Grade 7 Student Empowered to Make a Difference

Adam Rozmus, Communications and Media Intern

Grade 7 student Daniel has been empowered to find a way to help hurricane-ransacked Puerto Rico by collecting food and goods from Middle School students and staff and donating them to the Roberto Clemente foundation.

Inspired by his love of others, Daniel took initiative on September 24, making an announcement to the Middle School notifying them about the urgent situation. “I brought two big bags to fill with donated goods to the Middle School, and students and faculty dropped off items,” he said. “It was really cool to see students buying several water bottles, energy bars and other snacks from the cafeteria and donating them,” he said. By the following morning, bags full of food and goods, including canned food, protein bars, Gatorade, baby wipes, and other toiletries were waiting in the commons. Daniel explained, “My family and I filled two cars to the max and dropped off the donations on behalf of the Academy.” In addition to collecting donations in the commons, he and his friend Jackson stayed after school and collected more donations outside Hansel Library.

Daniel heard about the Roberto Clemente Foundation last spring when he attended an open house at the Roberto Clemente Museum. Learning about the foundation’s mission inspired Daniel. When he heard about the devastation in Puerto Rico, he said that he had a feeling that the foundation would do something to help those in need. “My family and I started planning on taking donations to the foundation over the weekend when I thought to myself, ‘What if the Middle School collected too? We could then have a bigger impact and help Puerto Rico.’” Daniel emailed his academic advisor, Mrs. Jessica Hecht, who he said has been an essential part in helping him acquire the donations. “I organized this drive with the help of my awesome advisor, Mrs. Hecht, and my parents’ support.”

Daniel also felt a personal reason to try to help. “I identify with Puerto Rican culture since my mom is from Puerto Rico. We speak Spanish at home, she cooks Puerto Rican food, we sing and dance to “Despacito” and salsa music, and we celebrate the country’s traditions. Puerto Rico is very much present in my home.” Daniel’s family members who live in Puerto Rico were also affected by the storm. “Our family lives in Puerto Rico and they, as well as all 3.5 million Puerto Ricans, were affected by Maria’s devastation,” he said. “I witnessed firsthand the anguish when we didn’t know if my abuela and the rest of my family had survived after the news showed unprecedented flooding in their area. It was extremely sad.” Daniel said his family is alive and continue to survive given the circumstances, as the island has no power, limited communication, no drinking water, and a shortage of food and gas.

Puerto Ricans are still in desperate need of aid. “The people of Puerto Rico need our help,” Daniel said. “In the spirit of Clemente, the women in my family, and Mrs. Hecht, I feel empowered to help.”

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