Although the Langley High School Area encompasses families who are more fortunate than most, residents forget that just a few miles away there are people who are in desperate need of help. The National Honor Society (NHS) has recognized this mounting situation, and has constructed a service project that is unique to the Langley Chapter. As of this year, NHS will be incorporating a new program called “One Goal” in order to address homelessness in the immediate community.

In previous years, members would participate in an array of community service events such as SHARE or writing letters to Veterans after school. However, this year, One Goal will unite and funnel all the members of the Society into a common goal to be achieved. “We’ve got a hundred plus members, to have all of them focused on homelessness as a singular, united goal is kind of cool this year, so we are excited about that,” said NHS co-Sponsor Mr. Micah Herzig. So far, the One Goal opportunities for service range from tutoring children after school to gardening and cooking dinners at a family shelter.  “The reason we changed [to one goal] is because we wanted all the members to feel more of a purpose in the service and not feeling that we were just doing a bunch of random projects in the school,” said Senior Vice President Alex Greico.

In addition to helping the homeless, One Goal is also helping the members of NHS. “It can be immensely rewarding to members,” said Mr. Herzig. As students utilize their resources to help the less fortunate in their area, the physiological impact can result in the members being more likely to give back to their community as adults. “The National Honor Society is a nationally renowned, if not world renowned organization that encourages students to give service back to the community and to learn about themselves,” said Mr. Herzig.

The Senior Service Learning Project (SLP) is where “you have to develop your own service project where you go out in the community and go outside your boundaries to help someone that does not have the same resources we do,” said Vice President Greico. These projects are only for seniors and push students to do more outside their comfort zone. It also makes them independent in making an influence in the community.

The NHS is going to be working hard this year, and its members are as dedicated as ever. According to Senior President Cameron Davis, “[the NHS] pushed me to do more and work harder.” Vice President Greico said, “I wanted to join a club that I knew was dedicated to community service. It helped me do things I may not have done before.” With the adjustments made for this year the NHS will continue to thrive and continue to inspire students as it has done in the past.