A colorful kindergarten classroom filled with hopes and dreams. Students placed themselves back into the nostalgic classrooms they once played in themselves, on Friday, April 12th when some of the DECA chapter members from school visited Turner Elementary and read to children in Kindergarten classes. 

Students say as an effort to create an impact in the community, they reached out to the principal and staff members at Turner to organize planned reading events. 

“Our chapter officer and president reached out to the principal at Turner and organized the events as a way for DECA to have community service options,” junior Cesar Barrera said. 

The primary objective was to help teachers by giving them a little bit of extra time in their classroom to do other tasks, but it was also to help Kindergarten students and allow them to see the possibilities their future holds. 

“We wanted to help kids in kindergarten see other people who are living out similar futures and help teachers because while we read they can get time to pick up the classroom a little early,” junior Angela Garcia said. “Any help we can provide is good for us,” Garcia said. 

Members of the organization say that this is the second time they visited the campus and they will return once again before the end of school. 

“We went for the first time to go read on April 12th and then we went again on April 19th, but we’re also planning on going this Friday, April 26th,” junior Liliana Weeks Vice President of DECA said.  

Students said they enjoyed their time as they were encouraged by seeing the kids be full of creativity and they were inspired to adopt some of their traits. 

“I really liked going to the elementary school because it reminded me of my kindergarten self and all the aspirations I held,”Barrera said. “In a way, I felt connected to my past self and I was encouraged to continue to dream big,” Barrera said. 

Students say they want to uplift the atmosphere in their club, in the kindergarten classrooms, but most of all in the Willis ISD community. 

“By carrying out community services such as this we aim to prepare our members to be impactful citizens and help kindergarten students enrich their education,” junior Rebekah Steele said. “But we hope to ‘Raise the Bar’ overall in the district by setting an example for other clubs and by inspiring an uplifted atmosphere,” Steele said.