The Rotary Club of Cochrane recently announced the winners of the ‘Interact’ fine arts competition, which tasked them with depicting how the incorporate the core values of Rotary into their life.
Interact Clubs are designed for young people 12 to 18 years of age, to have the opportunity to meet together and develop leadership skills, while discovering the power of the Rotary motto “Service Above Self.”
By joining an Interact club, students take action to make a difference in their school and community, discover new cultures and promote international understanding, and become leaders in their school and community.
In addition, Interact clubs organize at least two projects every year: one that helps their school or community, and one that promotes international understanding.
The Rotary club sponsors, mentors and guides participants.
The club awarded prizes to three contestants, Minna Durrani and Carter Lawrence for their carefully crafted essays, as well as Janelle Saltvold for her colourful storyboard. Their works are available to view on the Rotary Club of Cochrane’s website, rotarycochrane.ca.
Saltvold chose to take the artistic route, creating a storyboard (akin to a cartoon strip format) that recognizes the role of formal education, but focuses on the importance of experiential learnings as a supplemental way to expand one’s horizons.
It also pays homage to what she calls “small random acts of kindness.”
She said she chose the comic strip format instead of an essay because it would allow her to be a bit more artistic.
“I thought it would be a bit more creative way to express the same sort of ideas,” she said.
It was a relatively new type of art form for her.
The Grade 12 Cochrane High School soon-to-be-grad said she wished she could say she’d been involved in larger acts of kindness, but the small ones are just as important, and easy to do.
“They make a difference, even if it’s small,” she noted.
The example she cited was how she was able to reach out to Grade 9 and 10 members of the band to see how they were doing or if they needed help with anything.
Saltvold played French horn in the band, and also sang in the choir.
She’s off to the University of Lethbridge this fall, to pursue a biology degree.
Carter Lawrence’s winning essay echoes one of Saltvold’s themes.
“I have committed to . . . performing small acts of kindness each day,” he stated in the essay. Whether it be buying someone lunch, helping them with homework or letting people have a parking spot. These actions of lending a helping hand for whoever it may be is a core value.”
He expanded that into becoming more accepting of diversity, which is another core Rotary value.
“I have used these interactions to expand my perspectives and overcome boundaries which gave me a higher tolerance and understanding of others.”
Minna Durrani’s essay also noted what seemed to be a recurring theme of the contest.
“The world is built and sustained through meaningful relationships, ethics and a small act of kindness,” her essay stated. “Oftentimes one can be so absorbed in their life that they don’t see the ripple effect actions can cause. But once the pebble drops into the pond and they see the waves it puts things in perspective.
“Moreover, being surrounded by respectable mentors pushes me to better myself and those around me to continue this excellent example of leadership in hopes that I too can inspire the younger generation, just as my mentors have done for me.”
