Oleeta West Dade

Lodge No. 145

Free and Accepted Masons

Alan Alexander Scholarship Fund 2006 Recipient Essays

Alexandra Gratereaux

Graduate of Miami Beach Senior High

Currently a Journalism major at the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University

Essay

[Rather than write a stand-alone essay, Ms. Gratereaux chose to submit a copy of her application for the Silver Knight Award along with the other, supporting documentation. The following is the relevant portion of the package. The application prompts are in bold, italics]

My participation with the SunPost has really helped my community and school. I am able to use my photography to bring those who reside in my community the news that are occurring. Being that I am also the Arts Editor for "The BeachComber" it has helped the school greatly. Those who have seen my work whether it was in the school newspaper or from a SunPost newspaper, are able to visually understand the many ordeals that happen in our community.

From my service project the youth have benefited the most. In every picture that I take, and in every article that I write, I try to emphasize the diverse issues that affect young adults like myself. Being a teenager can be the most confusing moment in peoples’ lives and I feel that it is my responsibility to help others who are in the same situation as I am feel more comfortable in their skin and with who they are and find solutions to their problems.

This effort was so important to me because I feel that everyone should be informed about what is happening in their community. Teens should be addressed more and given more attention than we normally do. It is important for me to be able to represent those like myself in the community. I want to be a voice for those who do not know how to express what they feel and I want to be able to educate the community about what teenagers really go through by using visual aids and words.

My role is to write and photograph situations and issues which teenagers find themselves in. These issues, activities and events that I concentrate on are interesting, yet educational, for both teens and parents. I am the communicator to the community of awareness concerning today’s youth. I am the voice for others who do not know how to express their situations and get help. I write about issues that give the youth alternative activities to spend their tome on such as the performing arts, museums, photography to the maximum extent, culinary events and volunteering organizations.

I became involved with the SunPost newspaper during my junior year in high school. During and arts festival in early 2005, I approached the Sun Post’s sales manager and asked if the company needed high school interns for the upcoming school year. He said to speak with the executive editor Robin Shear and calendar editor Oriane Llaunch. I spoke to these ladies, had an interview, and showed them my photography portfolio and past writings. I then told them my vision about my work. I wanted to be able to photograph and write about youth issues and events to be able to help those like myself.

The major obstacle that I had to face throughout my high school years was my family’s unstable financial situation. Because of this I was limited to very few activities that I wanted to take a part in, but unfortunately was not able to due to the fact that fees needed to be paid. The temptation of getting a job to assist my family was a great one. After thinking and meditating about the situation, I decided to sacrifice a job and took the internship at the SunPost instead. I realized that my service to the community was far more important than earning a few bucks which were going to be spent on unnecessary items.

To this effort, I dedicate 5 hours a week. This means that I am in the newsroom 5 hours a week. Nevertheless, all of the work that is executed is done outside of the office. This includes all the photographs taken, all the articles written, all of the interviews with those who will be in the pictures and who are leads in the youth related stories.

The outcome of this community project was a great one. Many people, especially teens have shown interest in this project. The photographs and articles that include these photographs, have enlightened others and helped them with diverse issues. Many have written letters to the SunPost thanking them for publishing these photographs and articles. Students at Miami Beach Senior High School have responded in such a positive way that motivates me to continue this effort.

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Kristen Martinez

Graduate of Miami Southridge Senior High

Currently a Chemical Engineering major at MIT

Essay

Giving back to my community has always been an important aspect of my life. I have worked with the Salvation Army, the Cat Network, Becca’s Closet and the PTSA. I have also tutored numerous students in various subjects as the president of the National Honor Society. However, the community service project that had the most impact on me was volunteering at the local public library.

My time as a library volunteer has had a tremendous impact on me. I managed the use of the computers, helped children locate books for research and enjoyment, and shelved books. A new computer assignment system was installed soon after I began to volunteer, which became a challenge. I imparted a love of reading to children, which hopefully will last a lifetime. I helped them become computer literate. I can recall a young girl that was alone at the library. Seeing the expression on her face, I approached her and spoke to her. After just a few minutes of conversation her whole demeanor changed and she left the library with a big smile on her face. I realized then that human interaction and volunteering really could make a difference.

Even before I was able to read my parents would take me to the library. I have always loved the library and wanted the opportunity to contribute to it. During my sophomore year I began volunteering at the public library and I dedicated my summers to this organization. Although I did not create this service project, I expanded the duties of a volunteer. The first summer I volunteered at the library, I substituted for a page that moved away. I was assigned a section of the library to shelve books, which is normally a task given to pages, but the felt I was able to accept this challenge. As time progressed I achieved the position of lead volunteer. I was then able to substitute for full-time librarians when an emergency occurred. I assisted with storytelling, tutoring, and teaching them how to research topics on the computer. The summer reading program was a success in rewarding the children who read frequently. I feel I made a positive impact on the children and the library.

I spent countless hours at the library helping in any way possible. The SMART tutoring program that our library does was full with a waiting list before this school year started, so I helped any child that needed help in school. I taught many children computer skills such as word processing, internet surfing, and research skills. I was the lead volunteer and in charge of the computer system. I corrected any problems that occurred with the electronic system and helped anyone that was having difficulty with it. I made a positive impact on the public library by being optimistic and helping everyone with a smile.

I have promoted the library and the importance of giving back to the public library at my school. Many students have decided to volunteer at the library as well and have helped me achieve my goals at the library. In the future I would like to have many more volunteers at the library. Also, I have described my experience at the library to others and hopefully they will continue the legacy I began. The children that I have helped will use these skills for the rest of their lives. After I spoke to several children they realized how important reading and their education really is. I have made a positive impact on our community’s youth and I hope they will volunteer when they get older as well.

In the future I would like to work for a company that promotes involvement in the community as I plan on continuing my volunteerism. I will be a mentor for minority girls, encouraging participation in math and science courses. I will be majoring in chemical engineering and I would find it challenging and rewarding to develop chemical technology that improves our quality of life. Examples of this would be technology that protects the environment from hazardous waste or new sources of energy. Through these efforts I could make a larger impact on the community over the years.

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Tomas Matamoros

Graduate of Hialeah Senior High

Currently a Biology major and Pre-Med student at the University of Miami

Essay

My community services experience comes from a variety of ranges. I performed volunteering services, through clubs, through an internship and even for personal satisfaction. I completed volunteer hours at Hialeah Hospital, with Key Club International, and with National Honors Society, which include Special Olympics, the Hasbro Toy Sale, Can Drives with Power 96, and at Palm Springs Middle School. Though I can say I truly enjoyed having participating in all my service projects but the one that had the most significance to me was my internship at Hialeah Hospital. My motivation to be a part of this internship came form my desire of being a doctor when I grow up.

Having been a volunteer at Hialeah Hospital was an honor. Getting the internship here was a once in a lifetime chance. Not many people get that chance and as a result I got lucky, I took advantage of it, and truly appreciate the great experiences I had through my community hours. At first I helped in different areas of the hospital, until I got an attachment with a certain area not because of what they did but because of who they were. This again is what an internship is defined fore, a place where I get supervised for what I am to pursue in my future goals. And this experience has surely done that for me.

Hialeah Hospital has offered me great opportunities to begin to see how it feels to be in a hospital and work with real people. My mentor gave me the opportunity to work at different areas and see different sides of the hospital in the beginning of my internship. As time grew on I realized I liked a certain place that I volunteered more than the others. I had volunteered at front desks attending patients, I got to file and clear many medical charts, and I even helped with papers in the Emergency Station. And then I volunteered at Central Supply.

When I went to central supply, the ambience was very soothing and the people were very amiable. Having done volunteer services for them has been great and ahs done nothing else but help reassure of what I pursue as my career goal. This experience has changed me greatly and though I had to do community hours for a grade, I wish to continue this type of work as an intern to get more knowledge and experience of what is to come. This only adds on to say that I am proud this internship at Hialeah Hospital, with its great employees, and my great mentor have been the foundation of my future career goals.

Not only did I learn how to label medial products, where to deliver them, the filing and clearing of many charts and a lot more, I also learned that this is the right place for me. The point of the internship is to show you a similar environment to that of which you pursue to enhance. This internship has done it for me and I would recommend it to anyone. Had I not liked it, it would had done good for me too because I would have not had to waste years studying and then realize it wasn’t for me after all that time. This internship is for anybody, it helps you shoot two birds in one shot, you either realize it isn’t want you wanted to do or it motivates you into being the person you always wanted to be.

I was lucky enough to be the one who could say it has motivated me into being the person I have always wanted to be. This experience was truly cherished and is definitely an unforgettable one. Now for a fact I know that the Hospital is where I see myself in the future, without the internship I would have never been sure, but the ambience and feelings I felt truly let me know where I belong.

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Saritza Mendoza

Graduate of Hialeah Senior High School

Currently a Pre-Med major at Johns Hopkins University

Essay

Key Club is an international student led organization providing its members with opportunities to perform service, build character, and develop leadership. As a member for the past three years, I pledged to uphold the objects of this club, to build my home, school and community; to serve my nation and to combat all forces which tend to undermine these institutions.

Being an active Key Club member was my community service project for three consecutive school years because I knew that I could make a conspicuous difference with this club. I was induced to become a Key Clubber because it is an internationally recognized club that truly works around the clock to achieve a better future. As a member and officer, my job is to lend a helping hand to the community, my home school and different institutions. The main activities of this project was to raise money for UNICEF – an organization that strives to eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorder and HIV in third world countries, aid Neat Stuff Inc. in collecting clothes for abused and neglected children, hosting a canned food drive for those affected by hurricanes, reading to children in the community and making school pride posters to influence how a true Thoroughbred should treat school grounds. Also, I partook in making Christmas-spirited cards for hospital children. As Lt. Governor of Key Club this year, my main job was to supervise all the Key Clubs in Northern Miami. I served as the overseeing president for the 13 Key Clubs in our area. I was in charge of guiding these clubs to success and to achieve a many community services hours as possible. As Editor of Key Club the previous year, I was the personal relations person who represented my high school and offered our help to non profit organizations.

Several steps were taken in order to complete this community service project. Key Club strives to give a good service to the Miami community and in Hialeah High School. I participated in almost every single event that we planned – from doing Fundraisers for UNICEF – to helping in Miami Herald’s Total Health Fair – an exposition that relates different health problems and how to overcome them. I was an active member and dedicated officer. At the end of this wonderful Key Club journey, I had proudly given back over 500 hours to our beautiful Miami community.

My service as a Key Club member has positively impacted my local community and myself. I can proudly say that I have read and colored with the kids in hope that these memories will create an everlasting effect in those children. I have helped less fortunate spend a better Thanksgiving by donating canned goods and assisted those victims of hurricanes that flashed through Florida. Overall, the aforementioned actions are the ones that matter in life because they are the ones that have an everlasting effect on people and me.

This club has opened new doors and ahs taught me how to be a leader. I can honestly say that I understand how this club can teach high school students to be leaders full of character, service and full of care of the place that the live in. Our Miami community is always in need of help. In the future, I view myself as an active member in the community. I want to continue helping those that are less fortunate and hope to bring many more smiles to our community.

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Last modified: April 30, 2006