Meet Sammi, Be Strong’s National Student Volunteer Spotlight!
Sammi may seem like your typical – though highly engaged – pre-teen. She’s dedicated to cheer, pageants, orchestra, and loves to dance, act, and pal around with her chihuahua, Lola. But what you might not know at first glance is how strongly her heart beats for the people around her.
Sammi often thinks about what the world would be like without hate, and how that would change the ways in which we act toward others… and ourselves. Choosing to lead her life with love and kindness, she was in just third grade when she was nominated to become a Be Strong Student Representative in her North Hollywood, CA community, excited to develop new skills to support others and her own wellbeing.
“At the time, I was being bullied every day and hated going to school,” Sammi recalled. “I was being picked on and didn’t fit in. It hurt me and I promised myself that I would never go out of my way to make someone feel bad about themselves.”
Since joining Be Strong, Sammi has grown into a resilient, compassionate leader who prides herself on never giving up. She loves to help her community, her school, and anywhere she goes.
“Everybody is going through something, and I think it would only be fair for everyone to have the support and help that they need.” Sammi explained, “Having someone to talk to can be so helpful especially when you don’t really know what to do with all of your feelings. People can feel ignored and not heard when they need help. So the change I work to see is everyone getting the right support when they need it.”
“Use your time and energy to make the world a better place.”
– Sammi
Now, turning 12 this month, Sammi has adopted new daily practices to look after herself and others.
“I have a healthy method of asking myself everyday if I am okay,” she shared. “If I’m not, I make sure that I try my hardest to make the day better and keep my energy up. I always check in with my friends and family to make sure that they are doing good as well. If I notice that one of my friends is crying or acting strange, I am going to make sure that they are okay. I do my very best to make their bad day better.”
Recognizing the need in her community for programs like Be Strong, Sammi has leveraged skills she’s learned as a Rep to build a peer group of 11 members. She leads them in thought provoking meetings, volunteerism activities, and real-world ways they can help others using the tools and knowledge she’s brought to the group.
“I showed my friends what Be Strong was on the [Be Strong] app and they immediately were super interested,” Sammi excitedly recalled. “We have monthly meetings and my whole motto is inclusivity. Everyone is kind to each other, and everyone feels welcome. I make sure nobody feels left out and that everyone has a voice. We all share experiences based on the topic of the month and have a great time!”
Please help us celebrate and encourage Sammi for the hard work she’s doing for herself, her peers, and community, and all that’s to come for her and her peer impact group!
To learn more about Be Strong’s free programs, email getstarted@bestrong.org.
If you’re interested in joining the cause and supporting students like Sammi, click here to donate.
To nominate a student to lead change with Be Strong’s innovative student volunteer program, visit nominate.bestrong.global today.
