Fellows in Their Own Words: Helping Special Needs and "At Risk" Children — and Myself
by Mathew Trotter, CCL Fellow

I have been offered a great opportunity by The Center for Citizen Leadership in allowing me to be able to continue serving others. This has truly been an inspirational experience. It has also allowed me to continue to grow as a person by helping others. With the help of veterans I have recruited, we are able to help and inspire the children who are also clients of the Triple H Equitherapy Center. It is hard to measure the benefits not only to myself, but those whom I have touched through my service. I can truly say this is a blessing.

CCL has provided an avenue for me to continue to develop my abilities that the military helped me obtain. The slogan of Honor, Courage, and Commitment that the US Navy drills into each and ever sailor that passes though its doors, I still use in my daily life and the duties that I carry out. I honor those fellow veterans that have been injured fighting for our freedom by offering them a venue to assist with their recovery. I am committed to strive to improve my abilities to better serve those in need. I have the desire to take on new and challenging roles at Triple H, to seek out the support needed to run and operate the services we offer.

The Veteran programs we have started at Triple H give me an outlet to reach out to other disabled veterans. The programs allow me to help them obtain the treatment they need as well as receiving it in a relaxed sitting which encourages them to continue with their treatment. Treatment is not the only benefit that they receive. Our programs allow the veterans to come back and serve as role models to special needs and "at risk" children that are also going through the classes. This, in a special way, brings them back into the community as leaders to help guide those who will one day become the next generation of leaders. There is no measure you can place on the pride it gives for the veteran, including myself, to be involved in this type of positive environment.

Last, but by far not least, is the chance of being able to work with the children… to be seen as a role model for this kids and to be apart of the shaping of there lives is a great honor. The opportunity to be able to use the experiences and training that I and the other veterans have received in order to inspire and encourage these kids to push on and overcome their disabilities… this I see as the truest form of being a leader. Through my work here I am able to draw strength from those who I am helping which in turn betters myself.

To say it simply, this opportunity has been an extremely positive impact on my life. The fellowship has allowed me to grow as a person while continuing to serve my community. It has given me the chance to help out my fellow veterans in both their recovery and in reinstating them back into a positive role in society. This fellowship has given more to me than I feel I could give back both to CCH and Triple H.