Recently, NHS has been under a bit of criticism due to inadequate involvement compared to previous years. As a member and secretary of the organization, I feel it is only fair to clarify some of the reasoning for the downfall. Many members have complained about a lack of community service opportunities, organization at meetings and leadership from sponsors and officers.

Let’s start with the lack of community service opportunities offered by NHS.  I would have to admit that we have had an off year compared to last year when there was at least one opportunity per month. Members are required to do 15 hours of community service per semester. Tutoring at the middle school can account for a lot of the required hours as long as one is willing to give up one or two seminars every week. Although we have only had three or four opportunities such as a Mardi Gras 5k, a Fashion Show, Run For Mercy and multiple opportunities to help with Honor Roll rewards, minimal people have shown up to most of them. There are more ways to serve than the opportunities given to you by the sponsors. Genuinely making a difference is not the responsibility of others, it is the responsibility of the person who wants to make a difference and to take time out of their week to find and perform the acts of service.

When it comes to meetings, officers are often just as lost as members, not knowing what we’ll talk about and expecting a pretty short meeting of announcements. As an officer, I feel as though we have done what we can to keep things running smoothly. I do feel that taking attendance is something that should be reinstated, as there are consequences for missing so many meetings. We no longer break into committees, but with not much to talk about, groups are not needed. The group I was in last year did not discuss anything different from meeting to meeting and usually just touched on community service ideas and reiterating announcements. Because of this, we decided to only meet every other week this year, which has proved to be all that we need.

Our sponsors have always had logical reasons to miss or cancel meetings such as vital doctors appointments and critical illnesses. Yes, these absences have negatively affected NHS, however, officers know exactly what to do in the case that both sponsors are gone, which has never happened. In the rare event that an officer has missed a meeting, it has been for excused reasons. A few officers and members have stepped up this year and found new community service opportunities to help members reach that goal. It is still an honor to be recognized as an elite student at Mill Valley. Serving your community, achieving academic success and being an all-around leader by nature is what NHS is all about. Being a leader means taking initiative and this year, we have all had to show that skill a little bit more. NHS members will continue to be the leaders, scholars and helpers that they are recognized as despite the slow year.