Meet a few of our current YES I Can Students
Cecelia Coleman
How can young people best prepare if there's possible return of COVID-19?
“I think at this time it’s important to assume that COVID-19 is not over and that young people should expect its return. They can prepare themselves by familiarizing themselves with the online programs that they will be expected to use if school should continue teaching at a distance. During this pandemic, our technology and ability to connect with one another without meeting in person is our greatest resource, so young people must utilize that and become comfortable with the online learning style.”
Lynn Sanchez
What are some good examples of community service projects teens can volunteer for?
Some community service projects teens can volunteer for are any local projects in their school or town such as food drives, donating books, and clothes. During these times most places are closed or will not let you go into their buildings so some community service opportunities are writing cards to elderly homes and donating books to local libraries. These are both opportunities that I am doing right now to help my community.
Viktoria Wulff-Andersen
In your opinion, what can be done to promote more diversity and inclusion in your school and town/ city?
I live in one of the most diverse small cities in America. In fact, Danbury, Connecticut - where I currently reside - is ranked fourth as one of the most diverse small cities in America according to a 2019 Patch report. However, that's not to say that our diversity means equity across all identities. Diversity in Danbury means that there are economic divides, racial inequities and targeting, LGBT+ harassment and bullying, and more. While strides are being made to resolve these issues and close all gaps, more must be down. I believe the problem starts with our education system. We aren't teaching children early enough about race, disabilities, sexual identities, and more, which can often result in harmful ignorance later on. The more we educate our youth about the inequities in our city, the more likely they'll be motivated to be part of the movement that seeks to resolve those issues in Danbury.
Anna Flaherty
What motivates and / or inspires you to strive for academic excellence?
My family is the main reason I am motivated to strive for academic excellence. My entire life I was brought up to appreciate hard work and to always be proud of my work. It’s so inspiring to see the people around you work hard and see the fruits of their labor. By achieving academic excellence I can feel good, but also have a good career to use my knowledge to help others.
Gabrielle Yamoah
In your opinion, what can be done to promote more diversity and inclusion in your school and town/ city?
Something that can help promote diversity and inclusion in my town is a teen center or some type of area where teens can go and meet new people. In this teen center there would be activities and fun things to do, this helps because kids will be having too much fun to think about the skin colors that are around them. Skin color doesn’t define who a person is because at the end of the day we bleed the same blood.
Maame Efua Forson
What motivates and / or inspires you to strive for academic excellence?
The drive to succeed and make my parents proud is my number one reason for striving for academic excellence. As immigrants from Ghana who attempted to restart their lives in a country that didn't accept them, they've shown me what it means to be determined and not allow anything to be an obstacle. I work hard not only to show them their efforts weren't in vain, but also to prove to myself that I have what it takes to fulfill my potential.
Indya Taylor
What motivates and / or inspires you to strive for academic excellence?
What motivates me to strive for academic excellence is being a first gen and making my mother proud. My mother didn't get her degree, so it is vital that I obtain one to lead a better life. My dream to instill confidence in young girls and boys through formulating skin care products makes me more dedicated than ever. I want what I learn in college to positively impact the self esteem of our adolescents and I won't stop until I've achieved my goal.
Nana Amponsah-Antwi
What motivates and / or inspires you to strive for academic excellence?
My strive for academic excellence is fueled by my family. Being an immigrant from a small country named Ghana in west Africa, I find it essential to work hard and take all the educational opportunities that come my way. My parents brought me here to give me a better life than they had. Doing my best academically is the least I can do to honor and prove to them that I am grateful to be in America. I want my parents to be proud of me and not regret their decision in bringing me here. Also, I have a picture of what I want my future to be like. However, that picture won’t become a reality unless I work my way towards it. I know that I am filled with potential, and I don’t want it to go to waste.
“Good examples of teen service could include mentorship programs, cooking for local homeless shelters, volunteering tutoring services and volunteering at food banks. Uplifting the youth and underprivileged is essential.”
Rachana Somaskandan
How can young people best prepare if there's possible return of COVID-19?
Considering that we do not know enough about the virus to conclude that everything can go back to normal, it would be best to continue following precautions and not be careless with restrictions being lifted and more places reopening. Continuing to maintain a distance with others, communicating more through technology and social media with friends, teachers, etc, and finding interests and hobbies to pursue would let young people be more ready and less affected by a second wave of COVID-19.
Jake Windas
What motivates and / or inspires you to strive for academic excellence?
“My idea of a future motivates me to strive for academic excellence. Picture where you want to be, and work backwards from there. I have very high goals and aspirations in mind, so I therefore need a strong foundation through solid grades and challenging courses. It is not necessarily fear of failure that keeps me moving towards better report cards, but it is more want for success that drives my hard work.”
Lindsay Abbygale
In your opinion, what can be done to promote more diversity and inclusion in your school and town/ city?
These recommendations are aimed at providing policymakers and administrators with a concrete structure and best practice examples to help them address the challenges of inclusion and diversity in education. The recommendations specifically suggest how schools can: respect and celebrate diversity, advertise the voice of learners, and introduce best practices into their development and self-assessment processes such that these strategies are successful in the longer term. In school environments, both pupils and staff should learn to value the differences within the school community between religions, cultures, and sexual orientation, even if one's viewpoints clash with the beliefs of others. Secondly, Schools can provide training to ensure that teachers and administrators are able to deal culturally sensitively with student concerns and issues and increase the number of staff from ethnic minority groups. Lastly, Teenagers should have their views and opinions heard as decisions are being made for them, for example by providing an important and influential voice to the student councils; student councils should be representative in schools.
“The inspiration behind striving for academic excellence stems primarily from my parents. They work incredibly hard to provide for my family and I feel I must honor their efforts through my academics.”
