SpencerCaceda

Mrs.Lucarelli
SeniorSeminar
18January2017
GrowinguponaquietculdesacinMarlboro,NJ,Inevertrulyexperienced
diversityuntilmuchlaterinlife.Insixthgrade,Idecidedtosignupforavolunteer
program,calledFreeholdChallengerthatcompletelychangedthewayIlookatthe
world.FreeholdChallengerisaprogramthatpairsupspecialneedsathleteswith
volunteerbuddies.Thevolunteershelpthechildreninbasketball,soccer,andbaseball,
andshowthemthebasicandnecessaryskills.WhenIfirststartedoutwiththisprogram,I
wasassignedtohelpayoung8yearoldboynamedEric.IhelpedEricashisbuddyfor5
years.Then,attheendof10thgrade,IwasnamedtheheadcoachoftheChallengerteam.
Tothisday,IcontinuetoparticipateinFreeholdChallengerbecauseIliketoseehowthe
kidsdevelopintostrongathletes.
AroundthesametimeIstartedFreeholdChallenger,Igotinvolvedinmytowns
TeenAdvisoryCommittee.Afterattendingtwomeetings,Idecidedtorunforthe
ExecutiveBoard.Tomysurprise,Iwon.Fouryearslater,Istillholdthatsameposition.
AsanactiveleaderonTAC,Ihaveorganizedandledtwoblooddrives,createdabook
drive,directedtheannualmemorialdayparade,etc.ThroughTAC,Ilearnedtheinsand
outsofpublicservice.TACisoneoftheleadingfactorsthatledtomydecisiontoattend
schoolatColtsNecksLawandPublicServiceProgram.

ThroughoutmyexperienceatCNHS,Ihavedevotedmystudiestohelpingothers.
InFreshmanyear,IstartedaservicelearningprojectcalledProjectHunger,afood
donationthatfocusedoncollectinghealthyandnaturalingredients.Aftercollectinga
decentamountoffood,IdonatedeverythingtoTentCityinLakewoodNJ.Myfirst
experiencestartingmyownservicelearningprojectmademefeelinspiredand
empowered.
Fastforwardtomysenioryear,IreallydidntknowwhatIwantedtodoasa
servicelearningprojectuntilIattendedmyfirstCougarConnectionsmeeting.Seeing
howtheLLDchildreninteractedwithMr.Iachelloandtheirteachers,itmademewantto
help.Inparticular,Iwantedtostartactivitiesandraisemoney.Mytwobiggest
accomplishmentswiththisprojectweretheTrunkOrTreatandtheDavidsCookie
Fundraiser.ThetasksIcompleteformyprojectalignwithmypersonalethicsand
values.Myprojectisallaboutacceptanceandtolerance.IwanttheLLDkidstofeelat
homeinourschool,andsofarIthinkIamdoingagoodjobatthat.