How I became a 4-Her
I was born into a family that was very involved with 4-H. My parents were the club leaders for the Action Clovers and my siblings, the 6 of them, were officers and members. Our club was small but it was fun. Action Clovers consisted of my family, family friends and their children.
Since youth can join at the age of 8, most of my siblings were graduating from high school and out of the 4-H program at 18. I then took over the club. I made it my own. Action Clovers,the Rebekah years, remained small but it became an all girls club. It consisted of my closest friends and myself. I was president of the club for 6 years and my friends were all officers.
I felt it was important to rotate officer roles. That way everyone had a chance to be a leader if they wanted to be. Leadership is a quality that all employers look for. They want some one who is be able to take charge of projects but also be fair to the other workers.
4-H officers learn the importance of leadership as well as community service. Another key factor when applying to college or a job. The state of Florida requires at least 75 hours of community service in order to be eligible for the Florida Bright Future Scholarship program. Employers like to see community involvement because it shows that the applicant cares about their community.
Over all 4-H has taught me skills that will help me in my college career and my professional career. Plus I made lasting friendships and memories. I would encourage any youth to join a local 4-H chapter. It’s low cost, available at most schools and they will learn life skills.
For more information on how to join 4-H, visit www.4-h.org.
