On the 6th of December, our spirited DECA club took on the noble mission of transforming our school into paradise. Picture this: hundreds of students, on campus, with an enthusiasm that could rival any caffeinated beverage.
As the clock struck at about 1pm, chaos, and by chaos, I mean organized hustle, ensued. Students were buzzing like bees on a quest for the best flowers, darting in every direction with a singular focus: ensure the campus looked fabulous. Some were found wielding their tools of cleanliness like warriors facing a dragon. Aarav Patel, a senior and the committee chair for this event, along with Dhriti Singamaneni, a sophomore and the business outreach director, said that they weren’t expecting so many people to show up so enthusiastically. They said that even if they hadn’t anticipated those many people to come, they were of great help and got to clean places that maybe couldn’t have been possible without the support of all the chapter members.
It is always helpful to have more people around you to get the task done quicker. And it’s not only because it gets the task done more efficiently, but also because you learn teamwork, and meet new people with new ideas and new perspectives. Watching this happen from a distance is a different pleasure in itself. Karina Kapadia, a junior and the one in charge of social media marketing for DECA, shares a similar perspective while saying, “149 people came to volunteer and just made me really happy to see how many people want to support our school and help out.” It’s always a delightful experience to watch your hard work and dedication pay off.
This event was not only an opportunity to help beautify the campus, but also socialize and have fun with your friends. Many people were participating in Ridge Gives Day just because their friends were doing it. The event soon turned into quality time with your friends and meet new people. Some people decided to join in and participate just because their friends were. Quite honestly, everything that you do with your friends makes it better and more fun. Shamita Doki, a sophomore and a DECA Officer says, “Networking and getting to meet new people was a great experience.” She also adds that getting to interact with younger and older people gave her a different perspective.
One of the most heartwarming aspects of the event was the pride felt by the students as they contributed to meaningful causes. Participants engaged in various activities that benefited our school as a whole. This year, more students left with smiles on their faces, proud of their contributions and excited to share their experiences with others. Mr. Ortiz, the advisor for DECA and also a marketing teacher at Mountain Ridge shares his thoughts by saying, “It’s one thing to think about all of the stuff that needs to get done on a day of service, but I really feel like the students walked away from it, not only feeling like they had a sense of accomplishment, but also they got to hang out with their friends.”
As the sun began its descent in the sky, casting its golden glow on our freshly cleaned domain, the event wrapped up. The day was not only a testament to their hands-on approach but a heartwarming reminder that when we come together, good things happen. We left the campus not just cleaner, but with a sense of pride and a few amusing stories, ready to tackle whatever comes next, preferably with a little less gum.
