Last summer, Grade 11 student Heather Ross took her steel drum into her community and changed children’s lives.

“I felt like I should help these children and keep them out of trouble,” Heather said.

As a steel drum instrumentalist in her school band, Ross spent last summer at a recreation hall teaching the youth in her underprivileged community how to play the steel drum. Ross said she put herself in the children’s shoes and wanted to make a change in their lives.

The steel drum program followed a rotational system where Ross worked every other hour to help these children develop their talents. When children were being unfocused and un-cooperative, she said she reminded herself of the needs of the children.

When Ross accepted the job, she said she didn’t focus on the pay that she would receive, but rather as an opportunity to learn more of the steel drum and to make a change in her community.

She said the experience has developed her understanding with children, and the frequent interaction with other people prepared her for her future career aspiration as a sports journalist.

Three years later, Ross still loves connecting with her students, but also continuing to connect with herself and what drives her — a passion for music and a vision for change.