Second Year Psychology and Communication Studies & Disorders Major
Contact: priya.desai@uga.edu she/her/hers How did I get involved with IMPACT? My older sister was actually a site leader during her time at UGA, and she highly recommended IMPACT to me! I wanted to get involved during my freshman year, so I went to IMPACT’s open house and applied for a trip. During spring break, I went to Charlotte, NC for a trip focused on Education Access and Advocacy. Although I was initially nervous, it was an incredible experience, during which I learned so much about sustainable service, social justice, and about myself. Why am I interested in Youth Empowerment? Youth Empowerment is such a broad, diverse topic that interests me as someone who is really passionate about childhood development. I work teaching art to youth every summer and have witnessed firsthand the impact a single person can have on a young life. People are unable to choose the circumstances they are born into, and childhood is such a critical period of development. I strongly believe that everyone should have the same access to resources and a peaceful environment to grow up in. Youth are the foundation of any society, and I am excited to learn exactly how we can do our part to invest in their futures. Fun fact? Ask me my favorite band/movie/book/etc! I love lists, and I’ve probably picked out a favorite of everything I’ve ever thought of. |
3rd Year Criminal Justice and International Affairs Major
Contact: jessicameaders@uga.edu she/her/hers How did I get involved with IMPACT? I got involved in IMPACT because I felt like I wanted to do more with my spring break during my freshman year of college. IMPACT felt like a good way for me to go to a new place while also being able to actually do something while on spring break. My freshman year I ended up going to Memphis, TN for the HIV/AIDs Advocacy and Awareness Trip and ended up having the most impactful week on both myself and the community, which is what made me want to go on another trip my sophomore year. I think the fact that I consider both of my trips to be huge milestones of growth in my life speaks volumes about IMPACT as a whole. Why am I interested in Youth Empowerment? I think Youth Empowerment is so interesting because of how dynamic it is and how it relates to so many other things. Youth empowerment consists of a two part process in many communities in that first we must seek to empower the youth to be the best version of themselves before we can empower them to do the best for others. Our communities are built upon the younger generation as they set the tone for the future to come and being able to work with young people allows me to invest in the future of our world. Young people are incredible in the way they think and act about and in the world, which allows for so much to be learned from them in the process of helping them reach their full potential. Fun fact? I have lived in the Washington D.C. area for the past 8 years of my life and I can give a pretty great monuments tour! |