ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, June 3, 1996 TAG: 9606040018
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER/Staff
Name: Melody Yuvanavattana
Age: 13
School: Christiansburg Middle School
Year: Seventh grade
What she does: What started as a Girl Scout project has become a daily diversion for Melody. Every day after school, Melody rides the bus to Christiansburg Primary School to help her former kindergarten teacher, Maryann Pearson, during the last part of the school day. She reads to the children, helps with snacks, plays games with them, zips up coats - anything she can do to help and to give the teacher a little catch-up time.
``I just like working with the kids,'' Melody said. ``They're just fun.'' So she has continued to visit the class long after the Girl Scout Cadette badge requirements were fulfilled.
``Melody is so dependable and has come faithfully just about every day,'' Pearson said. ``She is very low-key and works with the children in a gentle, lovely way.
``The children consider her part of our class and look forward to her coming. She says she wants to be a vet, but I'd like her to be a kindergarten teacher.''
Melody received a crystal flame sculpture last week as the 1996 Youth Winner of the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award. Her Scout troop received $1,000.
The award is presented to groups and individuals who have performed outstanding volunteer service in their communities. Melody is automatically eligible for the J.C. Penney National Golden Rule Award.
``By volunteering [in the kindergarten class], Melody provides a much needed service to our community and by example shows the students it is fun to help others,'' Scout leader Lorilee Tannahill wrote in a nomination letter. ``She has patience and a kind word'' for all of the students she helps.
``Melody is one of the few in the troop who exhibits follow-through, who has the ability to see where something is needed and not do something just because she enjoys it,'' Tannahill said. ``Melody's out there doing things, not just sitting and watching videos. She's so honest and trustworthy, you can count on her for anything. She's a very special girl.''
Melody also helped collect, wash, sort, fold, label and categorize clothing being sent to needy families at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in connection with the Rebirth of a Nation organization. She and her two brothers even donated their basketball goal.
Melody has just started volunteering at the local humane society and will help out at the Montgomery Regional Library this summer.
Other activities: Melody plays rec league soccer and basketball, sings in the school chorus, and enjoys gardening, hiking and camping.
What she has learned: ``I thought I wouldn't be good helping with little kids, but I found I was.''
I would like people to think of me as: ``nice, funny, kind and caring.''
In my free time I like to: ``be outside, play soccer with my brothers, read, listen to music and play with our cats.''
What I'd like to change about the world: ``I think people should think about pollution more, don't litter so much and recycle more.''
What I'd like to change about myself: ``I'm normally very shy when I get around people I don't know. I wish I were less shy.''
Most important issue facing teen-agers today: ``How other people think of teen-agers and teen-age pregnancy.''
My greatest thrill was: ``winning the Golden Rule Award.''
Most important lesson I've learned in life: ``Life is not always fair. My brother gets to stay up later than I do.''
Person I most admire: ``My mom. She's great. She's done lots of stuff for me, like staying up till 2 a.m. sewing all my badges on the vest she made me. And she's fun to be around.''
Future plans: ``I want to be a veterinarian.''
Extra Credit is a twice-monthly column that spotlights a teen-ager who is using his or her own initiative to make a difference in our neighborhoods, schools and communities. We think they deserve a public thank-you for helping other people. Nominations are sent in by our readers (see guidelines below).
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. Melody Yuvanavattana is proud of theby CNBJCPenney Golden Rule Award that she received in recognition of her
volunteer work. color.