Prompt 5: Board Assignments

To Kaleidoscope Youth Center:

I was elated when I learned that I had been assigned to Kaleidoscope. Serving and advocating for children is something that I have been passionate about since I was in high school and have participated in through various capacities. While in high school, I was active in Big Brothers and Big Sisters and served as a mentor for young girls at a youth home for children awaiting foster placement. I have spent three summers working as a counselor and program coordinator at the YWCA Summer Food Program in my hometown, and have tutored through Hilliard CARES in Columbus. Currently, I am running my third Girls' Circle group in New Albany, and our selected curriculum is self-esteem and identity.

The knowledge and perspective that I have obtained through my previous volunteering experiences will prove to be valuable during the after-school volunteering portion of the program. In addition, last spring I took a course in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies that focused on challenges of adolescent identity and dealt specifically with issues of schools as "heteronormative" spaces. Many of the theories from this course are reflected as practice through the language that is used in the Girls' Curriculum (despite the name). In addition, I am a member of SHADES, a campus advocacy group for LGBTQ people of color.

That being said, I am strongly support the mission of Kaleidoscope and cannot wait to get the administrative perspective from attending the board meetings. As much as I am eager to learn, I am also eager to assist that board in any capacity possible. Numbers are by no means my forte, but I am a pretty strong writer. I have won a departmental award for a research paper and have a piece that is in review for publication. It would be awesome if I could be paired with someone who writes grant proposals so that I could learn to channel my writing skills in the future.

A little bit more about me. I am a third year student from Van Wert, OH double majoring in Political Science (International Relations) and Geography (Urban and Regional Studies) and double minoring in International Development and Economics. My future plans include a masters in International Public Policy and a Phd in City and Regional Planning, and ultimately, I would like to work in some sort of International NGO or policy think tank as a researcher.

I am very excited to get to more involved with the organization and to get to know you all.

Maegan Miller