Junior Diya Nath has received the presidential Gold Service Award for completing 100 hours of community service through SEWA, an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping people in need. Diya helped with many tasks but a few are making masks for COVID patients, creating sand paintings to donate money to SEWA, and cleaning several parks. Great Job Diya! Everyone appreciates the work that you do for people.

Q: What made you want to start doing community service?

A: My love language and one of my biggest passions is serving people. I love it because it encourages equality, and also fosters valuable relationships, humility and positivity. It inspires others to get involved in service well. I have always wanted to find a way to serve people but didn’t know how to start. Joining SEWA international, a non-profit humanitarian organization, was an amazing way for me to start getting involved with the community and serve. They host many different events and as of member of the youth LEAD program, I also get to host my own events as well.

Q: How long have you actively been participating in community service?

A: I just started doing community service my freshman year, about two years ago. I seek to get more involved every year!

Q: What are some things you enjoy most about doing community service?

A: I enjoy the action itself and the result it brings. I don’t feel like it’s work or a chore but more like I’m playing and having leisure time while also empowering other people; It’s a win-win! Also one of my biggest pleasures is seeing how people are impacted by me and other people’s service! Just doing one thing for one hour, one day a week is enough to have an impact on somebody. To see that I have a positive impact on someone’s life is enough to make me want to do community service more.

Q: How do you feel about receiving the presidential gold service award?

A: I feel humbled since my service is being recognized. It is a huge accomplishment to receive this award as I put in lots of hours for it! However, this doesn’t mark the end of my time of service. It’s only the first chapter! This award only encourages me to do more for the community, not for the awards, but to impact more people.

Q: Have you made friends or bonds during your time doing community service?

A: Yes! I’ve met a new community of lovely, selfless, and hardworking people. They have such a drive to serve people that inspires me to do more. SEWA’s motto is “Together we serve better,” and I love that because it not only encourages service but also unity and bonding.

Q: What are some of your other hobbies and things you like doing in your free time?

A: Outside of community service, my other huge passion is cooking and baking. I love making desserts or meals for friends and trying new foods! I also love gaming and love communicating online with friends. One of my favorite things to do is sing, and I am completing my fourth-year exam this summer. I am an avid researcher and love science. I aspire to do more research in college and study the culinary arts.

Q: How can other people get involved in community service and helping people?

A: There are many ways to get involved. Like me, you can join a service organization or program and do service under them. You can also join certain community events by searching for them online or hosting a service event yourself. You can do service events by donating money, clothes, food, etc., to organizations as well! The best way to find events is to find connections online and ways to join in!

Diya has helped so many people that need some extra support. That is so amazing that she willingly volunteered to help make our world a better place. Diya definitely deserves this award and everyone at ACP congratulates her. If you are wanting to start helping out and get into community service, do it! Take the risk and start helping to also make the world better, you might even make bonds and friendships along the way!