Embrace the Amazing

This year I joined Embrace the Amazing, a service activity devoted to interacting with autistic children. Our first meeting was simply an icebreaker to get to know the people in our group, which I found extremely helpful because I do not know a lot of the people in this club. This offered me an opportunity to break out of my shy bubble and get to know people. Our first activity was a modified version of bingo where we had to find people who fit the description written in a box. Our second activity was to find a way to have all people in our small group stand on a single sheet of newspaper. I am particularly proud of coming up with an idea that allowed our group to progress the furthest.

Through this activity, I realized that social interaction is not as scary as I had previously thought; however, I still need a plan of attack when it comes to finding ways to start a conversation with someone. These ice-breaking activities also brought us closer together as a group, and we can now move forward to tackle future endeavors. In this club, I would like to be able to contribute new ideas to activities we can organize for these kids. I have learned through other clubs and activities that I am happiest when I am able to make other people smile. I hope to be able to spread happiness to these kids.

Embrace the Amazing will help autistic kids by creating activities that they will be able to enjoy. By spending time with them and devoting a day to these kids, we let them know that they matter.  Even though life may be a little bit more difficult to tackle as an autistic child, we'll be creating a safe environment where they can be themselves and have fun.

Photography

This year in photography we're taking a more hands-on approach. Not only will we focus on proper picture taking, but also post-processing enhancements. Photography is also in charge of providing photos for Yearbook so we've divided responsibilities in taking photos for school events, service activities, and other clubs. I am in charge of overseeing who will be able to participate in taking photos for service activities as well as organizing club members in taking photos for school events.

This year I hope to refine my picture-taking skills so I can express myself through the pictures I take as well as convey a message rather than just pointing at something interesting and clicking. This activity is one of my only outlets in being able to express myself creatively. I also have the chance to be able to take a proactive leadership role in this club by helping to organize opportunities to take pictures at school events. Photography will allow our members to be as creative as we want while being able to showcase it around school.

Senior Year

Now begins a new chapter in my life: senior year. This year I want to be more active in my school community by volunteering and joining new clubs, as well as continuing those I participated in last year. At the activity fair, I signed up for photography, zumba, yoga, artsco, book club, jazz band, Interact, and Embrace the Amazing. Photography, zumba, and book club are all clubs I'm continuing from last year. I'm not sure whether to continue with the Greenhouse Project because I know I only became active within the last few months of 11th grade. Maybe I'll become involved in sales when the tomatoes in the greenhouse are ripe for sale. This year I've also been re-inducted into the National Honor Society because I was originally involved in NHS in my old school but was not sure how it transferred between schools. I look forward to a very interesting year:)