<p>My rising senior D started in 3rd grade participating as a volunteer peer mentor for a theater program set up for kids with special needs (mostly Down Syndrome and wide ranges on the autism spectrum, though other challenges as well). She’s starting her 10th year in September, has become a valued member of the team, made some amazing friendships with her ‘mentee’ students over the years, and has indeed had her life changed as a result of this involvement. </p>
<p>I firmly believe that her genuine commitment to this program and these kids, demonstrated over pretty much her entire childhood, will make a decent statement about her commitment to ‘giving back’ even though she started just because she thought it would be fun and she loved theater. I’m not spending a whole lot of time worrying about the rich kids building houses in Costa Rica…I think her actions will speak for themselves.</p>