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Published on 04/07/1999 All articles from this issue

LAHS student Aidee Delgado steps out and serves

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By Linda Taaffe / Town Crier Staff Writer

Student Profile

Name: Aidee Delgado

School: Delgado is a junior at Los Altos High School.

Interests: Since doing volunteer work as part of a class requirement during her freshman year, Delgado has continued to dedicate much of her time to community service. The 16-year-old said the school's service learning program helped spark her interest in volunteer work.

"It's so much fun. I used to be really shy, but I'm not like that anymore," she said. "Making that first call is the hardest part. Now, as soon as I hear about something, I try to get in contact with that person."

Delgado has volunteered for the Audobon Society, Hidden Villa, Rancho San Antonio, Stanford Hospital and the school's past three annual community service days, called "Step Out and Serve." She was the co-chairwoman for this year's event, which was held Saturday.

Delgado is currently running for office for next year's president of the school's Associated Student Body. Delgado said, if elected, she hopes to raise school spirit.

Highlights: Delgado said volunteering for "Step Out and Serve" has been one of her biggest accomplishments and highlights so far.

"That is one of my greatest memories. It's very rewarding to hear people say they actually like doing their projects," she said. "It really makes me happy that so many people are willing to help the community."

Working with a crew of about 30 students, Delgado helped to raise money, organize about 11 projects and recruit about 150 student-volunteers for the school's annual community service day this year.

Delgado said organizing the event was anything but easy. The job often kept her working through her school breaks and late into the night, she said.

Delgado said she considered the event a success. She said most projects were filled a week before the event, and some even had waiting lists. Students signed up for everything from helping to plant flowers at the Los Altos History House to entertaining residents at local convalescent homes, she said.

Philosophy: "If you really want to make a difference and want to do something, then you should just go ahead. Don't let other people stop you. That's going to get you nowhere," she said.

Plans: Delgado said she plans to study environmental science - an interest that she discovered while doing volunteer work for the Audobon Society.

"I was interested in the environment before, but never actually did anything. Volunteering has actually moved me forward to what I want to do," she said.

With the help of a biologist, whom she met through the Audobon Society, Delgado is sifting through college choices, she said.