Balancing School, Sports, and Service: Sophomore Jack Spafford’s Commitment to Animals and Community
Sophomore Jack Spafford’s dedication to community service and his love for animals have driven his work with the Miami Veterinary Foundation (MVF). From volunteering at PetSmart to helping provide free vaccinations for pets at Camillus House, Jack balances his passion for service with a busy school and sports schedule. He continues to inspire others to get involved while planning to pursue veterinary medicine in the future.
You’ve dedicated a lot of time to volunteering with the Miami Veterinary Foundation. What inspired you to get involved with supporting the foundation’s mission, and how did you first connect with the organization? I enjoy working with animals. Initially I started helping the Cat Network at the adoption center in Petsmart, then I started helping at the monthly events for MVF. We provide free vet care to low income pet owners. I also volunteer every Saturday at a local vet office. I’m learning a lot to become a vet and helping everyone, no matter what their income, be able to enjoy having a pet.
Volunteering takes a lot of commitment. As an upper school student at Gulliver, how do you balance your time between schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and your volunteer efforts with the Miami Veterinary Foundation? As an Upper School student at Gulliver, I appreciate the many opportunities available to get involved in a wide range of activities, from schoolwork to extracurriculars and volunteer work. I make the most of my time by completing schoolwork during the week and dedicating weekends to my volunteer hours.
In addition to your work with the Miami Veterinary Foundation, are there other clubs, sports, or activities at Gulliver that you’re passionate about? How do these interests complement your volunteer work or shape your overall school experience? In addition to my work with MVF I play ice hockey for the Miami Dade County High School League. I have played hockey since I was four years old. Playing hockey and taking care of animals have always been a big part of my life and I can’t imagine not doing either. Hockey and volunteering have taught me responsibility. People depend on me and these roles have helped me connect with the community.
How has your experience as a student at Gulliver influenced your perspective on service and community involvement? I really understand the importance of being part of a strong team. Service is just something that I have seen my teachers and my fellow students do since I was in kindergarten so it just seems natural. I volunteer with two Gulliver teachers at Petsmart and that’s really important to me that they do that. There is also a whole army of Gulliver students who support what I care about by either making blankets, going to adoption events, or distributing food. Mrs. Sullivan even came over the holidays to adopt a kitten!
Looking to the future, do you plan to continue your work with the Miami Veterinary Foundation? How do you envision your volunteer experiences influencing your future academic and career goals, both in the short term and long term? In the future, I plan on continuing my passion for animals by studying veterinary medicine at a university. For the short term, I plan to continue my volunteer work with MVF to keep providing care to animals in need. I’m learning a lot, and it’s important to me that everyone can afford to care for their pets.
