Bookin' It: My Best Mutualism Example

It is my philosophy that turning your passions into service projects will lead to success. This is one of the prime elements of building a firm foundation with volunteering, and ultimately, a mutualistic relationship with community service! I've had experiences in all three examples of symbiotic relationships, but nothing exemplifies mutualistic service like my "Bookin' It" Project...

I've always been a book worm, which means when COVID-19 shut down the local libraries, I was devastated. This made me think back to prior projects with Camelot Elementary, as the title-i elementary schools in San Antonio heavily rely on public and school libraries. These students are already statistically proven to have lower childhood literacy rates, and the pandemic was an additional obstacle for these students to face. To help lessen the socioeconomic education level gap and share my passion for reading with young students, I began working on Bookin' It. Considering this was during my senior year of high school, I utilized the resources made available unto me. I collaborated with student officers in DECA, Student Council, NHS, UNICEF, and PALS. I asked one of my closest friends to assist with the project, allowing me to enjoy my work even more.

We ended up receiving over 1500 book donations for the students of Dellview Elementary, another title-i elementary school in the district. Each student was able to take home four free books of their choice at a free book fair we hosted at their school! Many of teachers confided in us that most of these students had never been able to take home books from a book fair before, and I have never witnessed more joy on little children's faces before...and all over books!

Being able to share my love for reading with students of open arms and grateful hearts will remain a core memory in my life. It also serves as a daily reminder that I am capable of accomplishing great things for the greater good; that I can make a difference if I put both my might and mind into it.

But what makes this project even more meaningful is the unwavering support received from others in the community. Our project was featured on the school district's website and Dellview had a reporter come interview myself and my friend, Evelyn Terrell. On top of this, the project received a Superintendent Service Award, presented at the end of the school year! My intentions for "Bookin' It" were all centered around the children and their potential benefits from my work. But that's the crazy thing about selfless service, it surprises you in the most amazing ways. I will never need an award or certificate to be incentivized to volunteer, but it does mean so much to know that being involved does NOT go unnoticed.

How does this exemplify Mutualism with the community?

It is simple, really. I decided to bring a project concept to life, especially because of my personal love and experiences with reading. In return, I was able to see my book drive/fair bring happiness to an entire school of hopeful students. It improved my overall mindset and increased my positive outlook on life, while also benefiting others in the community. Mutualism is about both parties benefiting, and this sounds like a perfect example of just that!

I'm excited to find another project (and soon!) that allows me to pursue my other passions in a similar fashion...