The Social Action Leaders are a huge part of the Social Action Program. Every year, a group of Seniors are selected to be Social Action leaders for the incoming Freshman class. They dedicate time during the summer to do research, prepare for class discussions, organize informational trips, and focus on being leaders within the Stone Ridge community. Impelled to Act took a closer look at the impressive group of Seniors and asked them various questions about their experiences as SALs and some personal questions as well. Our second interviewee is Kate Kiernan, leader of the “Care and Concern for the Elderly” Rotation.
When did you first decide you wanted to be a SAL?
I think I wanted to become a SAL when my sister was leading her own Social Action group. She said that I would be really good at it so I decided to apply.
Why did you choose elderly?
No one had signed up for the rotation and Ms. Key asked me if I would be open to doing it. I said yes is because I think it’s a really fun rotation. Everyone knows elderly people and at some point we will all be old. I actually really liked going to the nursing home when I was a freshman and I thought it would be a fun thing to do with the younger girls.
What nursing home do you go to?
Sunrise at Foxhill
How did you choose the nursing home that you go to with your freshmen?
My mom had looked into a couple places for my grandmother and she recommended this one to me. She said that it was really nice and it seemed like a really friendly, well-organized place. I visited Sunrise at Foxhill and decided that it was a good place to do social action.
What’s the hardest thing about being a SAL?
Staying on your game all day. You come in and you or the girls may be tired but you have to be super energetic anyway. You have translate the energy, excitement, and passion you feel about your service with the girls and get them energized about it.
If there is something you could change about the Social Action Program what would you change?
I would do it every single day.
What do you think is the most important world issue that we need to face?
I don’t think I can pick one single really important issue, but the one issue I think that needs to be taken care of is women’s education. Women can be leaders, take care of their families, and raise kids. I think learning from our experiences as Sacred Heart girls, and as women, we can stop a lot of the injustice that is done to women across the globe.
If you were an animal what would you be?
I think I’d probably be a dog, because I think I’m a pretty loyal friend. I also think I’m usually in a good mood and dogs are usually happy. Also, I like to bark at my brothers and dogs like to bark. And I enjoy the outdoors and sleeping.
Impelled to Act also got the opportunity to ask one of the Freshman in Kate’s group what animal she thought Kate would be. Taylor Frey answered, a bunny because she so cute and so full of happiness.
