From a Beginner to a Leader
Ishika M. of Benjamin N. Cardozo High School High School Chapter expresses how she has grown through GlamourGals.
You scan a classroom. Not in the front. Not in the middle. The deep nonparticipating end of the classroom was the group of people I was a part of. I’ve learned that high school helps you find who you are and not who you have to be. Glamour Gals created that experience for me.
Sophomore year was when it all changed. I joined as a volunteer my sophomore year and there wasn’t a single day where I didn’t look up to our board members. Effortlessly planning meetings/makeovers, creatively finding new ways to help engage volunteers, and proudly encouraging everyone to dedicate themselves to our relationship with the seniors. Those were only a few of the things that inspired me to do more for this organization. I’ve never been one to step out of my comfort zone to get what I want. Glamour Gals brought a kind of passion in me I never imagined having. One of my lifelong goals has been to thrive and I’m so proud to say becoming a part of the GG community has done more than achieve that for me. I was on top of my game to impress the board. My effort shined in everything I did. I excelled in school and flourished in my social life. It was a boost of self-esteem that I truly needed. I learned that I didn’t have to be the perfect student, friend, or daughter to be the best. Absorbing life lessons our beloved seniors learned in their life helped me realize that I can be great beyond other people’s expectations if I believe in myself. As a more evolved individual, it helped me become a better leader.
Through that journey, I rose up to treasurer my junior year, and now am president of my chapter. I wanted to be a part of something greater and be able to make an impact in the greatest way I could. The experience of getting to interact with another generation has given me so much insight into life that I feel deserves so much unconditional recognition. I wouldn’t have been able to acquire the self-confidence I have today without Glamour Gals. Even though I’m graduating this year, our seniors will never make me stop being a great leader. GG has improved my life in so many different ways and I only can be so grateful for that.
Regular meetings and makeovers became improvised behind our computer screens. Although we’re constrained to show our appreciation to our beloved seniors, it was a change that was needed. We got to learn new ways to interact with our seniors and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Safety above all has been extremely important for our dear friends and it’s become understandable that nursing homes cannot allow certain activities.
Rather than parting ways with our seniors, our chapter chose to stay loyal to them because they need it the most right now. Due to current circumstances, our volunteers are not able to meet with each other and write physical cards, but we decided to stand out more brilliantly. Virtual cards. Creating a shared space for our volunteers, we outdo ourselves every month to make the best cards for our friends remotely. We have almost sent 2,000 cards to our nursing home this service year. Soothing images, positive messages, and an immense amount of effort and love are put into our cards. I print these beautiful cards and pay for them as well to give the best quality to our seniors. Money is never a factor if just a little contribution makes our seniors smile ear to ear. In addition, while our mission is toward our women seniors, I’ve also made it possible for our male seniors to get cards so they are equally appreciated. Everyone deserves to be acknowledged and that is our number one goal.
GlamourGals was impactful to my community because it is always nice to give back at a time when it needed more than others.. By GlamourGals volunteers visiting residents and engaging in activities within nursing homes, we are making a difference in each community by putting a smile on their faces and brightening up their days. Volunteering is important to each community, and in my community, I believe that every individual should know what GlamourGals has done for each resident and how it has made an impact on our community today.
