William Heikkinen understands the value of giving to the community. He was raised in Andover, Massachusetts, which is a fairly affluent town so he had lots of opportunities to succeed. In addition, he worked hard to meet his goals and made the commitment to stick with it until he reached his goals.
His senior year, Heikkinen joined a group of peer students from Andover High School, and got involved in tutoring and mentoring children at the Robert L. Frost Elementary School in Lawrence, Massachusetts. These children were having trouble in school.
William and his classmates had a positive impact on the students with whom they worked. These high school seniors took on the challenge of helping young students achieve their academic potential. Not only did the elementary teachers see a positive impact on the children’s academic achievements, they also saw an increase in the students’ self-esteem and confidence.
This volunteer venture was a positive one for all involved. Each high school senior received a letter of commendation from the principal of the school thanking him/her for their time and academic contributions to the students, the teachers, and the school as a whole.
This experience impressed upon William Heikkinen the importance of giving back to the community and helping others succeed. Both the elementary students and the high school students came away from that experience with memories and lessons that will last a lifetime.