The Young Leader

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Connecticut Teen Gives Gift of Identity to Haitian Immigrants

“Although we were the same age, our lives couldn’t have been more different. And that bothered me.”
–Ellen McNeill

Name: Ellen McNeill
Home Town: Avon, CT
Education: Avon High School, Class of 2013 – Northeastern University, Class of 2017
Interests and Passions:
Enjoys sing and play guitar, and participated in the a capella group Rhapsody
Loves animals and has a dog, a fish, and a bearded dragon
Says musicians Jack Johnson and Ed Sheeran are her “favorite people ever”
Transformational Experience: Building a Sustainable World, Dominican Republic
Making an Impact: Founder of “Hope for Ascension” Sponsor a Child Program

When Ellen McNeill decided to travel to the Dominican Republic with the Global Leadership Adventures “Building a Sustainable World” Program in Summer 2012, she expected to work hard. She expected to learn a lot. She expected to make friends. She even expected to have a new perspective on her own life and opportunities.

But did she expect to spend the following 14 months working tirelessly to provide legal documentation to hundreds of Haitian immigrants stuck in a refugee camp there?

Not a chance.

“I had such an amazing time in the Dominican Republic with GLA. Dave, the Director of my program, is so passionate about sustainability. That passion really manifested itself in every activity that we participated in, and I learned so much from him about sustainable ways to contribute to developing communities.”

Their work led the group of teenage volunteers to Ascension- a refugee camp for Haitian immigrants who have come to the Dominican Republic to find a better life. Unfortunately, most of them lack birth certificates and passports, which are necessary in order to have access to public education, job opportunities, and health care. Since neither the Dominican Republic nor the Haitian government will recognize these people, they live a life of poverty and hunger. And unless they can afford the expensive process of obtaining legal identification, they are stuck in Ascension.

This realization was life changing for Ellen.

“I’ll never forget my first day at Ascension. We were there to work in the garden, and I met a teenage girl named Alaina. She was 16, like me, but even though we were the same age, our lives couldn’t have been more different. She told me about her life in the camp, and that she wasn’t allowed to go to school. Her parents were stuck in Haiti and she couldn’t see them. When I asked her why, she explained to me that she didn’t have a passport or a birth certificate, so she couldn’t leave. I was shocked, and I promised her that I would find out how to get her a passport once I returned to the U.S.”

Unfortunately, when Ellen returned home and began researching how best to help Alaina, she discovered that her new friend’s story was far from unique.

“I was horrified to find out how many people were living without legal identifications in the Dominican Republic, and I knew I needed to do something to help. Being there and seeing it made a tremendous impact on me.”

From there, Ellen joined forces with two other GLA Dominican Republic alumni (Hunter Bryson and James Dojerty), and they formed Hope for Ascension. This organization is devoted solely to raising funds to purchase Haitian passports and birth certificates for stateless refugees. While Hunter and James worked on establishing a website for the group to spread awareness, Ellen immediately began fundraising.

“I hosted a talent show at my school and raised $2,500. We also began taking donations through our website, and we’ve raised over $10,000 to date.” This funding has provided hundreds of people with legal identification in the form of passports and birth certificates. In addition, it opens them up to employment opportunities, access to health care, and secondary education.

In July 2013, Ellen returned to the Dominican Republic alongside 7 other GLA alumni. Each of them were working on their own projects to give additional support to the Dominican Republic community they stayed in on their program, and some of had never met before.

“The coolest part about returning to the Dominican Republic this summer was seeing that I was not alone in wanting to continue giving back. Now I have so many connections with local people, grassroots organizations, and other GLA alumni who have similar goals for the region. It’s an amazing community of people to be a part of, and everyone is working on amazing things that interest them. Dave and GLA have really fostered an environment that not only allows, but encourages, further work in the area.”

Now, Ellen is focusing on starting her freshman year at Northeastern University, where she is majoring in International Studies. But giving “the gift of recognition” to the people of Ascension continues to be a priority for her.

“I started a club at my high school that will continue to raise money for Hope for Ascension, even though I’m no longer there. It’s amazing. I can go to college, focus on my future, and know that our mission is continuing to gain exposure.”

Program Ellen Attended:
Building a Sustainable World, Dominican Republic

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Are there Summer Programs for Teenagers that Focus on Leadership?

With the increasing number of opportunities and programs for teens that focus on developing leadership skills, it’s easy to see that leadership is one quality on the short-list for characteristics sought after by universities and companies.

Leadership Skills for High School Students

High school is the time in the lives of teenagers during which they develop the skills they’ll need to be successful adults. And leadership, which is a skill useful in nearly every potential career or arena, is one of the most important.

For many teens, leadership is a natural tendency.

But for others, however, leadership skills must be explicitly taught and worked toward. Many teenagers must build self-confidence, direction, and motivation to lead before they feel comfortable asserting themselves amongst their peers.

How to Develop Leadership Skills in Teenagers

A great way to develop leadership skills in teenagers, for both students who are natural leaders and those who are more reluctant, is to attend a summer camp or program that is specifically designed to add to their leadership toolbox.
These programs allow teenagers to learn about and recognize the qualities that great leaders possess, and practice those same skills (with guidance) in a group of their peers. The best programs have specific leadership-based curriculum and activities that are designed to give teens the opportunity to lead.

Summer Leadership Programs Help Build Confidence

Whether it’s through volunteer work or stepping out of their comfort zone, teenagers who participate in summer programs with a true leadership focus are sure to return home as more natural and confident leaders.

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Can I Study AP Spanish Abroad?

Have you thought about studying abroad this summer in order to earn AP Spanish credit?

Unfortunately, programs that claim to offer AP credit in exchange for enrollment in a high school summer program are misleading their consumers.

AP Spanish Class Credit Rules

The truth is that the only way to earn AP credit, in any course, is to learn the content and take the Advanced Placement Exam. These exams are given only on specific days each spring, and they must be proctored by certificated teachers in a controlled environment.

There is no way to earn AP credit on a summer program- but the right summer program can be a valuable learning experience and tool leading up to, or in support of, a specific course.

Supplement AP Spanish through Summer Study Abroad Programs

If you’re planning on taking AP Spanish, enrolling in a summer program that promotes Spanish language acquisition is incredibly beneficial in preparing you for the exam. You’ll learn and practice the language in an authentic setting, with native speakers, and come home with the skills you need to pass both the written and spoken portions of the AP exam!

And, with the right type of travel program, you’ll have an incredible time while you’re at it.

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Are there Mission Trips for Teens that are Non-Religious?

We’ve heard time and time again that volunteer experience is great for teenagers.

It teaches them responsibility, the value of hard work, and highlights the incredible impact that we can have on the lives of others. Volunteering also, as we know, is a great way to boost self-esteem, because it feels great to help others.

Benefits of Mission Trips for Students

In an increasingly global society, volunteering internationally is also growing in popularity, among both adults and teenagers. Most individuals travel with an established organization, as a member of a group- and the majority of these programs are affiliated with a religious organization.

For many families who aren’t religious, or who don’t practice regularly, however, these trips can be alienating. The volunteer work is still valuable, but the additional activities on the program may not be what everyone is looking for.

Volunteer Opportunities for those looking for a Non-Religious Mission Trip

Fortunately, there are great options and opportunities for volunteering in a developing country without any religious affiliation. These types of programs, such as those operated by Global Leadership Adventures, focus on meaningful service work and pair cultural activities and adventures alongside volunteering.

These programs give teenagers the chance to make a difference, while allowing them to experience what life is like in another country- and they are open to students of all faiths and backgrounds.

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How Volunteering Can Help You Choose a College Major

As you get closer to high school graduation, you may already be imagining what life will be like in college. Aside from the parties and socializing, you’ll imagine your classes and workload — possibly even your life beyond school. The bridge that will lead you to your career is education, and the choice of the right major is an imperative step in realizing that goal.

Much like any important decision, you can’t make a wise choice based on a single factor. A variety of different components all shape a good decision, and when it comes to choosing a major, doing some volunteer work can help you learn which education path is correct.

Choosing your focus: The influence and experience of volunteering

Volunteering is a way of being able to help a community in need and make a difference in people’s lives. Not every student applying for college chooses to get involved, so being a volunteer distinguishes you as someone committed to having a positive impact on the lives of others. Here we’ll look at some specific examples of how volunteering can help narrow down your major and get you ready for college:

  • Skills development: You can easily gain some benefits from volunteer work, ranging from acquiring specific skills to developing a sense of accomplishment. Colleges are increasingly looking favorably on volunteer experience, because it shows that the applicant cares about more than just herself. It can also be an eye-opening endeavor that gives you greater awareness of other communities. A GLA volunteer abroad program for high school students is not only an exciting way to see some beautiful parts of the world, such as Africa, Southeast Asia or the Caribbean, but it can help you gain leadership skills and aptitudes you never considered.

  • Job shadowing: Through volunteering, you can get an idea of what a particular job is really like and what you should do to prepare for a career in that field. You can get a good feel for what it will entail and a clearer understanding of how well you’d fit. It’s essentially a form of job shadowing that can give you some great hands-on experience.

  • Rethinking that original idea: Volunteering can also serve as a great way of understanding what you don’t want to do. By getting up close to a job, you can get an idea of what you aren’t going to enjoy. If you volunteer as a teacher, you may learn which subjects you gravitate towards or the ages of the students you’d like to teach. If all along you planned to be a social worker or a doctor, volunteering can help you learn if that original idea is a good fit after all.

  • A lesson in problem solving: You won’t find a class in your course catalog on problem solving, but volunteering will help fill that gap. This skill will help you both as a student and as a person in general. Volunteering is an excellent way to develop some problem solving skills, because it forces you to think on your feet, interact with people in spontaneous ways, make priorities and communicate with people from other cultures.

Deciding on a college major is a huge choice that isn’t purely an academic decision. Personal values, interests, aptitudes and ambition all play a part in your decision on a practical course of study. Volunteering can play a part in this decision, taking you out of your comfort zone, increasing your awareness and helping you narrow down your choice of academic specialty.

Additionally, it’s important to think about a major as not just being a stepping stone to a career, but one that will inform your development as a person; volunteering can have the same impact. When you apply to college, you can be proud of the volunteering work that you’ve done and know that you’ve given yourself an effective means of choosing your field of study for your college career.

 

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