Teenagers have a lot on their plate.
But Fiona Ely, a senior at Heritage High School, believes in filling her plate with time for others.
“I think it’s really important for every teenager to be as involved as possible to help their community,” Ely said.
Ely began her involvement early, serving as freshman class president. Remaining as class president throughout subsequent years of high school, she has also been involved in student council, FCCLA, (a club that is dedicated to service and helping others) and Youth in Government.
“I really try to be as involved as I possibly can in every aspect of school,” Ely said.
Some of Ely’s favorite projects within the school walls have been those through student council.
In the spring, the group begins to plan the upcoming school year’s homecoming dance. They quickly turn their attention to their annual Veterans Day meal and the school’s food drive for Thanksgiving.
“We have a food bank right here in Broadlands, so that is really nice to be able to help the very kids I go to school with and help them around the holidays, and make sure that they have a meal on their table,” she said.
Then before they begin plans for the following year’s homecoming dance again, the students bond together for one another right before the school year ends.
“We have a clothing drive for students here in our very own school to be able to have access to clothes,” Ely said.
“I have loved student council. It’s really nice to see all the effort and background work that students have to put in to be able to make things function and help others out.”
While Ely joined student council to help make things better for her classmates, she has also found that as she’s grown with the organization, the camaraderie between students has also become more open.
As a freshmen, Ely didn’t have much of a voice. But as parts of the group changed, she now sees that students of all ages and backgrounds can come to the table.
“Every single member of student council can input their opinion and really contribute in every way possible,” she said. “I think that’s really great to allow even the younger kids to be able to voice their opinion and help out in any way they can.”
But, for Ely, it’s not just about her peers’ voices.
At the age of 17, Ely took a dual credit course through Parkland to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. Now as the youngest employee of an assisted living facility in Savoy, Ely enjoys spending her time with people who have a different perspective on life.
“It’s really neat to hear how they grew up and what they did when they were my age,” she said. “They tell me stories all the time of what life was like when they were in high school. I just turned 18, and many of them when they turned 18, they enlisted. And that’s not something that anyone in my generation has had to think about.”
“They are also the most kind-hearted people I have met in my entire life. They are so sweet and they are very kind. As much as I love to learn from them, they love to learn from me. So it really is a collaborative experience.”
Working with the elderly has not only opened Ely’s eyes to what she would like to do in the future, but also enhanced her belief that everyone deserves a helping hand.
“It’s allowed me to see that it’s important to take care of everyone,” she said.
Ely is deciding between attending the University of Illinois or Southern Illinois University to study biology. She knows that she wants to become a physician and help people in developing nations.
“If I could incorporate helping the poor and helping the elderly through that, that’d be my dream job,” she said.
As a college student, Ely plans to continue to be involved in service organizations or maybe even student government.
“I’m really looking forward to college and having a wider variety of opportunities and clubs to join,” she said.
Ely said it’s the support of her community that has allowed her plate to be so full that she wants to give back.
“We’re four small towns combined for one school district, but everyone knows everyone,” she said. “It really is a nice atmosphere to be around. You definitely have support no matter what is going on in your life. It’s really nice to have that supportive system all around you.”
“I can walk down the hallway and even some of the freshmen, who I don’t have any classes with, I can still talk to them. I know their names, and I know a little bit about their families, and I can just have a conversation with anyone in this school.
“I’ve never felt uncomfortable reaching out or stepping outside of my comfort zone in my community. They make me feel like I belong here, and it’s okay for me to do what I want and step out.”
