If you said the words “Spider-Man” to most people, their brains would jump to the movie. But, for Elise Arthur, senior, those two simple words broke a language barrier, and allowed her to make life long memories.
The past two summers, Arthur has spent a week in Honduras volunteering her time to the people and helping to grow a community. Arthur said one of her best memories was acting like spider-man with the kids, since no words were needed. Although she was there to help the kids have fun, she said they were the ones aiding her.
“It’s rewarding in the sense that I gained so much from it,” Arthur said. “They make me feel so happy and [are so] joyful to be around because they are such amazing and kind people.”
Arthur said the people she spent her time with in Honduras made her appreciate the little things in life so much more. She said some of the kids she worked with even tried to give her gifts as she left to remember them by.
“I feel like my biggest takeaway was how I can thrive and be happy [with less],” Arthur said. “They have so little, but they are so much happier than I am. My eyes were opened to how selfish I am and how I take all I have for granted.”
Arthur said, much like the atmosphere in Honduras, she tries to make her school environment full of kindness and to always think of others. She said everyone should try to encourage their peers at school.
“I would think more about those around you, and how hard it is to be a high schooler,” Arthur said. “If you want somebody to treat you with a smile and talk [with] you when you don’t have someone, be the person who talks to others when they don’t have anyone.”
This August, Arthur was announced to be the senior class 2024-25 recipient of the Ernest Jones Humanitarian Award. Arthur said it was a huge surprise, and she felt appreciated and seen.
“It was a complete shock, but I really did feel honored,” Arthur said. “It felt amazing to be recognized, and to know that my teachers and classmates think about me as a kind, outgoing, thoughtful young humanitarian.”
Allison Schmidt, Miami Ohio freshman, has known Arthur since seventh grade and was co-captain for KHS Varsity lacrosse with her. Schmidt said she was not surprised to hear Arthur won.
“She’s the sweetest person I’ve met,” Schmidt said. “She’s very responsible and good at being a leader which I think is definitely an admirable quality of hers.”
Arthur volunteers for six places, including Los Vecinos, a hispanic trailer park community, she learned about after going to Honduras. Schmidt said she thinks Arthur’s selfless volunteering is what helped her get the award.
“She’s always volunteering and giving her time up to help,” Schimdt said. “Every time she does something, it’s always for another person, she’s never thinking of herself.”
