We have written extensively about young people in the Schroon Lake area trying to make a difference. We are proud of their accomplishments as they try and change the world and become better citizens through the experience.

We recently heard from Desiree Lanoue, a 16-year old junior at Schroon Lake Central School, who has been accepted to become a People to People Student Ambassador.

From Desiree:

“During the summer of 2013, I will join a delegation of students my age on a 22-day educational program that includes Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded the People to People movement because he believed that ordinary citizens of different nations could solve their problems and live harmoniously with one another through shared experiences and understanding.

“Our curriculum will teach us about history, culture, architecture, art, conservation, geology, oceanography and political science in the areas we visit. My dream has always been to become a marine biologist and during this trip we will be working alongside a team of marine biologists and we will be going to the Great Barrier Reef where studies are being done on the decline of coral.”

As you can imagine, Desiree is extremely excited about the trip and the experience she’ll gain with marine biologists in developing her future career.

But there is a hard core learning component as well.

“We will be led by experienced teachers as we engage in a wide variety of cultural encounters and adventures; we will interact with a city council member at the Rotorua Council Chambers and learn about the local government, engage in a reforestation project in Fiji and encounter several rare species of birds on New Zealand’s sacred Mokoia Island. After all, there is no better way to learn about different cultures and careers than to experience them firsthand. Among these rare experiences we are also going to have fun while learning about local sports and experiencing Maori culture. Needless to say, this is a wonderful opportunity and I am extremely excited”.

All in, the trip costs around $9,000 and Desiree is paying her own way by working and doing fund raisers as well as seeking donations.

Her first fund raiser is a spaghetti dinner with raffles and auctions on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at the Schroon Lake Fish & Game Club.

Desiree will be collecting bottles for a bottle drive. If you would like to give an item for a raffle, a small cash donation or purchase dinner or raffle tickets, give her a call at 518-532-9518.

You can also donate directly to Desiree on her Peer Backers page, here. Good Luck Desiree! We will keep you posted about her progress.