After participating in the People to People Leadership Summit , Oxford High School sophomore Erin Devereaux now believes that one person can make a difference in the world.
The 15-year-old student was nominated by her eighth grade history teacher to participate in the summit, which ran from July 6-15 at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.
People to People is a student ambassador program which takes thousands of young Americans across international borders to learn how they can make a difference in the world. People to People was founded by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Devereaux said the leadership summit focused on leadership, team building, community service and professional aspirations. They also learned how to build their college resumes and earned academic or service-learning credits while there.
The 350 students in Devereaux’s group spent time working on an action plan to make a difference in their own communities. Her current task is to sponsor a child from the Make a Wish Foundation in memory of her late friend, Michael Magdaleno.
‘He was one of my friends and I thought that I could give back to him,? she said. ‘I’m going to start that and see how I can change someone else’s life.?
Devereaux is planning on seeking donations from local businesses and citizens so her sponsored Make a Wish child can have ‘a great, fantastic day of his life that he’ll never forget. That would be outstanding,? she said.
While she attended the summit, Devereaux got to visit museums, tour famous landmarks and even have breakfast at the infamous Watergate Hotel.
Even before attending the summit, Devereaux has been working on her leadership skills at school by being a member of the marching band, varsity swim team and softball team, and plans on joining the National Honor Society her junior year.
She said her time at the leadership summit was ‘a great experience? and said she thinks younger students should be more creative in how they make contributions to the community. ‘Just as long as they can get out there and help,? she said ‘They’re one person, but one person can change the whole world.?