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Like many high school freshman, Bianacca had a hard time
fitting in. Feeling isolated from her peers, she shrank into
herself and started to become more and more depressed. One
day, she noticed a flyer about a lunch club called STAND &
SERVE. The club was going to talk about issues related to
depression, and Bianacca decided to go.
At STAND & SERVE, Bianacca found acceptance, love and encouragement
to be herself. She also found an opportunity to get outside
of herself and help others. She became an active participant
at weekly meetings and outreach events. With other club members,
she started volunteering as a "peer educator" for the feeder
middle school down the street, teaching younger students about
health and violence issues, and helping them talk about issues
they might feel uncomfortable discussing with adults. She
volunteered for community service projects including Special
Olympics, Youth Fest in Tempe, the WNBA's Choose Respect campaign,
Supplies for Students, and Legacy BackPack Buddies.
"Before STAND & SERVE, I was just a 'down in the dump' teenager,"
she recalls. "STAND & SERVE helped me see myself in a positive
way. Without this club, I would not see the world the way
I do today. They helped me understand that someone like me
has things to contribute, and I can really help the community."
Bianacca is now a sophomore, and is miles from the quiet,
depressed freshman she was a year ago. She is a sparkling
ball of energy who confidently leads monthly peer educator
meetings and weekly club meetings at her high school. Already
this school year, she has created service projects to heighten
her school's understanding of gang violence and drug abuse,
and is planning a wide variety of community service projects
and events to address family/dating violence/child abuse during
Domestic Violence awareness month in October. She is also
continuing her work as a peer educator at the middle school.
Bianacca's mother has witnessed the changes in her daughter
since joining the club one year ago. "School has become a
top priority for her. She talks about going to college and
about what she wants to do with her life," she says. "Since
joining the club, my daughter has blossomed into a beautiful,
well-rounded, young lady."
"Joining STAND & SERVE was the best decision I have made
in my life," Bianacca smiles. "It not only got me to care
for others, it got me to care about myself."
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