Senior Annelisa Russo has a unique senior year situation. In fact, for the most recent National Honor Society meeting, she drove herself to school from home where she had been doing online dual enrollment coursework all day. She doesn’t come to Sunlake at all and will graduate with her Associate’s degree even before she graduates high school. Annelisa says she’s been “…very busy with volunteering, scholarships, and college applications.” In addition, she says: “I’m just enjoying my last few months of high school by being home almost every day of the week and finding dorm room decorations.”
Annelisa joined Sunlake’s chapter of National Honor Society last year, as a junior. She chose to do this “…because it looks good on college applications and…I needed to be in more clubs.” Since that initial decision though, her motivations have expanded. Now she loves the organization for another reason, community service. “The fact that NHS as a whole, not just our chapter, cares about volunteering” resonates with Annelisa. A specific amount of volunteer hours is required per semester to remain in good standing with the club. Nonetheless, Annelisa says she enjoys it because “…I’m still making a positive impact on the community with other people who care.”
At the most recent National Honor Society meeting, the club welcomed the new 11th-grade inductees. Therefore, Annelisa recalls that the advisor “…went over the induction date, some volunteer opportunities, and when volunteer hours are due.” The meeting was important, yet Annelisa cheerfully wrapped it up and said “That was it! It was very short and to the point.” Annelisa has embraced her non-traditional senior year schedule and made the most of it. She remains involved in many clubs, one of which is of course NHS. Creating her own path has been an interesting journey, but Annelisa remains invested in her education, community service, and social involvement as much as possible in order to fully embrace her senior year.
