This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Senior Leads Student Senate in Charitable Direction

Each week Patch will highlight a youth or youth group whose accomplishments have wowed us. Meet Taylor Vender, this week's pick.

Wearing different hats all at once has become second nature for Highland Park student Taylor Vender. The senior is not only president of Student Senate but also is in charge of this year’s Charity Drive.

The goal of Charity Drive 2011 is to raise money and awareness about congenital heart defects (CHD’s) in cooperation with the Saving tiny Hearts Society.

“Charity Drive is pure evidence that kids, with the help of their community, can really make a difference,” Vender said. “It is amazing what we are able to do, and it motivates everyone to try to make a change in some way.”

Find out what's happening in Deerfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This year, Vender is determined to lead the Student Senate in another successful fundraiser.

Vender signed on to the Student Senate as a freshman. In her subsequent years of high school, she became more enthusiastic about helping her community and gained higher positions within the organization.

Find out what's happening in Deerfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This year, Vender is busier than ever, devoting countless hours to the student group that she now leads.

To break it down: Vender runs Student Senate during sixth period lunch, directs committee meetings every Monday morning and oversees the Student Senate meetings on Friday.

But despite her presidential obligations, Vender recognizes others contributions as well.

“Without everyone working together nothing would get done,” she said. “I have to act as a leader and mentor to make sure everyone is getting along and having fun while accomplishing their goals.”

Those qualities are tasks she encourages other students interested in charity work to do too.

“You have to try everything to find what you are passionate about," Vender said. "Once you do that, your involvement is natural and doesn’t seem like work at all.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?