Q What is the mission of Success Won't Wait and why do you feel it's important?
A Since 2002, I’ve volunteered for this literacy organization. Basically how it works: people donate unneeded books which SWW redistributes to groups in need. I’ve logged hundreds of hours sorting, cleaning, packing, labeling and delivering thousands of books. The mission of the organization is to make sure that a community is always able to supply its people with books. Literacy is the basic platform on which all other areas of education are built, so if today’s children can’t read, tomorrow’s adults can’t succeed.
Q Through your volunteerism with Success Won’t Wait, what has been the most rewarding experience and why?
A Throughout the past eight years I’ve had some very memorable experiences, like delivering 5,000-plus books to Lewis County, W.V.; collecting 14,000 lbs. of books in one day (our largest book drive ever); and distributing 200-plus Children’s Book Baskets. During this year, my most memorable experiences included creating three libraries at the Boys and Girls Club’s Fraim Center where I interned and organizing more than 800 packages for Toys for Tots (including 2,500 books).
Q How do you feel you have benefitted from volunteering with Success Won’t Wait – what have you gotten out of your experiences?
A Volunteering is not always glamorous. It’s a lot of hard work and it takes serious dedication. But from my experiences I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’m very fortunate to have a family that cares so much about each other and the community. I’m also very lucky to have a place to live, a good supply of books to read, and a stable life. Not everyone has those things.
Also, my volunteering has fueled my passion for literacy and made me certain that I want to be an author. Someday I’d like to have written a few of the books that I’m taking to a shelter, school or community center.
Q Why did you decide to apply for a Prudential Spirit of Community award and how does it feel to have won?
A My fantastic guidance counselor, Mrs. Rigby, first encouraged me to apply for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award in 2008. Although I didn’t win last year, I was extremely excited to have been awarded a spot as one of Delaware’s two Distinguished Finalists. This year though, when I opened up the envelope and I read the letter that classified me as a State Honoree, I was ecstatic. I actually ran around my house screaming.
Q What would you say to other young people to inspire them to volunteer?
A Not just young people, but everyone should volunteer. Whether you take care of animals at the ASPCA, help out at a retirement home, or run a canned food drive at your school, your volunteerism makes a big difference in the lives of others. Do something that makes you feel good. You are a small piece of the world, but you can do great things.
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ABOUT MCNEILL
Name Ashley McNeill
Age 18
Family Donald McNeill, father, Susan McNeill, stepmother, Christine McNeill, 12, Matthew McNeill, 13
Volunteer Organization Success Won’t Wait, Inc.
High School & graduation year Cab Calloway School of the Arts; graduating 2010
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Q What is one key to being an effective leader?
A Figure out how to motivate the people you’re leading. Everybody gets more done when they’re doing what they like. Sometimes it seems impossible, but persistence is always rewarded.
Q What is your single biggest day-to-day challenge?
A Life is a bit of a balancing act. I do a lot with school, activities like newspaper club and National Honor Society, homework, and volunteering for SWW. It can be difficult to find downtime or find any time to write when I get inspiration.
Q What is the best advice you’ve gotten / given?
A “If you don’t like it, change it.” This has always been my parents’ philosophy. And just look at me now. Go figure.
Q What is your secret to happiness/success?
A It’s very simple and a little cliché. But take a lesson from the Little Engine That Could. Always believe that you can do something. And if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
Q Where do you see yourself in five years?
A In five years I’ll just have gotten out of college. I’d really like to find a job in publishing or journalism while I work on what will hopefully be my second book (my best friend Nicolette and I are in the middle of our first at the moment), but I really would like to join the Peace Corps, too. In conclusion, I’m not exactly sure.
Q What did you want to be when you grew up?
A Originally I really wanted to be a dolphin trainer, like the people at Seaworld. But just before middle school I realized that I truly love to write and that being an author would probably be the most satisfying career for me.
Q Finish this sentence, “If I had a million dollars …”
A I’d definitely use some of it for my college education. After that, I’d love to be able to get Success Won’t Wait a better facility and maybe invest in my dad’s business.
Q Finish this sentence “I am …” three ways.
A I am motivated. I work hard in school and am looking forward to continuing my education with a major in English in the fall. I would love to bring SWW to whatever institution I attend and instill a love of reading in every community I get to be a part of throughout my life.
I am an artist. I love to paint pictures with my words. That’s one of the reasons I fit in so well at Cab Calloway. We’re all artists. It creates a different kind of understanding and acceptance between us.
I am green. Thanks to my efforts, SWW now has a recycling program known as the “Naked Book Project.” Books still have educational value even after they can’t be read— the books that are recycled create revenue for a local school.
