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Association of California School Administrators
Association of California School Administrators

One small act of humanity

Learning the meaning of leadership through helping others

By Jamie Gracie, Ripon High School | May | June 2021
This summer, through my internship with the San Joaquin District Attorney’s office, I had the opportunity to volunteer with county public health relief efforts.
On my first day, I was shocked to see the number of homeless people living in Tent City, the largest homeless encampment in Stockton, California. I found myself wondering who the homeless turn to during this pandemic? I then realized that I had to take responsibility.
With the rise of COVID-19, homeless camps have had a high rate of contracting the virus. During this time, I volunteered to deliver essential goods. Three days a week, I would drive to various homeless encampments. My role as a volunteer was to distribute cooked meals, masks, hand sanitizers, toiletry items and informational brochures regarding COVID-19. Along with distributing items, I also collected data on residents from the camps on their health conditions and asked if they were experiencing symptoms.
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Through this opportunity, although we are all experiencing the effects of the pandemic, I began to understand the extreme challenges of the homeless. These efforts taught me the true meaning of humanity. By volunteering, I knew there would be a chance of possible exposure to the disease. However, I understood that taking risks is a quality a leader should have.
I believe a true leader is selfless and empathic in a time of crisis. I was inspired to take action when I saw the mistreatment and injustices that the homeless community faces. Solving issues regarding homelessness starts with providing fundamental resources to care for themselves.
Homelessness, especially in regard to COVID-19, has become increasingly political, but I was happy to play a small part in helping those who needed it most. Most importantly, I learned that one small act of humanity not only changes the receiver, but the giver.
Jamie Gracie attends Ripon High School in the Ripon Unified School District
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