Pictured here at COVE's September general meeting, left to right, are: Evelyn (Nina) Fischesser; Dr. Ellen Cwick, Vernon Hills High School Principal; Steven Spreiser; Leonard Smith and Darlene Frantonius.

I believe that everyone experiences a "eureka moment" at some point in their lives. On "Take-Your-Child to Work" Day in the fifth grade, I learned much more than the mundane tasks my accountant father managed on a daily basis. On the way out of work, I asked my father's boss, Paul, whom I considered an accomplished CEO, if he could share one piece of advice on how to live a successful life. He thought about that question for a moment, and responded by saying, "Steven, what you do now at this point in your life is a determinant of what you are capable of doing over the span of many years." He then demonstrated with his hands a small timeline growing bigger. For the past seven years, this phrase has been ingrained in my head like no other.

During my sophomore year of high school, the character education club of which I was a member had an all-school project to assist the Children's Outreach and Vocational Education (COVE) Alliance. This organization serves the orphaned and disadvantaged children of Uganda. After COVE had a successful fundraiser at my church a few years earlier, I never really thought much about COVE or its mission. When COVE came to my high school, I was quite cynical of what a public high school could do to raise support for children in Africa. Where was the money going? Who would receive it? How much money would actually go to the children in need?

The epiphany came when a COVE volunteer shared his experiences in Africa. Children have to walk three miles to receive access to clean water. School classes have to be taught in a crowded warehouse, oftentimes with 100 students present. In some cases, classes are outside with a chalkboard nailed to a tree. Countless children are orphans because their parents died of HIV/AIDS. A short documentary shows the life of a young woman dying of AIDS. She works five jobs to send her young child to school. What she is most proud of in life is that her son tested "Negative" for the disease that will kill her. Many of the elders who survived the AIDS epidemic have given up hope; they are apathetic to any real change ever coming in their lives. Perhaps the most emotional moment came when I asked the organization's founder, a priest by the name of Hilary, what the biggest challenge was for his people in Uganda. He said, "The hardest part of my job is actually being a priest. How am I, as a minister, supposed to tell these people, some of the most destitute on Earth, that there is hope; that God is really watching and cares about them?"

Students raised enough money in fundraisers to build and support a primary school in Africa. An ancient Chinese proverb says it best, "It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness." This "Candle Campaign" began to spread, and have a greater influence on my life. Over the next two years, I became increasingly involved in the COVE Alliance partnership with my school. Work in Africa is far from complete; there are so many areas where citizens need assistance. In the next few years, I intend to visit Kapeeka, Uganda, the village where COVE is located and help the residents on a more personal level.

In college, I am hoping to major in Economics and Computer Science, in the hopes of one day being able to start my own business. However, this would merely be my "day job." Through my research in school and in independent study, I have found that countries often transition from "developing" to "developed" societies and economies when three prerequisites are met for its citizens: education, shelter, and access to basic resources (i.e. water, food, etc.). Studying economics and computer science in college would not only give me the skills necessary to start my own business, but also provide me with opportunities to assist the disadvantaged in Uganda. As Sub-Saharan African countries continue to fight famine, civil war, oppression, and corruption, understanding the economic and social needs of their citizens will be more important than ever if an organization or developed country wishes to become involved in relief efforts. Ideas and theories discussed in a classroom in America can affect a total stranger thousands of miles away. By teaching sustainable agriculture, by analyzing local infrastructure, and by understanding global trade patterns, I can use an economics degree to make an impact on the lives of those in need.

Paul's piece of advice was not only about doing well in school, but about how to live one's life. If I can apply what I learn during college to make a positive, meaningful difference in the world, then I believe I can truly live a successful life. Even if I am only one "candle," I can help light a fire.