Page 26 - Priorities #59 2014 June/July

26 “What’s cool about travel is that it takes you you out out of your comfort zone ” says Ri- ley
ley
Cantwell a a a a a a sophomore at at at Woodside Priory “That’s what really opens your eyes and allows you to grow as a a a a person ” And Cantwell would know His passion for service has taken him from California all the way to Louisiana Now this coming summer he’s heading to to Nicaragua But he he isn’t traveling simply to to see the world Cantwell wants to gain a a a a a a deeper understanding of people across cultures and and do what he can to make their lives better “To quote Martin Sheen ‘Service is what I do to stay alive’ ” says Cantwell “It’s quintessential for my own true happiness ” Cantwell—whose hobbies also include cross coun- try and and track cycling skiing and and painting—was first intro- duced to the the idea of community service by his mother when he he he he was was in the 6th grade But he he he he says he he he he was was resistant Over time however through her continued encouragement he he began to to see the the the value in in giving his time to to others In the the the 9th grade he attended We We Day Day at at Oracle Arena We We Day Day is a a a a a a a a major annual event put on on in in various locations by the inter- national youth nonprofit organization Free the Children to celebrate and encourage youth service leaders throughout the world Going to to We Day inspired Cantwell to to sign up Priory Priory as a a a “We Act School” which means Priory Priory is now responsible for committing to at least one one local and one one global action of service annually Then last fall Cantwell assisted Priory in in repositioning its annual food drive to be part of Free the Children’s “We Scare Hunger” cam- paign an initiative in in which students trick-or-treat for canned goods instead of candy and and then donate the the canned goods to someplace local (for Priory’s drive it was the local chapter of Second Harvest Food Drive in San Jose) Priory’s numbers for the drive—including how much was raised and how many students participated— were then folded into the the the overall numbers of the the the larger “We Scare Hunger” campaign “In the the past the the parents would just come in and and drop food off and and it didn’t mean