[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E648-E649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 2010-2011 CONGRESSIONAL YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR 500 
     HOURS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY--CAITLYN WOOLUM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 2011

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and 
privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of 
Representatives that the students of the 2010--2011 Congressional Youth 
Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed 
a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing 
the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service 
project.
  This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in 
grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the 
Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high 
school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current 
events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an 
important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back 
to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with 
over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, 
Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student 
shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to 
serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC 
has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their 
dreams.
  President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who 
can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. 
Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, 
but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in 
civilization.''
  With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the 
members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for 
showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It 
is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional 
Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young 
public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you!
  A copy of each submitted student summary follows:

       This year on CYAC we were required to have five hours of 
     community service. Being a busy senior with a huge to do 
     list, I wrote this off as yet another project and essay I was 
     required to complete. Little did I know that I would be so 
     impacted by my volunteering for CYAC. It started with me 
     helping clean up the trash and mess at my school. Gross as it 
     was, we made a difference at

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     school by getting more people involved in cleaning up our 
     campus and helping to prevent trash from being thrown 
     everywhere so often. Then I decided to volunteer at Spring 
     Creek Gardens, an assisted living home and memory care 
     facility. I volunteered with the memory care patients, 
     playing bingo, singing songs, helping a children's choir, 
     reading, doing a bible study and mostly chatting with the 
     patient's whom did not have many visitors because of their 
     Alzheimer's disease. I was excited to see the growing smiles 
     on their faces as I chatted and heard stories of their kids 
     and their long lives. I decided to continue volunteering each 
     Sunday and helping out as much as possible. Not only did this 
     project help me to make a difference in my community, it made 
     a difference in me as well.
     --Caitlyn Woolum

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