Karleigh Patton

When volunteering, I find myself reflecting on the quote by Mother Teresa, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” I’d like to say that I have created a lake of ripples all leading to positive change within my community. While I splash in the waters of making lasting changes for adults such as when I serve meals to homeless men at the Hope Rescue Mission or act as a youth voice on my school’s Equity Committee primarily consisting of teachers, administrators, and board members, I feel as though I have had the opportunities to make waves for the youth of my community and society. I feel as though I have defined aspects of my life through the act of helping others and learning to understand those around me and those different from me in order to provide equitable change as well as promote a more inclusive environment to highlight the unique voices that need to be heard, particularly by youth throughout my community and the nation.