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Getting Involved

Today, I am joyful and happy girl, involved in school and community. I don't just idly lie on the beach or watch TV the whole summer.

Instead, I belong to a group of motivated teens, who are committed to helping other kids. Adults often speak for children, believing them to have no thought of their own about issues.

The media, full of adult journalists often looks down on kids and leaves little space for their opinions. I help to make this disadvantage right and break the stereotype of thoughtless and unconcerned teens.

Media is a powerful tool in exposing social unfairness and should not be closed to teens. In many countries there is no free speech and kids should learn to value it early on.

I interview and write articles about the issues concerning teens from their perspectives. The articles are then published in the local newspaper.

Some of the latest stories I was involved were about international female students and relations between student government and the administration.

In the first I helped the underrepresented students voice their experience, difficulties and make the public aware of it.

In the second, I helped spark inter-school communication between two student governments to help each other. In both cases the results would have been impossible without me.

I am also one of the student-leaders of Pantherquest, an orientation camp at my high school. I educate the freshmen about the school rules, so that they stay out of trouble.

I also teach them the importance of academics. My school has such great and challenging academic classes open to everybody, but many students from disadvantaged backgrounds do not make use of them, because they lack the support and motivation.

If I motivate the freshmen enough, inform them where they can get help, then I believe that even the minority students can succeed.

I teach the kids the importance of being involved, having the right friends and avoiding risky behavior by inspiring them to think about their future.

I especially encourage the disadvantaged students to start thinking about college, because I myself come from disadvantaged home and know how it feels.

Yet not always have I as been happy and involved. Three years ago, I knew little English. I was depressed and isolated, until I went to school.

I never really went to school before. Last time I went to school was in first and second grade in Russia.

Then I started skipping. But in America I was bused to and from school, I could not skip. I discovered that I like school and am good at academics.

I learned English; I took many AP and honors classes. I was earning A's, even in English. I started participating in student government, journalism and speech team.

Because despite all odds I have succeeded, I believe that everyone can succeed and achieve the American Dream if they work hard. That's why I am involved, to spread the hope and help others.

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