Northview students discuss different ways they engage in their community

Nethra Pai, Editor-in-Chief & Liana Sabnani, Opinions Editor

Students of Northview High School are all for giving back to their local community, Johns Creek, whether it's supporting underprivileged families, helping out with local events, or creating new connections. Through their efforts, they not only find a sense of purpose but also valuable experiences that help make the world a better place. This guide will explore the many opportunities to engage and make a difference in your community.

Clubs at Northview, including the National Honor Society (NHS), Beta Club (Beta), and Northview Right, actively encourage students to participate in volunteering events that support local causes. Beta, for example, is a well-known organization for volunteering. Some examples include toy drives, working with local businesses, and canned food drives. With this, Northview students experience the value of community service and learn about the lasting, positive impact they can make in others’ lives. Beta offers a simple and easy way to volunteer because the officer board finds opportunities for the members.

"Our club also does a great job at giving out those volunteering opportunities. Some of the main places that we look for [are] a lot of the city councils like [Suwanee and Johns Creek] because a lot of them have [events] happening in their town center," Beta president Karthik Mahakala said. "Another [opportunity] that's, personally, my favorite place is the nature centers because they have a lot more unique volunteering opportunities."

Joining clubs like Beta also means that you volunteer with a group and get the opportunity to form new connections. Forming new connections can make a tremendous impact on not only your life but also on everyone that is taking part in these meaningful opportunities. Meeting new people will allow you to engage with like-minded individuals to achieve a common goal. Mahakala recalls one of his first volunteer experiences fondly because of these connections.

"What was unique for me about [the experience] was, especially being a freshman, I didn't really have the opportunity to talk to upperclassmen as much, but just being able to go [and] be grouped into smaller groups with upperclassmen, because we had to get to know them," Mahakala said.

Another similar club is the National Honor Society (NHS). Unlike Beta, NHS is only open to seniors with high academic performance. However, NHS shares the same goal of giving back to the community.

"NHS' purpose is to be able to give back to the community in a way that allows volunteers, who [succeed] academically, to be able to apply what they learn into their community," Sophia Li, president of NHS said.

NHS also provides great ways for you to get involved. The officers find these opportunities by cold emailing non-profits, holding food and can drives, and even compiling personal volunteer opportunities. Li in particular is also Vice President of Girls in STEM, so she often provides their events as sponsored volunteer hours. Li especially encourages volunteers to pursue causes that are close to them.

"I would say, honestly, volunteering should be very personal. It should be connected with your values. I didn't necessarily enjoy volunteering until I found out about Girls in STEM," Li said. "I'm a woman in STEM and so when I see all these girls inspired to pursue it, I feel very connected to it."

Northview Right, like Girls in STEM, also provides volunteering opportunities. Northview Right focuses on supporting underprivileged communities, such as families in refugee camps in nearby areas like Clarkston. The club organizes events like game days, where children from these communities can engage in fun activities, meet new people, and enjoy snacks in a supportive environment. Currently, they're looking for volunteers for their latest project.

"We're doing tutoring sessions [in person or] online at least once a week or once every two weeks," Trinity Jung, an officer of Northview Right, said. "We're trying to look for people who can [tutor]."

Ultimately, what matters most about these volunteer projects, whether virtual or in person, is that they connect volunteers back to the community. As long as you give back to the local community, any volunteer project matters.

"I think it's just [important] to be cognizant of what you are taking from your community, and learning how much you're benefiting, and then learning to give that back," Mahakala said. "It's really important that we're putting out more in the community than we're taking in."

Read this piece in our digital issue!