On top of being involved with sports, fine arts, clubs and other organizations, high school men can also be apart of the Young Men’s Service League, a non-profit organization created to better the community and enhance mother and son relationships.

The YMSL Cedar Park Chapter was established in 2015 by seniors Trey and Brett Herbstreit and their mother to promote mother and son relationships. In its first year, Trey said that it gained around 30 members, and since then he said it has made a large impact on his life.

“Being apart of YMSL has helped me in high school in all sorts of ways,” Trey said. “It gets me way more active in pals and in other service activities, but it also opens my eyes and lets me serve around the school if someone needs help.”

Trey, who has been a part of the organization for three years, said that he enjoys meeting new people and being able to work together rather than individually to build bonds and help those in need, such as their “Hero’s Night,” where YMSL members cooked for veterans and their families.

“Some of my favorite aspects are seeing the impact I’ve made,” Trey said. “I love being able to do a service project or help people and seeing how that has helped them.”

Junior member Luke Ferguson said that YMSL is designed to help the community and develop young leaders by introducing them to unfamiliar environments and different ways to help others.

“I love YMSL because it takes me out of my comfort zone and lets me see into the lives of people less fortunate then I am,” Ferguson said. “It really helps me realize how blessed I am.”

Men are allowed to register for the organization in the fall of their eighth grade year and are able to use the hours to help with college applications, honor society admissions and more.

“In YMSL, we do many projects, but my favorite project thus far is definitely working at Open My World, where we help kids with mental diseases ride horses, which gives them exercise they don’t usually get and creates a bond between them and the horse,” Ferguson said. “To see their shining faces is the reason I go back, and to continue building a friendship is something I’ll never forget.”

For more information on YMSL or how to be apart of the organizations, click here.