One of the hardest graduation requirements for students to fulfill is community service hours. With the equivalent of over three days’ worth of hours, busy high schoolers struggle to find the time to add anything extra on top of extracurriculars and school work. The Student Empowerment Society at North Atlanta looks to provide students with the opportunity to earn hours. Focused on Latin American communities, the society offers volunteer opportunities for its members at least every month.
North Atlanta has many students in the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program. These students will often struggle not only in English-based classes but also in navigating any school platform. The society ensures that no student is left behind. They provide workshops during the school day on how to use platforms like Google Classroom as well as Managebac and Infinite Campus. They also make sure that all of these students have the proper support at home. Workshops are also provided for parents on how to adjust to the APS environment and support their students. The club acts to help these students who often struggle to find volunteer opportunities that are necessary for graduation. To help participants, the club hosts volunteer sessions in many Latin American-based communities. Bridget Sanchez, a junior, is the president of the club. Sanchez said, “I love providing help for these communities and going out and volunteering in such fun places.”
For dedicated board member Iridian Ramos, the opportunity the club provides for her is amazing. She explained that having the ability to serve her community while also working on self-improvement is wonderful. For her, as a board member, there are many other opportunities for growth. One trip they went on was to Emory to tour the school and encourage college opportunities. A bus was provided so that each person could attend without any qualms. This part of the club shows the empowerment element as students are encouraged to reach their full potential. Ramos explained that while the club is primarily focused on helping Latin American students, any students in need of hours could join. She said, “We are always looking for more help with our initiatives, and anyone is welcome to join us!”
For students interested in joining the club, bright-colored posters are around the school advertising meeting dates. Anyone with any questions is welcome to contact Sanchez, Ramos, any other board members, and Jill Stewart (their advisor). Volunteer hours are hard to get in high school for anyone with a busy schedule and a load of homework, but the Student Empowerment Society makes the process much easier by providing opportunities for which members just have to show up.
