huntley’s call to action during the giving season

We at The Voice will be the first to say it has been hard.

Between a world pandemic, recent losses in the community and the ever-looming finals, it is more important than ever to stay united.

It can be so easy to isolate, pull away and only focus on the present. Yet, Huntley is pushing for change and giving a call to action across the board.

“As a school community, there’s power in numbers, and we could do so much more that is simple to help people that are close to us and that are across the world from us,” principal Marcus Belin said.

With numerous community projects going on at once, students are bombarded with opportunities to do their fair share. From NHS’s Adopt-a-Family to fundraisers run by sports teams, there is something for everyone.

“By joining Leos Club, I was able to meet people younger and older than me. Not only on the leadership team, but also the Huntley Lions,” said junior Amanda Sarrol, co-vice president of Leos Club.

Started in 1917, Lions Club members around the nation come together to improve their communities, taking their passion of generosity to raise awareness on current issues. Huntley’s Lions partner with HHS Leos Club to take their mission to a new audience.

“I would say the feeling I get after helping out makes me feel good and like I’m doing something,” NHS board member Keira Darnall said. “I have a personal impact on someone’s life and just being able to see that is nice.”

It may seem like a little thing to us, just some time spent making cards for Northwestern Hospital or packing food for Feed My Starving Children.

For others, it could be everything.

“What is the impact that we can have?” Belin said. “It’s hours for us versus what would take people days or what would take other countries years to be able to do.”

Perspective is key, according to Belin, and it is important to remember how much we have as a community, rather than what is missing. Take the time to look a little deeper, but also celebrate how far we have come in the last year.

For example, a volleyball mom fought cancer during their previous season, so the girls banded together and started a fundraiser: Mission Moran.

“All of the giving that we do is

As the holiday season approaches, HHS is looking for ways to give back to the community great,” Belin said. “Everybody has some different connection. Even the smallest amount, even if we’re helping one person, that’s one person more that’s being helped.”

With comradery and a strong roster, the varsity volleyball team dominated their conference and made it to super sectionals. This is not their first rodeo, however, with a rich history of success on the court.

“We all were super close; they were my family. It made playing together so much fun,” said senior Kendall Gallagher, member of the volleyball team.

“I think it was also just the environment of [our team],” said junior Elizabeth Pauwels, member of the tennis team.

“One of the seniors really brought the team together and made it a lot more of a

pleasant experience.” Girls volleyball is not the only team to smash their season. Football, girls tennis, golf, swimming, cross country, and Math Team have had victory after victory. “I think it’s important to acknowledge the strengths and accomplishments of everyone here at the school, whether you’re an athlete or just involved in a club or organization,” counselor Jim Messina said. “I think that builds a sense of pride.” Community and high school Red Raiders - sports go hand in hand: athletes depend on not just their parents and we’re all in this coaches to show up, but classmates and the public as well in order to perform together well. Huntley High School has had many successes in the fall season with amazing turn out at events. “Community gives so much back to us: parental support, crowds beyond Raider Nation, [and] Football Fridays,” athletic director Glen Wilson said. “Support in general is what drives us to do good for [everyone].” Support is not just essential in athletics and other competitive activities, but also in students’ everyday life. The ups and downs of finals season can be harmful to student health, but also strengthens relationships. “If students are having a bad day, it’s not uncommon at all for friends to come down with them,” Messina said. “It seems like most kids have a good support system here.” While Huntley is excelling during this season of giving, we should remember that this mindset should be held onto all year and push for larger projects that involve the whole school or even all of Huntley. “We’re so fortunate to have what we do and sometimes I don’t think we see it,” Belin said. “There’s always hope that is given in some way, shape or form.”

Humans of Huntley

Mail Carrier -Laurie Sass

What is one of your proudest moments?

Megan, she’s our oldest-she worked at Culver's. Trevor-he’s the middle, he worked at Culver's too and then he signed up [for the Marine Corps] his junior year. Our youngest, Kayla, worked at Culver's too. [Recently], she graduated from Navy boot camp. She said “Mom, all I want is Culver's. I’ve been dreaming about it.” So we went into Culver's and it was like the whole place stopped. I mean, [the manager] was hugging Kayla and he said, “can I get a family picture because all three of your kids worked at Culver's.” Kayla and Trevor, both of them were in uniform. So people at Culver' s were looking at our kids. My husband and I talked about it after it. We have always been proud of our kids. Having everybody look [while we were there] and we got compliments. “You did really good with the kids,” and we were very proud. Very, very proud.

Everyone is worthy of a feature story…what is it that makes you “feature worthy”?

Even with the whole COVID thing, the post office, we never stopped. We didn’t get any bonus or incentive like an essential worker. We never got anything like that. But we never stopped, which I’m happy about, that I didn’t lose my job like so many other unfortunate people did. Anything can happen and you’ll always get the mail that day. The whole slogan is “through rain, sleet and snow.” It never stopped. When COVID hit, we had to wear masks at the post office and stay six feet away from each other. But nothing changed for us. What advice do you wish you could tell your younger self?

Everything works out for the best, but sometimes it doesn’t. Everything will be okay.

Do you have any regrets in life?

I lost my mom in August of this year, unexpectedly. My regret is that I didn’t spend more time with her. But then on the flip side, you've got to try to think of the good-you have to try. Like I get sad and I’m definitely a glass half full kind of person. You've got to just try to be nice because you don’t know what anybody’s going through. What is your dream vacation?

My dream vacation is going to Hawaii. We like to cruise and that is definitely on our bucket list: to cruise to Hawaii with the family.