Clary Students Rewarded with – and through – Giving Back

Thomas Royal used to lead college students on outreach projects. Now, as School Counselor at Clary Middle School, he arranges monthly service project incentives to allow the school’s student leaders opportunities to give back.
 
“My family did this with me when I was growing up,” Mr. Royal explained. “It’s always been part of my DNA. I want our kids to realize how fortunate they are!”
 
This year, students who earn the school’s monthly incentive – by having good grades, positive behavior, and more – have the opportunity to participate in service projects where they can give back to the community. The group has made sandwiches for the Rescue Mission, decorated the lobby of Valley Vista, a nearby senior apartment building for the holidays, and more.
 
“I’ve liked these activities because I love helping people,” Clary 8^th grader Ny’Cristi’Ye Wink shared. “These projects have shown me that as we grow up, we can do big things. Things like this help us get recognition from others that we’re doing good things. I would tell other students to stay focused, and when opportunities like this are presented, contribute to them!”
 
His classmates agreed.
 
“It was really nice,” Chrisette Jones recalled of working with her classmates, assembly line-style, to make sandwiches for the Rescue Mission. “We figured out how we could work together to get even more done! We were also able to talk to people that we don’t usually talk to everyday, because not all of our friends were doing what we were doing. It put us in a really good mood and created good energy. We included notes of affirmation with each sandwich, and affirmations can really help your self-esteem and give you a boost. It felt nice knowing we were doing something really good.”
 
“I feel like it’s better for us to start doing service projects when we’re young,” Mi’Taysha Jefferson added. “The more we do things where we put other people before ourselves, the better we’ll get at it, and we’ll have a better chance of being good leaders. We can carry this with us as we grow up and help the world become better than what it is!”
 
As the school year continues, students look forward to continuing their service projects. They plan to volunteer at the ASPCA, do cooking and cleaning at the Ronald McDonald House, and more. Way to go, Clary student leaders, for spreading positivity; and thank you, Mr. Royal, for creating these opportunities for them!