During an era when many youth are often unfairly labeled as feeling “entitled” or “spoiled” – it is refreshing to encounter a young person that is involved in giving back to their community.
13 year-old, Cierra Crump, of Louisville, KY has embarked down a road of academic excellence – which now includes community service.
Crump is an 8th grade student who maintains a 4.0 GPA at Highland Middle School where she is a member of the school’s International Baccalaureate program. According to the school’s website, the mission statement for the program is:
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of interactional education and rigorous assessment. These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
Crump’s particular curriculum is a college prep program and her greatest enjoyment has been learning French and Spanish. As a requirement for the Baccalaureate program, students must complete a “Service Project”, which is essentially 15 hours of community service at a local place of business.
Crump and her mom, Deanna Coles, have previously volunteered at local homeless shelters – providing Thanksgiving meals – but this would be her first time volunteering on her own.
“I volunteer at the Genesis Nursing Home on Klondike Lane and I basically do work around the nursing home and help them with the residents… I help the activities director set out games for the residents and prepare their lunch.” – Cierra Crump
Crump currently spends her Saturday’s from 10am – 2:30pm at Genesis Nursing Home assisting the staff with the residents. Being that the majority of the residents are Senior Citizens – they seem to really enjoy the youthful energy that the 13 year-old brings to the facility.
Her duties include: helping serve meals to the residents, helping plan and prepare the recreational activities for the residents, and transporting wheelchair patients throughout the facility.
But the most important duty that Crump performs is putting a smile on the faces of Senior Citizens, who enjoy the interaction with a young person who genuinely cares about their well-being.
An elderly resident who asked not to have her identity revealed said,
“It’s so nice to have this sweet child spent the day with us. She is about the same age as my granddaughter so it reminds me of being at home. Somebody has taught her a good lesson in manners.”
In hopes of continuing her enrollment in a Baccalaureate program during high school – Crump planned ahead early and applied to local schools that included the program in their curriculum. She has realized that planning, discipline and preparation are necessities while navigating the course to success.
“She (Cierra Crump) actually just received her acceptance letter to Atherton High School and Atherton actually has the same program as Highland Middle School.” – Deanna Coles
When she’s not focusing on her education or community service projects – Crump enjoys drawing and art technology.
Her mother has set a myriad of positive examples by pursuing her Master’s degree while being a small business owner at the same time. Deanna Coles owns Melodic Elements which is a cosmetic company that produces “All-Natural” deodorants in a variety of scents.
Thanks to the guidance and hands-on involvement from her mother and mentors from the Louisville community – Cierra Cump has the potential to become one of our country’s future leaders.
Brad Harrison is a journalist/motivational speaker/entrepreneur and on-air personality. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with cum laude honors from the University of Louisville. In October 2015, he started UrbanMaxx Magazine to provide positive role models for Urban residents that reside in at-risk-communities and lack positive leadership in their lives.
For booking or advertising – contact Brad Harrison at bradharrison@urbanmaxx.com