A local high school student has made an impressive impact on the lives of residents at the James L. West Center for Dementia Care in Fort Worth.
One year ago, Trinity Valley School sophomore Thrisha Sukesh decided to step outside her comfort zone. As a member of the Fort Worth Trailblazers chapter of the National Charity League (NCL), she received a $400 Action Grant to help individuals with dementia.
NCL is a group of mothers and daughters who commit to community service, leadership development, and cultural experiences.
Thrisha far exceeded the program’s original intent. She initially brought flowers and cookies and visited with many of the residents of the James L. West Center for Dementia Care in Fort Worth.
“I chose the James L. West Center because my grandfather has dementia. This is my way of encouraging others to get involved and support seniors, and The West Center provides me with experience and resources that can benefit how we serve them,” says Ms. Sukesh. She adds, “I am very grateful to Valynda King, who has guided and supported my volunteerism.”
Valynda King, Director of Life Enrichment at The West Center, is impressed with Thrisha Sukesh. “She uplifted these seniors’ spirits. Everyone was surprised to see this smiling face and bundle of energy walk through the doors and spread such joy. It was amazing!”
The high school sophomore has expanded the scope of her volunteer service by forming a school club of 50 students. Together, they made Halloween bracelets and Thanksgiving centerpieces for the residents. The students hand-made and wrote greeting cards, delivered more flowers, and visited with the residents.
These students were learning at a young age that their time is their most valuable possession, so they shared their quality time, making these dementia-impacted seniors feel loved and important.
“I was excited when the National Charity League provided the grant that allowed me to spread such kindness to people who really needed it,” says Ms. Sukesh. “Just having someone sit and converse with them helped them realize they were valued. Making them feel special, gave me more fulfillment than I could ever have imagined.”
Next, she met with Tia Viera, the James L. West bilingual educator, about interacting with Spanish-speaking residents, which has further elevated her impact. Her near-fluency in Spanish helped her interact more effectively with Spanish-speaking residents.
When asked how she was expanding her scope for volunteerism, Ms. Sukesh says the awareness initiative she is working on through the University of Pennsylvania’s Social Innovators Program is her current project.
“This is by far the most meaningful thing I’ve ever done. It felt natural, and I really enjoyed connecting with the residents and the staff at James L. West. This experience led to my new interest in neuroscience, which relates directly to dementia and Alzheimer’s.”
Her volunteerism with seniors has opened the door for Ms. Sukesh to develop ways to improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia, no matter the stage. She and her friends performed piano concerts for the residents and were delighted when one resident also decided to play a piece, as well.
“It’s clear that this willingness to serve dementia residents unselfishly is a passion for Thrisha,” says King. “We have worked with high school volunteers before, but her dedication to these senior adults inspires us all.”
Thrisha Sukesh has captured the attention of the National Charity League’s Fort Worth Trailblazers Chapter. During its recent Centennial Banquet, she was among the honorees of the 18 Under 18 Award – the first time this honor has been awarded.
Erin Roark, Vice President of the Fort Worth Trailblazers chapter of the National Charity League, is impressed. “NCL is honored to provide a grant that puts a young lady’s servant spirit into action, as we have seen with Thrisha and her volunteerism at The West Center. She has inspired her fellow students and the mothers in this program with how far she has gone beyond the original grant.”
What’s next? This young volunteer is developing a way to spread awareness through social media, especially among teens. Although she has met the goals of her grant program, she continues to volunteer at the James L. West Center for Dementia Care.
“In my club, we will be making knotted blankets – a skill we learned through NCL,” says Ms. Sukesh. “We tie fabric together to create little knots that comfort dementia residents when their fingers fidget. For my next visits, I plan to continue playing the piano for residents or reading simple books to them to maintain their cognitive function.”
Students such as Thrisha Sukesh inspire others to give their time freely as volunteers, and they share in the fulfillment of serving others.