In my community, they give a service to youth award each year to a teacher, support staff and a volunteer.
My husband told me that I couldn’t go on the treadmill. He told me that I wasn’t going to want to answer the door all sweaty. He told me that someone was coming. My son had just gotten into Cornell, so I figured that one of my friend’s was showing up with Cornell merchandise or something along those lines.
I answered the door and there stood Eliza and Alan with flowers and balloons. Wait, this is about me? This isn’t about Max? They came to my house to announce that I won the service to youth award for my years of volunteer service in our school district. Last night my kids got awards at the school award ceremony and tomorrow I receive my award. This is an emotional week and an emotional month.
I couldn’t believe that these two wonderful humans were standing here at my house for me. I couldn’t believe that out of ALL the amazing volunteers in our school district that they picked me. How is that even possible? There are so many wonderful volunteers in our school community.
When they told me why they were at my door, my first thought was:
“Me, out of all of the volunteers?!”
My second thought was:
“This award is not just for me. This award is for ALL the amazing parents, teachers and admins that have been on this journey with me.”
At my heart I am a mom and a social worker. These two roles fit perfectly into volunteering at school. At my job I learned about the importance of the home school link. I think it was so drilled into my head that I took it to a new level. I have loved having such a strong link with the schools that my children have gone to. Being a regular volunteer means that I get to know the administrators and staff in the schools that my children attend. I love building those relationships and knowing what is going on in the schools. I love being a part of decisions that are being made to benefit all the students in the building. I always tell people that if they want things to change that they need to get involved. We also learned as therapists that the more involved parents are in school the more successful their kids are.
One of my very favorite volunteer roles was getting to sit in on interviewing principals at the elementary and middle school level. I know how important the principal is. It was an honor and a privilege to get to be a part of that decision making process.
I chose a co-op preschool for my children because I wanted to be involved. I wanted to volunteer at school. I wanted to be a part of it. What started as something that I did for my own children morphed into something that I did for all the students at the school. I got to know the kids and they would all get excited when they saw me. From the lunchroom at the elementary school to the foam fun run at the middle school to the bash at the high school – I was showing up for all the kids and helping to create joyful experiences and lasting memories for them. I remember kids who were sad in the lunchroom and being there for them. That is the social worker in me. I remember showing up to my first kids day and knowing that I wanted to be a big part of making this happen for the kids. I remember writing a huge check for the playground and feeling like the PTA really accomplished something big for the students.
I quickly discovered that not only was I volunteering for the students, I was also volunteering for all the parents and staff. A mom would ask me a question and the relief she felt with getting an answer aligns with my work mission. How can we help support moms? How can we help support kids, staff and the admins? By showing up. I tell parents all the time that they are good parents because they keep showing up. They get out of bed, and they go on with the day and they show up for their kids. Whether it is in the lunchroom, at a baseball game or at the dinner table. I had a couple of moments with full-time working moms in the lunchroom that I remember vividly. One mom apologized to me because she could only stay for an hour. I said, “You showed up for an hour and that is important.” I had another mom show up for lunch duty with me and she told me that she was upset that she couldn’t go on the field trip. She had to work. I told her how awesome it was that she showed up for lunch duty. I want to help women lift each other up. I want to thank them for showing up. I want us all to lift each other up. When I am at an event and we are all working together I feel a part of the team. I feel as though we are all in it together working on a common mission and it feels very meaningful.
What have I gained through volunteering? So much! I know what’s going on. I’m involved in decision making. I help plan all the things. I get to support the students, staff and admins. I am a part of a team. I can use my social work and parenting skills. I have made some of my best friends. From Laura and Eliza who invited me to be a part of the elementary school PTA and taught me so much. To Emma who has become an amazing friend, and I have had the pleasure of volunteering at middle and high school with. To Kara and Nikki who do all the events with me. I have met parents, teachers, staff, administrators and have made good friends and have built connections. We all work together on a common goal. We become more than a community. We become a family working on a purpose together for every student in the building we are volunteering at. We make a difference and that is rewarding. When I leave an event and the kids all say thank you – my heart is happy. When the kids go on field trips and write the PTA thank you notes – my heart is happy. When you bring parents together on a common mission for the students you see pure magic happen.
If you want to make a difference – get involved.
If you want to meet other parents – get involved.
If you want to get to know the staff – get involved.
I also always strive to be a good role model for my children. Service is important and I want to show them that. They won’t copy what I tell them. They will copy what they see me doing. I hope that they learn from my years of service to our amazing school district.
I couldn’t do any volunteering without the support around me. I want to thank my husband, Seth. When your wife is heavily involved in the PTA, so are you. He has been treasurer, vice president and president with me. He patiently taught me how to do a financial spreadsheet. He has always been available with any of my PTA related questions that usually involves technology. He is patient and helpful when I am home late for a meeting. He has been by my side doing every role with me. He just picked up balloons with me the other day for flag football. He is up for any adventure, and he is my partner in life whether it involves the house, work, the kids or the PTA.
I can’t even tell you the amount of grandchildren caretaking that my parents did while I was busy with all things PTA. We can’t be a busy volunteer without our amazing village. They are always there for me in everything I do.
Eliza – I don’t have enough words of gratitude to Eliza for even thinking to nominate me for this award. I love this lady, and I appreciate her endless involvement in our children’s schools. She teaches me and leads the way and I’m right behind her. I am so glad that she had the deserved honor of winning this award and I am humbled and honored to be right behind her. I told her I would do elementary, middle and high school with her and we are doing it!
This award is for my village. My wonderful village of people who make things happen. I am so honored and blessed to be a part of it. Thank you to every parent, friend, teacher, staff member, and administrator who is part of my PTA journey. It has been an amazing 15 years of service. I look forward to many years ahead. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I am reminded today that every act of service truly matters. I look forward to continuing to serve our school district.
Laughing, Loving, Learning and Serving,
Rebecca Greene, LCSW-R
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