Q: Tell us who you are!
A: Hello! I’m Amirah Thompson, and I’m a senior. I got involved with Pebble Tossers in my freshman year when my mom and I were looking for some volunteer opportunities that I could take part of, and we stumbled upon this program. This will be my fourth year with Pebble Tossers. My favorite movie is “The Book of Life,” and I aspire to study biochemistry in college when I graduate high school.
Q: Tell us about a service project you participated in with the TLP.
A: In our last cohort, I participated in a service project for animals and wildlife where my group and I gathered our peers to make handmade pet toys and donate them to animal shelters in the metro-Atlanta area. One thing that we struggled with was communication, which I think was partly due to the fact that we had such a big group and everyone had their own personal responsibilities. I think that we overcame it simply by one or two of us checking in more frequently once we realized the problem, which led to a more collaborative discussion. The most rewarding part was when we were able to make over 100 pet toys, which exceeded our initial goal!
Q: What’s something you hope to see change in your community, and how has the TLP helped you feel more equipped to be a part of that change?
A: A change in my community that I hope to see is more effort to identify aspects that help to improve the community and rally more people to turn those ideas into reality. The TLP has equipped me to be a part of that change by allowing me to grow out of my timid shell over my high school career and improve my communication and leadership skills.”
Q: What was a lesson you learned from the TLP that really stuck with you?
A: A lesson that I learned from the TLP is that there is so much more behind the role of a leader aside from leading itself; they must be a good listener, negotiator, and they must be sympathetic and amiable. Those aspects can sometimes be even more important.
Q: If you could share a piece of advice to a younger student who wants to get more involved in service, what would you tell them?
A: I would say: think of something in the community that you’re passionate about, whatever that may be, and find (or even create) some service opportunities that you think would better that aspect of your community.
Q: Parents, what’s something you learned about your community or about the power of youth service by watching your teen participate in the TLP?
A: Community Service has always been something that I enjoyed in my earlier years, so when I learned about the TLP, it sparked my interest, and I felt like it would be a great fit for my daughter. Through the TLP, she gained exposure to the importance of learning more about our community and the benefits of giving back through our time and efforts.
Q: Parents, if you could share a piece of advice with another parent or guardian considering the program for their children, what would you tell them?
A: The TLP provides youth with exposure to various aspects of their local communities that they may not naturally experience. It provides our children with the ability to network with their peers across the metro Atlanta area and form lasting relationships beyond the program.