On the Monday off from school commemorating Martin Luther King, sophomore Audrey Cercega found herself immersed in schoolwork. “I was working on an AP World History project that was due the Tuesday after,” she explained. “I was busy the rest of the weekend, so there wasn’t really another day I could have worked on this.” While Cercega was juggling academic commitments, people worldwide were engaged in community service to honor the day.

Although she was unable to partake in the customary activities, Cercega is resolute in her commitment to volunteering. “Even though I wasn’t able to do anything on that day, I make a point to volunteer whenever I can,” she said. Cercega is a member of Sunlake’s Key Club and National Art Honors Society, providing her, and hundreds of her peers, with valuable opportunities to contribute to community service initiatives consistently throughout the year. These clubs play a significant role in encouraging students to help out wherever they can, no matter how small the contribution. Even in her absence, her perspective highlights the notion that acts of service and community contributions transcend specific dates or occasions. “I hope that next year I’ll have the time to do something more beneficial to others, and that aligns more with the ideals of the holiday,” Cercega expressed.