CHANGE THE WORLD

As a junior at WRHS, I gave a presentation to 5th graders about Internet safety and cyberbullying. This project was a challenge for me because I am shy and suffer from anxiety, but I was motivated (and still am) to help stop the exploitation of children on the Internet. I hated public speaking and I didn’t know how I was going to do it without falling apart.

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Darrel Harris at The Advocates mentored me through the project. Darrel not only guided my work—she helped me find myself. Through my work with her I discovered my interests, and she lit the fire of activism in me.

After my presentation, Darrel encouraged me to apply for the Every Teen Counts (ETC) Teen Internship at The Advocates. I was nervous, but decided to go for it; a miracle from someone like me who suffers from an anxiety disorder. I applied and I got it! I was an ETC intern for my last two years of high school working and learning from Monica Renya, the ETC Program Manager. These two years had an immense impact on me. I improved my teamwork skills and public speaking abilities. I coordinated a Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Community Conversation, helping to create a more inclusive community. Not only did the internship help me heal from my own early life traumas, the connections I made as an ETC changed my life.