Leadership in Training: A Junior’s NHS Story
Aylin Camero is a junior at Jimmy Carter Early College High School. Not only is she a student, but she is also a member of the National Honors Society (NHS).
Aylin has had a nerve-wracking start when coming to JCECHS.
“When I first got to this school, I was a bit nervous about a lot of things. I didn’t know how things would work if I made any friends or if I could keep up.” Camero said. Camero shakes off her nervousness and opened her eyes.
“I soon realized this school wasn’t that scary, and I made an amazing group of friends I now laugh and talk with daily,” Camero said. “I did want to leave at first, but through this school, I’ve learned what it means to work hard for what you want.”
Aylin’s desire for recognition and appreciation for her hard work drove her to join NHS.
“Becoming a member of NHS was something I wanted to achieve because it would give me a sense of acknowledgment for how hard I work,” Camero said. “Teachers who recognized my character, leadership, and willingness to learn had faith that I could do well in NHS. It’s an honor to be part of such an organization.”
Aylin highlights the value of character when considering the traits that helped her get accepted into NHS.
“A quality that I believe contributed to my election was my character. Students often lack respect for teachers and staff. I see it happen all around me. I can recognize how hard teachers work, so I also try my best. I try to be respectful to teachers and do my work on time to avoid problems,” Camero said.
My academic and personal growth jumped from low to high when I joined the NHS.
“Being a member of the NHS has shown me what it means to help others. I used to do a sort of community service at my church. However, I haven’t been doing it for a while. NHS has shown me how good it feels when you help others. It’s not something you do for yourself but for others. It’s a community,” Camero said.
Upholding the pillars of NHS– scholarship, service, leadership, and character– has grown as a way of life for Camero.
“Day to day, I uphold the four pillars of National Honor Society by performing my best in the classroom.” Camero said.
“The first pillar, scholarship, I demonstrate by keeping my grades high in classes. While struggling, I try to finish my work and get good grades. Service, I demonstrate almost every day. During the first period, I always open the door for people. While small, it is still a responsibility I take on. I demonstrate leadership in my classes during group projects. Whenever I am assigned to work with a partner or so on, I take the lead and get things done. A person’s character is shown every day. I uphold this pillar daily by being kind and respectful to my peers. Others may say I’m too nice to teachers. However, there is nothing wrong with being kind to the people who spend their time teaching us,” Camero said.
NHS is unique among other academic groups because of its focus on service to the community.
“What distinguishes NHS from other organizations is the community built through it. NHS is a group that focuses on helping other people. It’s not for the benefit of students but for the benefit of people and animals. Projects such as the Love for Paws or the Blood Drive demonstrate the virtues this group holds up,” Camero said.
It can be challenging to balance NHS tasks with other commitments, but Aylin remains committed to doing her part,
“When I first joined NHS, I found a way to balance it out among everything else. The key is to dedicate a certain time to everything. I find time to help out in NHS whenever I can. However, when I am busy, I try to finish what I’m doing to fulfill my duties as a member,” Camero said.
There are many obstacles to being a member of NHS, but they are resolved quickly,
“One big challenge that arises every time around holidays is getting donations. Getting people to donate is hard since they often forget or don’t care. This problem is often solved by announcing the project we’re working on every morning and going around personally to mention it,” Camero said.
Looking ahead, Aylin sees a future shaped by her goals and experiences at NHS.
“My plan for the future is to become a nurse. NHS has already impacted my life by giving me a feel for what it means to help. I hope to continue carrying what I learned from NHS into my future career,” Camero said.
