Anyone Can Do It

Emily Lang is being honored as a Champion of Change for her Kiwanis International service. 

I am so very proud and humbled to be recognized as a Champion of Change and to represent the community of Oak Harbor, Washington, and Crescent Harbor Elementary Kiwanis Kids. 

For me, actions speak louder than words, and I have always been a helper.

I am starting my seventh year in Girl Scouts. Every year, my troop supports a local shelter for families of domestic abuse by supplying them with Girl Scout cookies. We also have many food collections for the local food bank all year long.

In school, all of my teachers from kindergarten through 5^th grade have helped me be a better person. They have helped me learn about my community and the world and have given me multiple ideas about how to help people all around.

In addition, I keep very active in school activities such as volleyball and running. Every morning, I like to help the kindergarten teacher prepare for her day. Then I like to help the first graders with their reading and sight words. One day a week, I get to help in the library, arranging books on the shelves—allowing the librarian to work on other tasks.

In K-Kids, we walk around our school and pick up the trash. We sweep around the school grounds so that all the students can feel pride in our school. We support many causes like UNICEF and Relay for Life. We collect food donations for the food bank. My favorite parts have been writing letters of support to our troops in Afghanistan and collecting food, toys and bedding for the cats and dogs at the local animal shelter.

To me, kindness is just one small action. A smile for someone on a gray day. Helping a teacher with her tasks. Holding the door for another. Picking up trash at the local beach. Just one good deed. Anyone can do it.

Emily Lang is a fifth-grade student at Crescent Harbor Elementary School in Oak Harbor, Washington, and has served as president of her school’s K-Kids club, which is part of Kiwanis International’s service and leadership program for elementary school students