Web-master's note: the following is an unchanged, unedited essay written by a community service worker who finished her Highlands experience by setting up the computer on which she wrote this essay.

My Experience at the Highlands Project...

To most people, community service is a long, hard, and tiring task to do, and this is also what I thought. When I came to the Highlands Project I expected to be doing a lot of this kind of work. After the first ten minutes I was here, I realized that this was going to be much easier and that I would actually learn something from the experience. I learned about the canal, the lock, the towpath, and about all different history from my county. These were all things I never even had heard of before.

Working with Mr. Detrick and Mr. Lynah were good learning experiences. They showed me that there were a lot of things that I could do. When I thought something was too tough or that I just couldn't do it, they would push me to do it, and I found out I could. I had never cut trees down or cleaned out a historic part of our county before, and that was the most interesting part of this experience. I found out how to set up a computer, run a laminator, and start up computer programs on my own. I would never do any of these tasks on my own time.

Meeting Mr. Tobaygo for the first time was also nice. I found out shortly after we talked that he could help me with what college information I needed. So now, not only am I doing my hours and learning much information about the Morris Canal, I am also getting important facts about college and what I need to do for my education. I never thought that community service or the Highlands Project could be so useful. The things I have learned here are facts and information I will remember for the rest of my life.

I know that once I am done with my community work I will definitely return as a volunteer. I most likely will wait until the summer is over and return in the fall. I am sure I will be here for a long time. Seeing the work we accomplish every weekend is a great feeling. I know that every week I work hard at what I am supposed to. When I drive by and see this place, I tell whomever I am with that I did this and I helped make the Highlands Project look like what it does.

I encourage anyone, young or old, to come to this place and help out. It is a great satisfaction to see what you have accomplished. Hopefully, when I have kids of my own, I can bring them here and tell them I helped to do this. That is the one thing I want to get out of this experience. I want to look at this ten or fifteen years from now and just say "wow" and have a great feeling of accomplishment, knowing myself and others made it happen.

For More Information Contact:

The Highlands Project Inc.
PO 231 Broadway, NJ 08808
Tel: 908-689-6350
FAX: 908-689-9091
Internet: highlands@nac.net

Send mail to fplynah@nac.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: January 25, 2002