“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I think it’s safe to say everybody learns this wellknown phrase at some point in their childhood or young adult life. However, I think very few truly follow it. As human beings it’s easy to follow the crowd. Even when we desire change, large scale or small, it’s a lot easier said than done to be the initiator of it.

Over the last decade or so however, I’ve been lucky enough to be in the presence of an organization who leads by example, UKSD. They embody what it means to “be the change”, every day through the work they do not only in their own community but around the world. I knew from the start, that this group was something I wanted to be a part of. Whether it was coaching locally, or traveling on mission trips, I think the biggest take away I’ve learned so far, is that simple acts of kindness go a long way.

I think my favorite memory thus far came from one of my mission trips to Dominica. One day on the way back from building a bus station, we pulled over to the side of the road, where two young boys were standing.

Doc, the founder of UKSD, gets out of the car and hands one of our spare donated balls to them. I have never seen a smile so big on a kids face. That moment truly changed my perspective on life and made me so incredibly appreciative for the life I live, and the blessings I have.

I have never been so proud to be a part of anything more than UKSD. So much so, that now as a college student, I’m lucky enough to start “walking my talk” with my own branch down here in Tampa, Fl. I hope to make as big of an impact on the community of Tampa, as UKSD did for me when I was younger”