“I spy with my little eye something orange.” It sounded more like a dare than a game when it came out of my sister’s mouth, but I was up for the challenge. I considered multiple possibilities before answering. “Is it… your shirt?” “No.” “Is it… my marker?” “No.” “Is it… Mom’s lanyard?” “No.” After ten minutes, I decided to give in. “Okay, what is it?” “That traffic cone a while back.” I spy is a childhood game that is often played on long road trips when our parents can’t handle hearing “we’re bored” one more time. This game requires being observant of the world surrounding us. As we grew older the things we noticed became more important. One morning of my junior year I stopped by the grocery store to pick up my usual breakfast of two chocolate long johns and a bottle of milk. As I pulled up to the store, I grabbed some change, left my car running, and walked into the store. When I exited the store a few minutes later I grabbed my door handle and pulled up – but it didn’t open. Somehow, as I shut my car door, I had locked my car with my keys and phone inside. Great – what was I supposed to do? School started in five minutes and I was hopelessly stuck. Luckily, Kyle noticed my panicked expression and offered to help. I was just expecting to borrow his phone to call for a spare key – but he went above and beyond to help me. After I talked with my grandma, Kyle drove me to school, and I made it just on time. Twenty minutes later, I was called into the office where I spied my backpack and car keys, rescued by Grandma with the help of Kyle. In this moment, I was reminded of the impact our actions can have on others – our actions and our words have the power to give back to our communities and build up our friends and family.
As I was preparing for a visit this year, I spied an article about the chapter’s community garden, that had attracted many to enroll in their program. When I got there, it was obvious these students were running more than just a community garden. They were managing an outreach program. The garden is huge – and it is all taken care of by members. The produce grown from their garden benefits the families of students with the most need. These families also receive eggs from the chickens and everything is coordinated by FFA members. In addition, students also care for 20 household pets, that came from the community members who could no longer care for them. Now, they are visited by students daily as a healthy release of stress from school – including those who aren’t involved in the program. What motivates these students to do this? Why do they put so much time and effort into people they don’t even know? These students realized they have the opportunity to level the playing field and provide the assistance for others that they deserve.
This chapter saw a large need in their community and worked to solve it. Their project was complex, and big and required a lot of investment—but the size of our impact is not what’s most important. What matters is your willingness to sacrifice to make this world a better place, even to those who are strangers. To identify a need then work to address it.
Think about a need in your community. Maybe this is for a clothing drive. Identifying a need is the easy part. Those are all around us. If you’re struggling to find a need, reach out to others for their ideas. Ask a neighbor, classmate, or community member how you could help. Creating a plan can be more difficult, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. With others, decide how that need could best be met. Once all the elements of the plan are in place, it’s time to execute. Here is where we can start to make a real difference, sacrificing our time, treasures, or talents to help others.
Who here helped package the 90,000 meals at the 90th Kansas FFA Convention? There was a need, a plan and you sacrificed your time for that. Your community will benefit from that. A teacher might benefit from you becoming their aide during your free period. How are you involved in your community? Maybe you are a member of a team or club, attend a youth group or are a dedicated employee. How can you spy yourself giving your time, treasures and talents to benefit those you interact with?
Providing a service or volunteering are important ways to give back – but just as important as action, is being there emotionally for your family and friends. Our families are there for us throughout our lives as we learn new ideas and concepts. I love learning and I always have. Naturally, as a kid, I loved school. That ended around seventh grade, at the time when school seemed less about engaging in the content and more about learning information for tests and of course, drama. I was uninterested. During my 8th grade year, my motivation further diminished and I just no longer cared about my assignments or even being in class at all. I skipped class without much thought other than “I don’t want to go.” One day turned into two, and soon into weeks of not going to school. One day, I spied a truancy warning in the mail – I knew I had to return to school. The next day when I attended school, I was approached by a classmate and friend, Courtney. Her mother, one of our teachers, was with her. They both expressed their concern for me. Mrs. Beck offered to help me reconnect with my school work and my classmates. For the final week of my first semester of 8th grade, I stayed with the Becks. All of a sudden, I had someone to work on homework with or share my feelings, stress, doubts, and concerns with. I got to partake in fun family dinners, excitement for the holiday season and car rides to take Courtney to flute lessons or Bailey to school. That week wasn’t enough to turn my grades around but it did remind me there are people who want to see me succeed.
At that time, I was wrapped up in thinking I could handle it alone. This experience made me realize there were people who had invested in me. People who are willing to provide a helping hand or kind word, when it’s needed. People who are excited to see me reach my potential. We all need help and support from time to time — none of us are able to do everything all on our own. Supporting loved ones goes a long way in their growth and when we’re there through the tough times and the good times, we show that person they’re a priority.
“At that time, I was wrapped up in thinking I had to handle it by myself. What I failed to realize was that there were people who had invested in me.”
Being the encouragement for a friend or family member doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Think about a time someone supported you. It could be as simple as grabbing you a drink from Sonic, just because. Sending a “good luck” text right before that test or interview you’ve been anxious about. Coming to one of your important events from miles away. Remember the way you felt in that moment? We all would love feeling like that all the time. How can we make others feel that way? Saying a simple thank you to an advisor or parent is something we could all do. With who do you spend the most time or want to deepen a relationship? How could you use your time to show these individuals that you are always there to support?
As kids, we’re naïve enough that I spy is a challenge, but as we grow older, we gain the ability to make real observations about the world around us. These observations can be made at a grocery store when a community member offers a ride just when you need it and a family member helps solve a problem. These observations can be made at chapters, as members identify, plan and execute projects that meet the needs of our communities. These observations can be made as you build connections with friends like Courtney; friends that grow together, prepare together, have fun together. And most importantly, support each other. How will you push yourself to impact others? Just over this last week, we’ve seen how individuals across Kansas are learning to do, doing to learn and earning to live. Friends and family, I can’t wait to spy the impacts we make in our communities as we live to serve and support.