I was a member of the South Riverdale team in the 1999-2000 program and continue to volunteer with Serve Canada when I am able to. Before I became a team member I had begun 2 years ago with the program as a volunteer and wasn’t able to join because of schooling, and once I was done, I took the opportunity to participate as a team member and enjoyed my time with the program.

To get to the point, I write to let you know what I have been doing since I have graduated from the program. I am currently working full time for one of the leading food service industry companies (ARAMARK) as an assistant chef in one of their cafeterias.

One thing that I have taken from the time I was in the program with me to this job, is the challenge of waking up on time every day for the various projects the team and I had.

I also have had the opportunity to build on my leadership skills with the recent new job, skill I had begun to develop while I was a team member. Serve Canada has left me with many delightful memories: having the opportunity to work with the different community organiza-tions and learning new things about myself and learning from the other team members.

The most lasting memory for me was to have the graduation at the Nova Scotia building where I began with the program two years before as a volunteer, and being awarded the outstanding achievement award.

That day, when I received the award, I forgot to mention another team member who is no longer with us when thanking the Serve Canada family, in the spirit of friendship they showed me from the beginning. So now, I take this opportunity to do so and that goes to Oscar Fuentes who will always be with us in memory and spirit He would have been proud of us that night. Thank you to the many people who help make Serve Canada possible for me, and for the youth of tomorrow.