Neha Rawal - J. Allyn Taylor Community Service Award Winner
Neha Rawal - J. Allyn Taylor Community Service Award Winner
The J. Allyn Taylor Community Service Award is presented to a student who exhibits outstanding service to, and is actively involved in leadership activities in, their community. The award recipient receives a card accompanied by a $2,500 award to be distributed as follows:
$500 to the recipient's charity of choice; and
$2,000 to a Canadian post-secondary institution for the recipient's education
The 2022 recipient, 17 year-old Neha Rawal, tells us about the work she does in her community.
Q: Congratulations on receiving the J. Allyn Taylor Community Service Award! What was your reaction to finding out the good news?
A: When I found out I won the scholarship, I was in shock. I couldn’t believe it! I ran upstairs to tell my parents and they congratulated me with Taco Bell. If you know me, Taco Bell is my all-time favourite fast food restaurant. I was so proud of myself and grateful that the London Community Foundation gave me a chance to donate $500 to the charity of my choice!
Q: Why is being a leader in your community – be that your school, the Boys and Girls Club, Champions of Change, or London as whole, important to you?
A: I have a huge passion for education and helping people. I grew up always being known as the “smart kid”. I never really felt like I should have been given that title. I strongly believed that I was only good at school because I had my dad and sister's support at home. It wasn’t until my 7th-grade teacher said, “there is no such thing as a smart person, there are only hard workers.” That quote has stuck with me ever since because if I can’t figure something out I know that eventually, I will. It doesn’t have to come to me right away, I can take my time. My first year of high school was very tough, especially after elementary school. I was not doing well in my math class which used to be my best subject. It really took a toll on me because I thought I needed the high 90s, but I was only getting 50s and 60s. That was when I remembered the quote.
I also realized that this is how most students have had to deal with their education. By the time I was in high school, I couldn’t get as much support at home because my family no longer understood what I was doing. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love all of my teachers, but one-on-one learning can be so much more beneficial than learning in a classroom. Now, I always feel so much more for the students that I went to school with because they probably thought that, for example, they could never be good enough in math because Neha already understands it when I have no idea what’s going on. Some students just need the extra support to reach their full potential but don’t know where to get it. That’s why I wanted to start tutoring at BGC London.
Later on in this journey, I also realized that students may not get extra support because their families can’t afford it. So many students have been discouraged their whole lives because they have been taught to think that if they don’t know something right away they aren’t good enough. Especially in the area where I went to school, it was not common to get help outside of school. I also understand that a lot of parents can’t help their kids with their school work because they are working or might not know how to help. That’s why I decided to start a tutoring program at my co-op placement, Tweedsmuir Public School. This also ties into my passions at Champions of Change.
Throughout my time in elementary school, I experienced a lot of sexism. I was always taught that girls aren’t strong enough to do certain things, boys are smarter, girls have fewer opportunities, etc. When I first joined Champions of Change I started out in an initiative called Made to Lead where we educated kids on gender equality. When you can learn about things going on around you at a young age and how to change them we can become a better society for it.
Q: Of all the things you’ve done to serve your community, is there one thing that stands out to you that you’re particularly proud of?
A: I started tutoring at BGC London at the beginning of 2021. It started off virtually because of the pandemic and I could tell so many of the students were disengaged and mostly there because their parents forced them to be. I remember tutoring this one student and they absolutely hated math but had algebra homework they needed to finish. I didn't really know what I was doing, but I tried my best to explain the concept. I asked the student to try a question of their own, and they went through all the steps I showed them perfectly. The student then went on about how math is actually really easy and started to ask for more practice questions and loved going through all the steps.
At the end of our tutoring session, the student thanked me for all my help and said they were really thankful for my help. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a teacher and make learning easier for students. I will always be grateful to BGC London for allowing me to help people in my community while also pursuing my passion.
Q: As part of the award, you’ll receive $500 to donate to a charity of your choice. Which charity will you be donating that too, and why?
A: I decided to donate the $500 to BGC London because I admire everything they do. They provide a safe space for all the youth in our community and run initiatives throughout the year to help families in need. I’m hoping the donation can help fund the education programs and overall make BGC London an even better place for kids!
Q: You’ll also receive $2,000 towards your post-secondary education. Do you have any post-secondary plans, and if so, how does the work you’re doing now help you achieve them?
A: In the future, I want to be a teacher. I’m planning on applying to multiple concurrent education programs in Ontario — my top choice being Queen’s. It’s a five-year program and I will receive a Bachelor of Science along with a Bachelor of Education. I specifically want to teach abroad and in a third-world country for some time.
I know in some countries it’s harder for children to gain a fair education than those in a first-world country — especially girls. I have such a huge passion for helping kids with their education because I strongly believe learning is such an important aspect of a person's life. I want to help make kids' dreams come true. I hope every child can have access to a great education to make them possible.
Q: What would your advice be to other young people who are thinking about getting involved community projects or leadership in issue areas that they’re passionate about?
A: Do it! I remember not knowing where to start. It can be overwhelming at times because there are so many issues in a community that need to be solved. Start small. If there are clubs in your school, join as many as you can. It’s an amazing way to be involved in your school community and you’ll meet amazing people along the way. It becomes easier once you’ve had an idea of ways to help or enrich a community.
After that, it becomes easier to figure out what your passions are and where you want to help outside of school. Resource and community centers could always use volunteers and it never hurts to ask your guidance counselor for suggestions. There are also smaller organizations like Champions of Change. When I first joined, we were a group of 20 high school students advocating for gender equality. Fast forward to 2022, and we have run over 15 different initiatives. No matter where you start, all that matters is that you want to help your community and that you are always trying your best!