As senior Reem A. finishes her final semester of high school, she leaves behind a statement. With her passion for service and initiative, Reem founded our school’s Red Cross Club, allowing students an opportunity to volunteer and actively participate in our community.
Since GWUOHS is an online school, students interested in volunteering are typically required to find opportunities independently or outside of school. However, Reem found a way to make these resources more accessible
“I wanted to create something that felt more accessible and connected to our community.” Reem said. “Through Volunteer Connection, students across the country can access local training and service opportunities, even if they’re underage or don’t know where to start.”
Her decision was also influenced by her deep interest in medicine and service. In her sophomore year, a member of the Medical Club who had participated in a Red Cross mission trip abroad invited a guest speaker, a general surgeon who had been part of the same trip. During the event, the surgeon shared her experiences working on international medical missions, including the procedures she performed and the communities she served, while the students offered insight into how young people can get involved in humanitarian work.
“Seeing the combination of hospital work with mission-based service made me eager to look more closely into the Red Cross,” Reem explained. “Once I learned about the opportunities available for students, starting the club felt like a natural way to share those experiences with others.”
Though Reem was passionate and determined to create this club, the process was far from simple. Over the summer, she and a group of students collaborated extensively to prepare for the club’s launch.
“We spent much of the summer meeting with Red Cross representatives, organizing leadership and building a plan for the year,” Reem said. “There were a lot of logistical hurdles, but that honestly made it more meaningful.”
Regardless of the obstacles involved, their hard work quickly paid off. One of the club’s most recent initiatives was a hygiene drive organized through the Red Cross, which included a friendly competition among schools to encourage participation. The club collected over 1,600 items in total. These included 1,537 toothbrushes and 80 bottles of shampoo, which will be distributed to veterans and active-duty service members in need, including those in military hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
In addition to donation drives, the club is also working on collaborative projects, such as a multicultural recipe book in partnership with the Cooking Club to further expand its outreach and engagement within the school community.
For the club’s faculty sponsor, Whitney Keaton, the Red Cross Club has brought new opportunities for students to engage in meaningful service.
“At first I was not sure if there was too much overlap with what we already did with the GW Medical Team,” Dr. Keaton said. “But it did not take long to realize all of the great projects we could get involved in through the Red Cross. It has been a great addition to our club offerings.”
Keaton emphasized that while she helped guide the process, the students themselves were the driving force behind the club’s success.
“Reem and the other student leaders have honestly done most of the work,” she said. “I supported their efforts by facilitating meetings, sending communications, and providing ideas when needed.”
She also highlighted the broader value of the organization.
“The Red Cross supports so many philanthropic missions, from blood donations to support for armed forces to International Humanitarian Law. This club gives our students a structured way to contribute to those efforts.”
The club is supported by a group of equally dedicated and driven students who share a passion for service. Junior Abby O.S., the club’s vice president, said she was inspired to join as soon as she heard about the idea.
“I was not aware a club of this level existed until my friend Reem ran it by me,” Abby said. “Once I heard of the impact something like this could have, I was fully sold.”
She also reflected on her experience so far and the leadership behind the club.
“I could not think of a better first leader than Reem. She has worked tirelessly and selflessly to make sure this club has exactly what it needs to be successful.”
Looking ahead, Abby expressed excitement about the club’s future as she prepares to step into a larger leadership role next year, continuing to build on the strong foundation already in place.
Through the process of building and leading the club, Reem has also grown personally.
“I would describe my high school journey as a period of growth in confidence and clarity,”she said. “Over time, as I became more involved in leadership and service, I gained more confidence in my ability to take initiative and bring ideas to life.”
She added that balancing academics and leadership has helped her develop important skills.
“I’ve realized that I genuinely enjoy being busy when the work feels meaningful. I’ve also learned how important communication is, making sure everyone feels heard.”
After graduation, Reem plans to pursue a science major on a pre-medicine track. She hopes to continue gaining clinical experience in the future, exploring research, and remaining involved in community service. But even as she prepares for the future, Reem hopes the Red Cross Club will continue to grow long after she leaves.
“What I’m most excited about is seeing students continue building on what we started. The goal was always to create something that could grow beyond just one year.”
