There is the old saying that says, “Time is money,” which many may feel is all about earning top dollar while giving our time to anything. Certainly, it is rewarding to receive a paycheck after a hard day’s work, but a deeper satisfaction stems from giving one’s time without monetary value attached. Rather, the joy of serving others has a more lasting impact overall.
Michaela Kowalewski, a recent 2016 graduate of Weber High School, has discovered service can be immensely rewarding. As a young woman, her interests and talents include hiking, running and traveling. She also enjoys math and science. Adding to that list is her fierce love of serving. Kowalewski was recently a top 5 finalist for the Youthlinc Young Humanitarian Award, which is Utah’s largest service-based scholarship. Youthlinc reviews applicants from high school and college students across the state each year to determine which students will receive scholarships. The top 10 finalist receive $500, the top 5 receive $1000, the runner up is awarded $3000 and first place winner is $5000. Kowalewski received the honor of being runner up or 2nd place.
According to Miss Kowalewski, “A humanitarian is an individual who immerses themselves in service with a long-term vision to better society through the empowerment of others.”
In the summer of 2014, she went on a humanitarian trip to Peru which was instrumental in expanding her perception of what it means to be a humanitarian. While in Peru, she completed several service projects in connection with a local Peruvian University, Juan Mejia Baca. They laid cement floors and built a kitchen within a preschool in an impoverished neighborhood. Other charitable acts were rendered and given attention to also. Miss Kowalewski learned a great deal from this opportunity but most importantly she says, “This experience gave me a whole new insight into the change that I can be a part of and how my actions as a humanitarian and leader can catalyze change through the empowerment of others.” Additionally, learning from the Peruvian people made each project more meaningful to heri.
This valuable experience in Peru enabled Miss Kowalewski to become keenly aware of the students and children within her reach in her own hometown. Halfway through the 2013-2014 school year at Weber High, she was made aware of the fact that 48% of the students in the Weber district were on free and reduced lunch and many of them were going home hungry on the weekends. As a response to this need she helped start a student-run pantry pack program in Weber High’s HOSA chapter called The Weekend Warrior Food Pack Program. HOSA is a national organization for future health care professionals. This special program was originated to provide for underprivileged elementary school students with a pack of food to sustain them over the weekend.
In the first year, (2013-2014) Weber High School helped raise $2,241.77 and 6,657 food items which provided for 55 students with packs each week at two local elementary schools. This also helped raise awareness in the community about childhood hunger through the fundraising efforts.
Recently, in the 2015-2016 school year, the needs grew greater but the amount of support exceeded all. 89 children were provided for which accounted for 4 different elementary schools. 12,080 food items were donated along with $5,398. Miss Kowalewski became very involved with her HOSA chapter and tells us that, “Even though I was only a member at the time, I took the initiative to plan the first fundraiser and as a result became very interested in the success of the program.”
Looking ahead to her future, she plans to attend Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. When asking how she’ll stay involved as a humanitarian she says, “My journey of serving others certainly doesn’t end here, but is just beginning. I am eager to get involved in my new community on campus. I plan on helping run the Blessing in a Backpack Program run by Knox students to help reduce food security in local elementary schools, similar to the Weekend Warrior Food Pack Program.”
To anyone interested in doing service projects, Miss Kowalewski has some words of wisdom, “Take action now. There is a need around us. Find a cause that you are passionate about and pursue it!”
