“Go out and shine and reflect on this community what TK is all about. This community supports all of us so much and this is our time to give back,” said Principal Tony Petersen prior to students heading out to different service day events.
He encouraged students to remember this day of service and to continue finding ways to give back and embrace service as an adult. “Find ways to give back,” he said.
Teacher Barb Maring spoke about how service led her to her teaching career. She related how she had changed her major in college many times before she was assigned to volunteer in a 7th grade classroom as part of a requirement at her college.
“My experience with volunteering was rather serendipitous, meaning that it was just this ordinary thing and it ended up being incredibly meaningful to my entire life,” she said.
A student in the group she was helping came up to her one day and was so excited. “She got a C on her test and she said it was the first time she could ever remember passing a test. That was the moment I became a teacher,” said Maring.
She said there are many times people go out to serve others and they never hear of the benefits these people receive from it. “Just know that those moments that you’re out there doing good for people, those moments mean something to them even when they’re not telling you face to face, it’s important to them.”
Jeff Dock encouraged students to build their legacy. “You're in control of your own legacy - no one else. You start building your legacy like a giant game of Jenga from your daily decisions, how you impact someone’s life, whether you’re kind to them, whether you say mean things to them, whether you trash them on social media or do you lift them up?”
He started building a tower of Jenga pieces adding layer after layer to illustrate how a legacy can start small but continue to grow. “And then sometimes, unfortunately, we make really bad decisions and you destroy it,” he said, knocking over the tower. “But don’t let those bad decisions change your legacy, rebuild it just like you rebuild a game of Jenga. One bad decision doesn’t have to define your legacy, but it can impact it.”
With those motivational words still in their thoughts, students, wearing “Chose Your Legacy” t-shirts designed by senior Laine Hinton, were sent out on their service day tasks. Some stayed in the high school to make dog toys for the animal shelter, sew sleeping bags for the homeless, or paint rocks of kindness to spread along the Thornapple Trail. Others decorated lunch bags for Kids Food Basket to brighten a child’s day or created colorful tags for IV bags to help spread a little hope and joy. More groups learned how they could potentially help save a life with a first aid demonstration.
Other groups of students were sent throughout the TK community. Some placed American flags on the graves of veterans at different cemeteries. Others pulled weeds, cleaned mulch and cleaned up the area around the Stagecoach Park downtown. Still others helped prepare the Crane Road ballfields for summer games. They helped at Camp Manitoulin and the Middle School community garden. Some volunteered at McFall Elementary and the Early Childhood Center.
Groups worked at Journey Church, Lincoln Meadows, the high school grounds, the bus garage, and the Yankee Springs Recreation Area. A large group worked at Carveth Village, cleaning the outside windows for residents who love to watch birds and see the blue skies. Other students played Bingo with the Carveth residents, celebrating victories and making new friends.
After playing Bingo with two elderly residents, one high school student asked if she could give them both hugs before she left. “They are just so sweet,” she said as she blinked back tears as she realized such a simple thing of giving a few minutes of her time meant so much.
Senior Abraham Figuereo Reyes worked on coloring tags for IV bags. “I’m building my legacy by helping in any way I can within my reach. I want to inspire others to do more too," he said.
Jacob Newland helped with work at Spirit Park in front of McFall Elementary. “I’ve been born into a pretty good place. It’s my responsibility to help others in any way I can,” he said.
Emilia Rickert spent her morning painting donated benches at the Spirit Park. “It’s important just to be kind to others and make connections with everyone. Just go up and talk to them and include them,” she said.
Samuel Trudell made a video about service day and building a legacy that was shown to all the students. “I definitely think I added to my legacy with the videos I’ve created. It will be part of my legacy to the school,” he said.
Philippe Sylvestre gathered his group of students who had cleaned windows and pulled weeds at Carveth Village. “You knocked this out of the park,” he told them. “Whenever you have someone who employs you in the future, remember this mindset you had today. You’re helping that employer just like you helped people here today. Go with the right mindset into any job when you go to work. Every time you do something, do it with service in mind. I’m proud of you,” he said.