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 first interviewee was Tabitha Core, leader of the Childcare rotation.
Question: When did you first decide you wanted to be a SAL?
Answer: I knew I wanted to be a SAL my freshman year because I knew I wanted to be a teacher since fifth grade. I get to teach the freshman about teaching!
Q: How did you find your social action site?
A: I actually had a fairly difficult time finding one because I wanted the freshmen to focus on elementary education. I wanted to make sure that we went to a school where people could be in the classroom and act as teacher’s aids instead of helping out at a daycare. I had to find a new site and eventually found Rosemary Hills, which is where I went to Kindergarten. The students at Rosemary Hills come from different economic backgrounds. It is a huge school and there are a lot of classrooms for the Stone Ridge girls to help out in. It has been a good site.
Q: What is the hardest thing about being a SAL?
A: I think the hardest thing is keeping your energy up throughout the year because although I deal with new freshman each cycle, I am generally teaching the same material and doing the same activities over and over again. Although they are bound to be enthusiastic about the new rotation, it is the same thing for you so you have to keep yourself interested in order to keep the girls interested.
Q: Is there something you would change about the Social Action Program?
A: For the sophomore class, I would split people into smaller groups because I think service can be more meaningful. You can get more done if you are in a smaller group than traveling as a grade or half a grade.
Q: What are your expectations for this rotation?
A: I hope these kids will become more enthusiastic and hopefully will want to volunteer at a school when they get to choose their sites junior and senior year. I would like it if they all wanted to become SALs—that would make us, the SALs, feel good.
Q: If you were an animal, what would you be?
A: I would say a Puppy because they are high-energy. I would be like my dog. Puppies are playful and enthusiastic. They are also happy and like people.
Impelled to Act also got the opportunity to ask one of the Freshman in Tabitha’s group what animal she thought Tabitha would be. Maddy Kane answered, Cheetah because they are energetic and fun.
