Leadership & Service

FORA Tutor

I spent most of my summer tutoring for FORA (Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America), which was a life-changing experience for me.  I was chosen for a selective, highly-vetted position for a private tutoring position for Rohingya refugee students.  I received training in teaching methods and cultural sensitivity.  I learned how to properly provide feedback to students using positive reinforcement techniques to encourage, motivate, and build confidence in students. Additionally, I learn how to appropriately draft a lesson plan for a student on a weekly basis. This is an awesome leadership position that I’m glad to be associated with. I started my tutoring mission to help local underserved children, but in turn, I gained insight into effective teaching approaches and how to nurture a healthy and productive learning environment.

City Farm

City Farm has been an ongoing project of mine throughout high school.  In my neighborhood, this urban farm provides fresh organic produce to the local community, who would otherwise not have access to fresh high-quality food.  These efforts are funded by selling fresh produce to local restaurants that can prepare farm-to-table meals.  I have enjoyed the hands-on work here and the gratification of cleaning it all up and seeing it come together each year.  It’s been rewarding to be involved in something that improves my community,  serves those in need, and also be involved in the entrepreneurial aspect with local chefs.  

Rising Romans Volleyball Coaching

I served as the coach for the elementary-aged volleyball team, providing a platform for Latin’s youngest athletes to learn volleyball fundamentals, discipline, and teamwork.  I developed an age-appropriate coaching curriculum for 35+ players, lead drills and provided mentorship, and modeled sportsmanship. Through this, I learned the vital coaching principle of patients, but I also had to force myself to take a step back from my usual high level of play in order to properly instruct the Rising Romans. By doing this, I was able to successfully reflect upon volleyball’s most basic functions to help coach these children, but also even tweak some of my own errors in fundamentals.

Roman Ambassador

During my Sophomore year, I was selected to represent the Latin School of Chicago as a “Roman Ambassador,” and have continued to be one since. I am tasked with tedious responsibilities such as leading weekly tours at the start of the school year for considering Latin applicants. Additionally, I have participated in several student panel questionnaires, as well as video projects that are shared by the Latin School. Being a "Roman Ambassador” has nourished several qualities for me: confidence, patience, and clear communication schools. Persuasive speaking skills aside, I have also learned a ton about my school itself. I am extremely proud and grateful to be a “Roman Ambassador.”

“Roman 2 Roman”

“Roman 2 Roman” is a club project at my school to integrate incoming freshman students with upperclassmen. For the past two years, I’ve been a volunteer for Latin’s mentor and mentee program. For fifteen minutes a day each week, my mentee and I would meet during the school day where we would debrief classes, clubs, and questions. Often, mentee vs. mentor style games is offered monthly; my favorite being dodgeball.