Taking time to serve
Hustle and bustle, it's that busy time of year again. With boys and girls basketball in full swing, school fundraisers happening and Christmas break upon us, students at New Life Christian School are inundated with tasks.
We have a seemingly overwhelming number of things to do, and it seems as though it will be impossible to complete them all. Who does the miscellaneous chores when teachers are already busy with students? The seniors! The seniors are the ones who help out with the tasks at NLCS.
Each senior is assigned to a teacher at the beginning of the year to assist with grading papers, making copies and working with other students. NLCS seniors help out with elementary PE, the snack bar, the school secretary and the principal. For 45 minutes a day, the seniors serve and work to the best of their ability.
Kayleigh Ramirez, a senior who helps to supervise the fourth- and fifth-grade recess and PE class, said, "I love being a TA, and I really connect with the students."
The seniors step out every time they come on campus by helping their assigned teachers. All NLCS Crusaders end up helping out, either by participating in the food basket drive or the shoe drive the school is hosting for the community.
Each student was assigned a food item to fill gift baskets. Belle Knight, a freshman who brought instant mashed potatoes to contribute, said, "It's for a good purpose."
NLCS Crusaders realize that life is not always about ourselves. It's about serving the school, our community and teachers. Seniors know that they lead by example, and by doing so, we are leaving a legacy of service. We want the underclassmen to follow our example when they get to our position.
I believe it's a privilege to serve. During this holiday season, NLCS students have learned that it's better to give than to receive, and knowing that a family is going to have a Christmas meal with the food baskets the school will give to needy families brings joy to our hearts.
Sure, we like to open presents or try to guess what's inside the wrapping paper, but one of the best gifts of all is the gift of serving. If we spent our lives thinking only about ourselves, then we would never be a world-changer. Servants are often unnoticed, but the majority of the time, they play the biggest role behind the scenes.
How far do you think our school would go if no one had the heart to serve and no one got here early to turn on the lights or set up the tables to make sure we have somewhere to sit and eat during the lunch period?
Being a servant is a great thing. It's a value that is commonly unnoticed, but it's always a great characteristic.
Aaron Vieira is a senior at New Life Christian School. His column appears every six weeks in Education.
