Volunteer at Latin & Greek Conventions
The Junior Classical League (JCL) is an organization for high school students who are studying or interested in Greek and/or Latin. I was a member while in high school and loved my experiences with this organization. The Senior Classical League (SCL) is the equivalent for college students and adults who are interested in classics or simply volunteering. I volunteer with the SCL at both the National Convention and the Ohio Convention to ensure that students can continue to have positive experiences like I had in high school.
My responsibilities at Ohio Conventions are:
- Proctoring and grading academic tests - SCL volunteers proctor test sessions in which hundreds of Ohio high schoolers take 9 academic tests ranging from grammar to Roman life to history. We coordinate the distribution of tests and materials, the collection of completed scantrons, and the scanning and grading of tests.
- Judging art project - Students also compete for points by completing individual art projects such as photographs, illustrated children's books, sculptures, and paintings. Schools also submit group projects like scrapbooks, banners, and skits. I assist by judging in some of these categories.
- Running Latin quiz team - Certamen ("challenge" in Latin) is academic quiz bowl with a Latin theme. Students form teams to face-off in classical trivia challenges. I assist by directing teams to rooms, keeping scores and time, and running "buzzers" (machines. used to determine which student "buzzed-in" first with a remote to answer a trivia question).
- Asking questions about the interviewed students - While meeting with an alum is a great way to learn more about CMU, these meetings are also a great way for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to learn about candidates. Following a protocol, I ask students about their experiences in high school, what sorts of activities and volunteering they are involved with, and about their struggles and challenges both academically and personally. I also offer students a way to inform the Office of Undergraduate Admissions about extenuating circumstances which may not be reflected in their applications--I have heard personal stories of battling cancer, struggling through the suicide of a close friend, and switching through three high schools in four years.
My responsibilities at National Conventions are:
- Coordinating and refereeing sports - Ludi (the Latin for "games") are athletic individual and team competitions for students. Any state who wishes to, may form a team for sports like basketball, soccer, or volleyball, and any student can compete in individual sports such as swimming or track & field. I assist by running sign-in, distributing water, and refereeing soccer or ultimate frisbee.
- Writing skits for the SCL members to perform at the talent show - During the talent show (That's Entertainment), the stars are the high school students. Each year we have around 16 students perform a wide array of talents: piano recitals, Dutch clogging, Indian dance, skits, stand-up comedy, guitar and singing, yo-yo tricks, you name it. After every 3-4 acts, the SCL puts on a skit to amuse the audience, poking fun at Latin, high school, popular culture, and current events. I help by writing some of the material
- Be a stage hand for the talent show - During That's Entertainment I assist by being back stage to coordinate props and performers. I work closely with the Front of House technician who controls sound and lights.
- Writing articles and editing a daily newsletter - Every evening, the SCL members produce The Ear, the daily newsletter which has announcements about any schedule changes, who is running for office, and shout-outs to/from Convention attendees. I help by writing funny filler articles and proofreading the paper with a few other volunteers at the end of the night.
