For 2024 FCSN Outstanding Volunteer Melinda Wong, dance has always been an integral part of her life. Her love for dance inspired her to teach a dance class at FCSN, which for three years, she has brought to FCSN’s South Bay Center. As a rising senior at Valley Christian High School, Melinda also serves as her school’s FCSN Club co-president, where she facilitates volunteer opportunities for high school students by providing them with insights and training on working with children with special needs. 

Initially drawn to FCSN by her brother’s stories and experiences, Melinda quickly found herself deeply connected to the students and community at FCSN. “At first, I just volunteered because my brother told me about it, but after that first experience, I felt so connected with the students that I knew I wanted to do more,” Melinda recalls. This connection motivated her to pitch a dance class idea to the coordinators at FCSN, realizing the significant support and love this community needed.

Looking back, Melinda’s most cherished memories all stem from teaching dance classes at FCSN. The joy and excitement on her students’ faces as they learned new moves and eagerly anticipated the next class was incredibly fulfilling. “Seeing how happy the students are and hearing them say how much fun they had makes all the effort worthwhile,” Melinda shares. 

Yet, however rewarding the experiences may be, working with individuals with special needs still comes with its unique set of challenges. Melinda learned to manage shorter attention spans by ensuring her classes were dynamic and engaging, minimizing downtime to keep students focused. Patience became a crucial skill, as she adapted her teaching style to avoid overwhelming her students with too much information at once. “If there’s too much going on, it can easily distract them, so I’ve learned to take things slow and not overload them,” she explains. Through these experiences, Melinda discovered the importance of clear, slow communication and a calm teaching environment.

Melinda takes immense pride in the progress and achievements of her students. Witnessing their growth, from initially struggling with basic movements to becoming comfortable and confident in their abilities, has been a rewarding experience. Volunteering alongside a physical therapist, she has also helped students improve their physical skills, such as performing lunges and stretches, and observed tangible results from their efforts. “Seeing the improvement in my students, like being able to do a lunge after initially struggling, is incredibly rewarding,” Melinda says.

Volunteering at FCSN has taught Melinda the immeasurable value of kindness and empathy. She emphasizes that every act of love and support is felt and appreciated by the students. “Any act of kindness is never ignored; the students really feel the love you give them,” she notes. During her time at FCSN, Melinda has witnessed the vibrancy and warmth within the special needs community, a community that she hopes receives the equal treatment and respect they deserve. This perspective has deeply influenced her approach, reaffirming her passion for this work and motivating her to continue making a difference. Her volunteering goes beyond fulfilling school community service requirements — it’s about making a meaningful impact in the lives of her students. For Melinda, FCSN has provided her with opportunities to share her talents and passions, while also helping the special needs community in any way she can. “Volunteering has shown me the real impact I can make in their lives; it’s about truly making a difference,” she shares.