Youth Spotlight: Cassandra Conner

Cassandra Conner, a 12th grader at Oak Ridge High School, first began her involvement with Hands4Hope in her junior year. She quickly jumped in, and has tallied more than 186 service hours through involvement in Winter Boutique, Empty Bowls, and outreaches including GVCC, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Honor Our Troops, and so much more. She found her way to Hands4Hope's after-school committee opportunities by participating on the Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarship Committee. She also took on leadership roles, and is the current secretary for the Oak Ridge Hands4Hope Empower Club, Volunteer Manager for Winter Boutique Committee, and is a participant on the Operations Subcommittee for Empty Bowls. Cassie is taking advantage of all that Hands4Hope has to offer and making a tremendous difference for her peers, her community, and herself along the way!

"From the moment I met Cassie, she has always been willing to step up and help in any way she can. This year, as a leader, she has truly shone. She leads with compassion and integrity, consistently bringing new ideas to the table and ensuring that every voice is heard."

-Sydnie Warner, Hands4Hope Education Program Coordinator and Staff Mentor for the Oak Ridge Hands4Hope Clubs

How did you first get involved with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference?

One of my closest friends was the president of the Oak Ridge Empower Hands4Hope Club. She knew I wanted a way to volunteer, but I wasn’t really sure how. She encouraged me to apply to the Club and come volunteer with her. I started going to Winter Boutique events, and I had a lot of fun, which made me start signing up for other things as well.

How has your involvement with Hands4Hope shaped you?

I’ve always been shy and struggled to talk to new people. However, after joining Hands4Hope, I’ve gotten the opportunity to work with so many different people every single time. I think I’m less shy now and more confident when talking to and meeting new people!

Has your involvement with Hands4Hope helped you in school, with your friends and family, and in life?

I have opened up a lot and bettered my communication skills. I used to be very shy and nervous to share my ideas, especially when I was with an unfamiliar group of people. Now, however, I can speak up more! Hands4Hope has given me a safe space to express my creativity in and outside of volunteering.

Do you have one special Hands4Hope moment to share?

At Leadership Camp, there was a storm and we had to stay inside the cabins for a few hours. Everyone in my group got to hang out and talk, and it was really fun getting to know each other! I felt a lot more connected to the leaders in my club after this too.