Crescenta Valley High School has many activities that help students take action and help the community, one of which is the Good Neighbor Initiative, a project in which Crescenta Valley High School students clean the La Crescenta neighborhood during lunch and after school. Many clubs take part in this program, including the National Honors Society, also known as NHS.
NHS members worked in pairs of two at their assigned area and picked up the trash. NHS’s assigned area was Evelyn Street from Cloud to Ramsdell. In order to complete this process successfully, members had to go to the school library to pick up one trash bag, one garbage grabber, two safety vests, and two pairs of gloves. After the preparation, the members spent 30 minutes picking up trash over the La Crescenta neighborhood. This project was especially important to students because they are responsible for the school’s reputation. Since students represent Crescenta Valley High School, we should all make the effort to show pride in our school and gain honor by creating a cleaner place for everyone to enjoy.
Additionally, there are many benefits to having a clean neighborhood. First, it improves the aesthetics of the streets and it really doesn’t take much work. The 30 minutes of cleaning that the students did ended up showing great results and keeping it clean wont require much work, just commitment. Cleaning the streets of the neighborhood also creates a safer environment. It can minimize the number of people who may trip over debris and protects them from dangerous objects like glass and nails. Unfortunately, these pieces of trash don’t just harm humans, but animals as well. As animals go on their walk, they have a higher percentage of stepping on harmful pieces of trash or even eating candy wrappers.
Community clean-ups can also serve as a symbol of hope and life. Having a dirty neighborhood, with streets filled with trash, can give off a gloomy mood. However, having a clean neighborhood will show that the community cares for each other and reassure others that the environment they live in is important. Neighborhood cleanups can be a great bonding activity as well. Cleaning up together can unite members of the community with one goal and form friendships between each individual. Especially since modern society is so involved in technology, being able to leave the house and communicating face to face may be a good source of escape. Furthermore, community clean-ups are a beneficial event for people of all ages. Crescenta Valley High School has taken a great start in making the neighborhood a cleaner place and getting more people involved in making a difference. By getting this clean up initiated, students are standing up for cleaner streets and more community involvement, representing the hopefulness of our community.
Sharon Pak, Grade 12
Crescenta Valley High School