"My Red Cross journey began when I was 16, standing nervously in my high school gym. I decided to donate blood for the first time and volunteer at the blood drive. The experience was both thrilling and humbling. I struck up conversations with other donors, each sharing their reasons for giving. I had no idea how significant those moments would become. I wanted to continue my service when I started college at the UWMilwaukee. I joined their Red Cross Club, which was still recovering from COVID-19. I saw it as an opportunity to help rebuild and strengthen our community. By sophomore year, I became club president. Working alongside dedicated volunteers and meeting the people we were helping deepened my passion for the Red Cross. I focused on growing the club and engaging more students. Our initiatives ranged from making blankets and sandwiches for local homeless shelters to participating in local community events like Sound the Alarm. I even became certified to teach CPR and First A...