Leadership is usually thought of when someone mentions the words Level 8. I am proud of that, and glad I had a chance to show that quality in the recent S.A.V.E.S assembly. The S.A.V.E.S assembly is when the entire school comes together and brings the canned goods that they have been collecting throughout the week to be donated to a nearby food bank, St Augustine’s Volunteer for Emergency Services (S.A.V.E.S.) The Level 8 students usually lead this assembly, introducing the grades who perform at the assembly. This year, though, the 8th grade shook things up and talked about courageous heroes throughout history while introducing the performing grades. From well known leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. to lesser known historical figures such as Rigoberta Menchu Tum, the Level 8 students presented many great heroes who fought for independence, equality and human rights. When I stepped up to the podium with my partner to present our hero, I felt so great and thankful for my community. Every grade contributed greatly to the food drive, and my peers did a great job of leading the assembly. This was a great show of leadership and we all really enjoyed the experience.

Helping out the community always makes me feel good about what I have done and how I have contributed, hopefully, to someone else’s happiness. That is exactly how I felt after helping out at the S.A.V.E.S. Food Bank with the rest of my peers. After the S.A.V.E.S assembly, the 8th graders loaded all of the food that was being donated into cars of fabulous parents, who volunteered their own means of transportation for other people’s need. Then the class got on the bus and headed for the S.A.V.E.S. food bank. When we arrived we immediately unloaded the cars of their burdens, and carried the massive amounts of cans to the auditorium of St. Augustine’s. After successfully carrying all of the bags of food out of the cars, we started the long but fun task of sorting and counting all of the cans that Turning Point students had contributed. The class then teamed up and counted and sorted to the best of our ability, having fun while doing a great service for our city. It seemed all too soon when a lady from S.A.V.E.S told us that all of the cans had been counted and sorted, and thanked us for all of the hard work we had done. After organizing the food, we got treated to a tour of the food bank and saw how the volunteers bagged and gave the food to members of the community. Then, sadly, we had to depart back to school and leave S.A.V.E.S. With a lighter heart, I left feeling I had done a great deed in my community and felt a wonderful sense of gratitude for all I have in my life.