Volunteer efforts shows girl benefits of helping others
Chelsea Shugars is respected both on the field and off. When the 15-year-old isn't playing soccer or running track, she can be found volunteering throughout the Augusta area serving as a mentor to her peers, just as she does her fellow players.
"I just have this feeling that I like to help people," the rising Evans High junior said. "I don't do it for myself; there's a whole world of people out there. It's great. You'll never know what a world of difference you'll make to one person."
Chelsea, the daughter of Cassandra Templeton, of Evans, and Ken Shugars, of Martinez, has been involved in Girl Scouts for the past 10 years. During that time, she has learned the value of her volunteer efforts.
Karen Ribble, who has overseen Chelsea in her Girl Scout troop for eight years, says she has greatly enjoyed watching the teenager grow into a young woman.
"Years ago, the Girl Scouts had a motto, 'Where Girls Grow Strong,'" Ribble said. "I have seen Chelsea grow into a very strong young woman in spirit, leadership and making decisions. She is a joy to be with and a role model for young girls."
Chelsea Shugars, a rising junior at Evans High School, is active in the Girl Scouts and school soccer.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
While volunteering is a love of Chelsea's, so is soccer and track.
"I like the competition," she said of soccer. "There's always something you can get better at. It's something you can always try to get better at, but you can never excel at."
On her school soccer team, Chelsea plays midfield, forward and defense. On the Lady Patriots soccer team, she plays midfield and forward.
While she plans a way to work two spring sports into her schedule, Chelsea still maintains that keeping her grades up is most important. She is a member of the school's math team and Spanish Honor Society, where inclusion requires a student to maintain a specific grade average for consecutive semesters.
"I'm definitely going to college," she said. "I might go into medicine or teaching."
Chelsea recently learned that she has been named to Columbia County Chamber of Commerce's Youth Leadership Board.
"I can't wait to do that," she said. "That will be fun."