From Classroom to Community: A Student’s Calling to Serve
Forest Lake Academy (FLA) has provided me with many opportunities to serve my community, whether through our Day of Caring, Servant Leadership classes, or being part of the Apopka Youth Council. These opportunities have given me a different perspective and a desire to help those in need. Since being at FLA, I’ve seen that I am more welcoming and ready to help others. Even though this is my last year at FLA, I will continue to be a helping hand in my community, church, and neighborhood. I also hope to continue serving in meaningful ways while in college.
Serving on the Apopka Youth Council has required me to manage my time well and balance my other commitments, including school and sports. It has been a valuable experience that helped me grow in responsibility and leadership. I’ve also built friendships with fellow members, and enjoyed working together on community projects — including creating a booklet honoring historical Black leaders in Apopka, Florida — participating in cleanup events, and helping organize a reading night for children. We are also planning to launch a tutoring program next year. Each project has reminded me that service can make a difference, even in small ways. I’m so grateful to the City of Apopka for this chance to serve and sharpen my understanding of leadership.
The Servant Leadership program at FLA is offered to juniors and seniors who want to serve others and be part of something bigger. As a junior servant leader last year, I had the opportunity to assist with Flower Vespers, the final Vespers of the year and a significant spiritual moment for all students.
Freshmen Mentoring is also part of Servant Leadership. Every Thursday and Friday, juniors spend time with freshmen and create deep bonds with them as the year progresses. They also do devotionals together to deepen and strengthen their relationship with God.
Day of Caring is another initiative where each class at FLA serves the community in different ways, including cleaning up local parks or helping organize supplies at a food drive. According to Andrew Moreno, Servant Leadership teacher and campus pastor, service plays a major role in the campus culture. In an interview, Moreno shared his thoughts on serving the community, “There are five values by which we live by at FLA. The fifth and last value is to live the Gospel, and part of living the Gospel is to serve. In Acts 20:35, where it says that it is more blessed to give than to receive, we are not only living out the Gospel through our service, but we also serve because it is one of the most blessed things a follower of Jesus can do.” We are called to serve others and help those in need because that is what Jesus would have done. He continued, “Most of us live either in Apopka or in some of the underlying cities of Orlando. While living in these cities, it makes us all citizens, and, as citizens, it is incredibly important to serve our communities, especially as disciples of Christ.”
My interview with Moreno opened my mind to different points of view and what the Bible teaches about service and helping others. My time at FLA has taught me that true leadership is rooted in service, and I will carry that lesson with me as I continue to serve wherever I go.
Florida | September 2025
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