By: Helen Afshar, Red Cross Youth Volunteer

Starting in 2nd grade, I was captivated by the “Who Was?” children’s book series. From Michelle Obama to Nikola Tesla, these books introduced me to some of the most influential figures in history. One that stood out was Clara Barton. Unlike many others, her story wasn’t simple—she wasn’t defined by just one role or an easy beginning. She was a teacher, nurse and leader, dedicating her life to helping others from a young age. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the depth of her impact, and like the other books, her story was returned to the shelf. Or so I thought.

In middle school, I was a shy 6th grader, still adjusting socially after COVID-19. It felt fitting that something as widespread as a disease, something Clara once responded to, would bring me back to her story. When assigned to research an organization and present a speech, the American Red Cross immediately came to mind. That presentation became one of my highest-scoring speeches of the year.

High school started off rough. After switching schools, I felt completely out of place: surrounded by driven students while I struggled to find where I belonged. Then, at a club fair, I saw the Red Cross again: a student holding a flyer and a bright red pen. I decided to take a chance and joined my first high school club, not realizing this was a story that had been following me for years.

What started as a small step during a difficult time slowly turned into something more. Throughout my freshman year, as I attended meetings, I began to connect with the mission and the people behind it. Despite my self-doubt, I took a leap of faith and applied to be club president. At the time, the club was struggling: membership was low, engagement was fading, and promotion was limited. Still, something about it stayed with me.

That decision became one of the most defining moments of my life. I was elected president and committed to rebuilding the club.

In my sophomore year, I approached leadership differently. I used my own experiences as a once-awkward and uncertain student to connect with others. I reimagined the club not just as a volunteer organization, but as a space where students could come together with a shared purpose. Over the course of the year, membership grew from 10 students to over 120.

But growth wasn’t just about numbers, but also about impact.

We organized donation drives, raised funds, and contributed over 100 volunteer hours. Through a partnership with another high school, we collected over 400 donations, each one making a real difference for those in need. Wanting to do more, I applied to a regional youth leadership program with the Red Cross. After being accepted, I collaborated with students across the country, contributed to national initiatives, and helped develop resources for other clubs so they wouldn’t face the same uncertainties I once did.

Through these experiences, I built connections with mentors, volunteers and peers who shared the same passion for service. One relationship in particular with a local Red Cross intern became a source of guidance and inspiration as I continued expanding our club’s impact.

What began as a struggling student organization grew into something larger: reaching beyond our school and influencing others in the region. More importantly, it became a place where students from different backgrounds could come together, not because they had to, but because they wanted to make a difference.

Looking back, it’s incredible to think that this journey started with a children’s book. What once felt like a distant story has, in many ways, become my own.

Through the Red Cross, I didn’t just find a way to help others, I found my voice, my confidence, and my purpose.

And this is only the beginning.