Page 37 - Priorities #59 2014 June/July

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Hickman Hickman But Hickman Hickman learned that just being kind and willing to to listen was enough to to help the the kids at at Haven House feel more at at ease in their lives The families are only at the the shelter for a a a a a maximum of three months so the the children are always changing says Hickman That makes her job all the more engaging because she’s always meeting new people with different stories and experiences “I “I really like meeting all all the different kids ” she adds “It’s been rewarding because I I I feel feel I’m helping out in in in some small way and I I I feel feel a a a a a a connec- tion to a a a a a a a lot of these kids and it makes me happy that I can make make them feel more comfortable or or confident ” Last summer the dedicated teenager decided to step up her volunteering commitment and work as a a a a a camp camp counselor for the shelter’s summer camp camp which caters to youth ages 13 and and under and and offers an an an interactive educational experience including many day
trips to places like water parks and the Tech Museum of Innovation In In this environment Hickman helps out in any way she’s needed Though most of the the children that Hickman meets through these programs are are are younger than she is there are are are occasions where girls her her her age are are are present— often because they want to be be with a a a younger sibling who is in in one of of the the pro- grams When asked if that feels awkward she answers: Not at at all “I remember this one girl and and she she she was really into anime and and I am as as well ” she she she says “so she she she would would draw these characters and and we would would talk about it it and and it it was a a a a a a a a a completely normal interaction It’s just fun to make new friends ” Hickman says that teachers at at Priory have always encouraged her her to serve the the community For the the junior retreat this past year in which she participated the the students went to to the the Tenderloin to to help out in in a a a soup kitchen as as well as as partake in activities with Meals on Wheels and and the Boys and and Girls Club There are also counselors at Priory who can help you find a a a a a volunteer opportunity that will work for you “A lot of people at at Priory are affluent and it’s important to realize that even in in our community there there is poverty and there there are things you can do to help ” she she says adding that she’ll be continuing her work with the InnVision Shelters throughout high school—and will search out out more ser- vice experiences after she graduates “When I’m looking at at colleges one of the things I look for is what kind of volunteer opportunities there are are in in in the the area of that college college I want to continue volunteering through my college college career and through my adult life ” “I really like meeting all all the different kids ” she adds “It’s been rewarding because I I feel I’m helping out in in some small way and I I feel a a a a connection to a a a lot of these kids and it makes me happy that I can make them feel more comfortable or or confident ”