There I was, sitting amongst the crowd, soon to be speaking to them. I feel as though the week of writing the perfect speech was just erased from my mind. The speech I wrote out was so tight in my hands that it was grasping for air. I was to give a speech about how the club I just took over for and the effects it had on kids and the impact it can have in the community. The goal was to try and promote awareness of foster kids in the county and joining the club could improve the lives of the kids. It’s a great message and very difficult one to mess up… yet why do I feel like I will?
My mind was racing with exaggerated responses to the horrible speech I was going to present:
“Who wants to help foster kids?!”
“Why would anyone want to help, forget that. You stink!”
Now in hindsight that seemed very stupid. But in the moment it felt like the only outcome. With torches and pitchforks flailing as they call for my head.
But there I am sitting still, only two more presenters in front of me. I guess what was scaring me the most was my Mom being in the crowd. I am unsure why, but there was always added pressure when speaking out in front of her, whether it was maybe if I embarrass myself and become disowned from the family or even worse… her saying something out loud. Moms tend to have that aura of embarrassing their children radiate off of them.
Before I knew it, I was on the stage standing their leaving the piece of paper in my chair like an idiot. Yet I still just continue because the show must go on. The crowd full of kids and parents thinking about attending the school. So I naturally begin by introducing myself.
“Hello, my name is Preston Hall. I am a senior in the IB program and today I am introducing the community service aspect of what the IB program brings to Hillsborough County and your high school future.”
As of now, no tomatoes thrown at me from the audience or pitchforks yelling for a coup d’état. I further lightened the mood with some jokes and a little hope that the program offers.
“I understand there are concerns over the stress factor and that IB keeps you busy, and I am here to reassure you that those rumors are 100% true. But no worries I am standing here aren’t I? All I have are a couple of papers and a research document due by midnight, but everything is fine.” I know it is not the best way to hook a crowd by talking about the negatives, but they have to understand and learn at some point or they would be devoured alive by the behemoth of a program.
But soon after I delved into what really matters, raising awareness of a problem that plagues our young generation. “Today now more than ever we face a serious matter, kids being left in foster homes with nobody to look up to, but here at Strawberry Crest we provide support for these children and be mentors through the Interact club. We meet every first and third Saturday of the month and work directly with the Hillsborough County Foster Parents Association or HCFPA for short. During these events we will work with kids whose ages range from newborn up until middle school age when they become “too cool” for us. At the events we will lead activities and be very personal with the kids and treat them more as siblings than strangers.”
“Growing up I always felt like I had it tough being raised by a single mom who is a teacher, I faced bullying and adversity at every turn. But once I joined interact, I understood how much of the life I live is a privilege. Having someone who will love you unconditionally and will be there to support you no matter what, and that is what I vowed to each of these kids that I will be that support system, even if it is only a few times a month, I will treat them like I am apart of their lives, because I am. I have had kids call me their brother or father, one child who I see every time I go asked me if I could take him home and adopt him, and if I could I would, without question I wish I could take in these kids. And that’s what makes this club special. And I believe every person should have an experience like this.” Only then did I realize how much of my heart I was putting into this speech, totally off script but it’s what I wanted to say, not what the paper said, so It did not matter, none of it did that moment.
I finish and walk off the stage, shaking. My Mom gave me a huge hug and told me she was proud as would any embarrassing mom would. As skeptical as I was, I look behind her as a line of both students and parents coming to ask more questions about how they can help and where to sign up. It made me ecstatic that people listened to my urge to help out the community and are willing to support a cause they know little about. My voice was heard, and the people care.
One month passed and the school year started, club day is coming up where clubs attempt to acquire new people. This would be my second club day as President of my service club. The previous year yielded almost double the volunteers of the small club I was handed off with now almost 80 people. When the club day started many people (mostly underclassmen with a couple of seniors scrambling for last minute hours) scattered around the cafeteria hoping to find something new and exciting to participate in. I expected a little interest but nothing insane as the majority of the club are upperclassmen that have cars and are able to drive to events. But as I look up, there’s a seemingly endless line of freshman hoping to participate and grab the sign-up applications. We actually had to print up more papers just to fill the demand of all the people interested in the club. Two weeks later the list of people who already vested interest in the club reached over one hundred and fifty and people were still asking if the can submit the paper (which of course we did, that just meant more money for the end of the year party).
The events now had double the volunteers as usual and because of how big of a force we provided to the County, they started admitting more families to bring children for us to work with. A couple of the older seniors- myself included- actually got background checks done and finger-printed so that we could help the adult volunteers with being in charge of a room full of kids. It was crazy that the amount of unprecedented volunteers was a result of a great marketing team (me and my vice president Lori) and a speech that spoke to people (plus also service clubs look good on resumes and food was provided, but minor details).
Even now in college I still plan on seeing them, next month I am going to the meeting, I have had texts from the volunteers exclaiming that kids have been asking about me and where am I. It’s sad that I am unable to see them every time, but that does not mean I will move on, they are as big of a part of me as I am to them. And I intend to keep it that way.