the Pocket’s amazing staff at Pocket Pop Ups and other volunteering opportunities has shown me the immense need for clothing in my communities, and how the smallest of actions can change a kid’s trajectory. I’ve learned that genuinely anyone can make a huge difference in someone’s life, as long as you show up, put effort in, and never say never.
What brings me the greatest happiness is knowing that the spirit of the Charity Ball will never die. Advisors and Big 5 will come and go, events may change or leave entirely, but an incredible group of 80+ kids will continue to show up every year, determined to better their communities and willing to sacrifice their time to make it happen.
The ECB will always host our highly anticipated tournaments, march in the Christmas Parade every year, and arrive an hour early in the mornings to sell hot chocolate to students, all because one student in 2004 had a crazy idea, and we’ve kept that idea alive over 20 years later.