Perspective: Youth Volunteer

Prom and semi are supposed to be magical…but for a lot of girls, they can also be stressful and expensive. I didn’t fully understand that until I volunteered with the Princess Project and saw firsthand how much this program can impact those big nights.

I volunteered as a model in their fashion show, which meant I got to wear some of the dresses available to borrow through the program. There’s something powerful about putting on a dress that makes you stand a little taller. Backstage, I remember seeing girls hyping each other up, fixing straps, adjusting curls, and offering quick smiles of encouragement before anyone stepped out. The whole atmosphere felt warm and uplifting, like everyone genuinely wanted each other to feel confident. And that’s exactly how I imagine girls borrowing these same dresses get to feel too!

Beyond the fashion show, I also helped create dance and transition videos for TikTok and Instagram Reels. Social media is how our generation finds things. If girls don’t see the Princess Project online, they might never know it exists. Making those videos felt like we were building a bridge, connecting the program to the people who need it most. Volunteering in this way made me see how much visibility matters. A program can have beautiful dresses and the best intentions, but if no one knows about it, it can’t make an impact. By modeling and creating content, I felt like I was helping spread the message: you are worthy of showing up confidently at your event, no matter your budget.

What I love most about the Princess Project is that it’s about more than dresses. It’s about dignity. It’s about sustainability. It’s about community members stepping up for one another. Walking down the runway or making a transition video wasn’t just about showcasing a dress…it was about showing what’s possible. Every gown represented cost-free confidence, but also a more sustainable and community-minded way to celebrate these big milestones. And a more sustainable way to approach formalwear is something our generation cares deeply about. Choosing to borrow means giving beautiful dresses a second life instead of buying something new to wear once. Our volunteer work also highlights the power of a local program supporting local students. It’s about making sure every girl can feel incredible on her big night, while also caring for our environment and lifting up our own community. You can look amazing and make an environmentally responsible choice at the same time.

Volunteering also gave me confidence I didn’t expect. Walking in a fashion show pushes you outside your comfort zone. Filming videos and putting yourself online does too. But doing it for something you believe in changes everything. It doesn’t feel scary when you know the purpose behind it. Being involved with the  Princess Project reminds me that making a difference doesn’t require something huge. Sometimes it’s as simple as wearing a dress, hitting record on a video, and saying, “This exists. This is for you.” And that’s something I’m really proud to be part of.

- Kenzie