“Being
an
ambassador
does not
mean
that one
has to
travel
around
the
world to
make a
difference.
We are
the
future
of the
United
States
and of
the
world.
By being
scholars
and
leaders,
we can
help
others
to
understand
the
meaning
of
peace,
love,
resolution
and
brotherhood.
These
examples
should
engulf
our
daily
lives as
we
interact
within
our
communities,
our
schools,
and our
peers.”
– Bianca
Zuckerman,
Fairbanks,
Alaska
Alumni
Society
member
A
Heart for Service
"We are all given choices in
life, about everything, from
what to eat for dinner to
the very purpose and
direction of our lives,"
Student Ambassador Alumna
Jennifer Merriam said.
Jennifer's heart has led her
to choose a life of public
service, and she is both
committed and creative in
the efforts she puts forth
in her community.
Jennifer's main venue of
service has been through
tutoring. In middle school,
she began working with
individuals, tutoring them
on anything from
kindergarten skills to
calculus.
She currently heads to school
early every morning to offer
extra instruction to those who
need it. Jennifer feels
passionately that this is one of
the most meaningful ways she can
spend her time.
Photo: metroactive.com
In addition to tutoring,
Jennifer teaches swimming to
young children and special
education students, knits
afghans for the homeless, works
with a non-profit organization,
TrueGift, to provide school
supplies for teachers, and grows
her hair for
Locks of Love, an
organization which provides
vacuum-fitted hair prosthesis
for children who have lost their
hair due to medical reasons.
"I have chosen these venues
because they help fulfill
current needs in my community.
In college and beyond, I realize
that the needs of my community
will change, and with them will
my means of service," Jennifer
says. "What will never change,
however, is the drive in my
heart to reach out to as many
people as possible."
After high school, Jennifer
plans to pursue a career as a
graphic designer, with a focus
on educational materials. She
also is considering a run for
public office. It will be
exciting to see the changes that
Jennifer will continue to make
as she follows where her heart
dedicated to service leads her.
Lending a Helping Hand After
Disaster Strikes
A 9.0 earthquake centered in
the Indian Ocean formed a
tsunami which washed ashore
and devastated coastal areas
in 12 countries on Sunday,
Dec. 26. Even after watching
the news and hearing about
the death and destruction
caused by this natural
disaster, it is hard to
completely comprehend how
many lives have been
affected.
Passport Club member Akash
Dey was visiting family in
India when the tsunami
struck. He reports "My
vacation began on a good
note, till the deadly
Tsunami struck the Indian
Ocean.
Luckily most of my
family was in Calcutta and
nobody was hurt. My cousin had a
very close call at Phuket. She
was vacationing in Thailand and
was very lucky to be late in
reaching the beach or else today
it would be a different story."
It was a frightening experience
and one that hit very close to
his heart.
Dey's mother, Mita, has
this to say about how she is
feeling after living through
this experience, "this traumatic
experience we have to carry as a
burden on ourselves for a long
time to come as there is no one
to really blame here. It's a
natural calamity which will go
down in the history books, but I
appeal to all fellow Americans
that we should step forward on
humanitarian grounds and offer
whatever little we can. Our
efforts can make a difference at
least in a small way. My 13-year-old son stepped on U.S. soil and
decided to make a donation from
the Christmas money he had
saved."
Safely home in California, Dey
worked to raise money
for the victims and
their families. His
school principal agreed
to help with
fund-raising projects in
his school, and he met with a local council member
to get his community involved with relief efforts.
