The inspiration.

ActiVeCircle grew out of one high schooler's determination to do more.

As a junior with a lifelong passion for healthcare, mental health, and service to our country, I began volunteering at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center two years ago. In 175 hours across clinical & non-clinical settings, from CT scans to mental health visits, I met veterans from every walk of life, and got to know some of them personally. Each one left a mark.

One experience moved me deeply. On a weekend evening, an elderly veteran and his wife were ready to leave the hospital to celebrate their anniversary. With no staff available to facilitate his release, another volunteer and I stayed with them for two hours until we found someone who could help. A few days later, I ran into them again. They had made it. They had celebrated.

My desire to learn what else I could do grew from there. When a speaker from Paralyzed Veterans of America came to our school's veterans welfare club, she put words to what I had been feeling. Veterans want to maintain their independence, stay active, and stay socially connected — and youth have a meaningful role to play in making that possible.

ActiVeCircle is my answer to that call.

-Cecilia Smit