Growing in EAST

STUDENT VOICE

by Mariana Garcia

Hello, my name is Mariana Garcia, and I attend Har-Ber High School in Northwest, Arkansas. This is my sixth year in EAST.

This organization has impacted my life since the first year I joined. It gave me a new perspective on how to help others. As a sixth-grader, I was timid and not very vocal in academic or social settings. EAST helped me grow out of that. It showed me that I could help the people around me with my ideas and talents.

From the start, my facilitator was terrific; my sixth grade year was also the first year I went to EAST Conference. This is when all EAST programs and community partners around the country come together to share what they have accomplished. When I look back at how EAST has helped me grow, that first year at EAST Conference sticks out the most. All the things I didn't think I would be able to do, I accomplished that year with the help of my peers. It is astonishing to think of how many things we created and did for our community that made an enormous impact. Attending EAST Conference opened my eyes to all the fantastic things that were in store for this organization.

A project that was a turning point in my life was the Youth Coalition project I worked on in middle and junior high school. I worked with the Northwest Arkansas Tobacco and Drug-Free Coalition (NWATDFC) to figure out how to reduce substance abuse, like smoking, alcohol, and drugs, among teens. After reviewing the data they provided, we learned that high school students had a higher level of substance abuse than other groups. Our goal was to educate students early on the effects of substance abuse so that the number would not continue to increase in that age range. We traveled to Washington, DC, to further our mission and learn other ways to help the community. Taking this trip without my parents, just my facilitator and a peer, gave me a remarkable sense of independence. We are a close family, and I don't do much without them, so this was a big deal. I was able to attend the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) forum and I went to Capitol Hill to speak with Senator (John) Boozman and Representative (Steve) Womack to address the issues in a congressional meeting. These opportunities enhanced my public speaking skills, problem-solving skills, and maturity because it demonstrated that I had a voice and was not afraid to use it to help others. I still work with the NWATDFC at Har-Ber. EAST made it all possible.

in the Springdale District. I went to Helen Tyson Middle School, Southwest Junior High, and I am now at Har-Ber High School. I think EAST has grown our school district tremendously throughout the years. I believe we have about 26 programs now, and it's still growing. It is incredible that EAST is impacting so many lives every school year. At Har-Ber, EAST helped us change lives through our Veterans Assembly, a Driving Rodeo, and for Thanksgiving, we provided food for more than 200 families with Wooten’s Helping Hands. Collaborating with Wooten's Helping Hands required much patience and problem-solving to feed so many families and access the resources to make the event a success. It is in the midst of projects like those that EAST has helped me believe in my capabilities and enhance my knowledge and desire to help others.

As a seventh-grader, I gave my school's EAST Founder’s speech; it was nerve-racking! Just a year ago, there is no way I would have given an eight-minute speech in front of a panel of judges because I was so shy. EAST helped me discover my drive to be a leader and allowed me to meet people with the same goals. That's one of the reasons why I love EAST; it gives me the platform to help others AND myself.

An amazing opportunity that I loved is being on a Leadership Team for EAST Conference; the group of students selected to assist EAST staff with making sure conference attendees have a great and memorable experience. I kept in touch with many people on the team, including those that have graduated and are now attending college. One of the many memories I have of being on the Leadership Team is welcoming all the attendees into general sessions at EAST Conference. It's always heartwarming getting to see all the emotion on the elementary and middle school students' faces as they enter the arena. Because it's a new experience, they are genuinely excited. Also, in breakout sessions seeing the starstruck eyes of students learning a new skill is beautiful. That starry-eyed moment in breakout sessions evolves into them finding their voice, establishing their independence, and implementing what they learned to be able to succeed.

EAST is giving me another opportunity to grow this year; I will be a speaker at EAST Conference. As I keep growing, I'd like to see EAST grow by staying connected. I feel like EAST could start reaching out to parents more and making them aware of EAST and all it has to offer. If the parents were informed early on, they would increase the probability of students joining the program or starting programs at more schools. The more EAST grows, the more opportunity for students like me to grow in so many ways.

“ ” An amazing opportunity that I loved is being on a Leadership Team for EAST Conference; the group of students selected to assist EAST staff with making sure conference attendees have a great and memorable experience.