Isabelle Seratch, a Senior at Hazleton Area Academy of Science, has been selected as the Hazleton Rotary winner of the Rotary District 7410 Essay Contest.
Essays were to be on the topic “How Individuals Can Changes Lives Through Service” and the contest was open to High School Juniors and Seniors.
Isabelle will receive a prize of $100 from Hazleton Rotary and her essay will then be directed to District 7410 judges at the District level. A $1,000 cash prize will be awarded to the winning writer at that level. There will also be a $500 prize for second place and a $250 prize for third place. Those three winners will receive their District prizes at the District Conference in early May.
“We congratulate Isabelle and wish her luck in the District competition,” says Local Project Chair, Rotarian Kim McNulty. “We encourage you to read her wonderful essay which follows”.
How Individuals Can Change Lives Through Service
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, community service means “work that is done without pay to help people in a community.” There is no mention of what service does for the people you are helping in the definition. Community service brings people together through true kindness
Early in my life, I became a part of the Pennsylvania Theater of Performing Arts. This is a non-profit theater in downtown Hazleton. This theater became my second home. It was the place I went to escape reality and become anyone I wanted. As I got older, I started giving back to the theater. I was elected to be the Youth Representative, a volunteer position to get the youth involved in the theater. I wanted this position so I could help the kids who I was once like. Through this position, I saw kids flourish. Kids who were once shy and reserved became confident and outgoing. I saw with my own eyes how my kindness changed these kids lives for the better. Unfortunately, this position was given up because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When I couldn’t volunteer at the PTPA, I still felt the need to volunteer.
My parents are physical therapists, and I see them help people every day. They bring so much joy and relief to disabled people. Seeing them make others happy made me want to do that as well. This is when I found Helping Hands. This is an organization in Hazleton that provides help to disabled children or children who just need a place to stay busy. I started volunteering at Helping Hands in 2021. Suddenly, I saw the same joy in the kids I was helping as I did in the people my parents were helping. Every time I go on Wednesdays at 5:30, I feel better. I help children by playing educational games with them. Sometimes, the kids get so excited about certain games, but other times they just love to tell me about their day at school. Most of the time, these conversations stick with me for the entire week. I love hearing about the fun things they did in school and the things they hated about their day. Sometimes the kids just need someone to talk to. It is amazing how one small act can make such a difference in someone’s life. Not only are you keeping kids busy, but you are also providing a place for them to flourish.
At both the PTPA and Helping hands, I saw what service efforts did for different children. Community service provides the tools to make people happy. Service brings joy to those in need through volunteering. The true kindness of volunteers is the foundation of community service. Always be kind because you never know how much your kindness can help a person in need.