As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, leaving the world stuck in quarantine, it’s easy to feel isolated. However, communities have banded together to combat this feeling. Some took up new hobbies with friends while others joined digital workshops, eager to form new bonds.

Personally, I focused on strengthening the relationships I had prior to the pandemic. As a youth leader, I’m part of multiple committees dedicated to giving adolescents a voice. Together, we work our hardest to create an inclusive platform where everyone’s voice can be heard.

Over the course of the school year, we plan and host workshops, events, and programs. Each one is youth-centered and addresses certain needs within the community. Our most recent example is the Police Town Hall, where we invited police officers in our community to speak on a digital panel. We facilitated conversations and had a Q&A portion towards the end where residents, especially youth, could ask the police officers questions and receive a response in real time. Hard questions were asked, and many participants left feeling satisfied.

Another example is a series of TED Talk-like events all focused on student health and success. The topics covered were popular issues like how to improve work ethic. By the end of each session, attendees had learned valuable skills — and the free pizza didn’t hurt, either.

Over my many years of dedicated community service, I’ve made numerous realizations, but here’s my favorite one: I feel the most connected to my community when I’m helping others and making a difference.