Even students can get involved and make a difference in their communities. One example is a high school classmate of mine. When she was a freshman, she was very nervous about speaking in public. For a social studies research project, a teacher suggested that she visit a local nursing home. There she discovered that they needed volunteers to read to the residents. She tried it for a week and was hooked. The experience gave her confidence and brought joy to the residents. Over the years, she encouraged her friends to join her and was inspired to start the Community Service Council as a senior project. She wrote her college application essays about the impact of these experiences. Today, she’s a college service organizer and an advisor to a state legislator. This is just one example of how to make a difference in your community.