Puppy Story

What 4-H Means to Me ... Kimberly Geczi

The 4-H Youth Development Program has been a huge part of my life for abouth 10 years. Truth be told, when I started in 4-H I was 8 ½ years old and honestly had no idea that I was starting something that I would want to continue throughout the rest of my life. The 4-H Program helped me to discover who I am by helping me overcome my flawed personality traits and conquer them. The 4-H also helped me get through high school in a very unusual way. 4-H is a wonderful program that teaches children how to help and teach others. The motto says it all; “To Make the Best Better”. It means to take something great, work hard with it to make it even better.

When I was young, in elementary school I was a very quiet girl. I was not sociable, I didn’t have many friends, I wasn’t good at any particular sport and I felt like I didn’t fit in. These are horrible feelings for any child to have, let alone a child in third grade! That was when I found 4-H. In my 4-H club I quickly found new friends, friends that I have today and will keep for life. Within my 4-H club I also found confidence that I never had before. The fact of the matter is, I found where I belonged, and I found something I was good at.

My 4-H club also brought out something in me that I didn’t know existed. I found out that I love to teach what I love and what I know. I love raising and training the puppies through the 4-H for The Seeing Eye. I thought this was the one thing I loved and was better at than anything else in the world. I was wrong. There is one thing I adore more than raising and training puppies for The Seeing Eye through the 4-H and that is guiding people through the process of raising and training their puppies for The Seeing Eye. I love helping and teaching people, and belonging to my 4-H club helped me to realize that new love.

In close, the 4-H has been a very significant part of my life. It helped me discover who I am, and helped me to discover a gift that I have, which is teaching and finding that love of teaching. 4-H is a wonderful project for people of all ages to become a part of. I strongly believe that it is important for children to become involved in a youth development program like the 4-H early on so they build a strong foundation for helping other people.