Executive Summary:

My name is Mikella Vermaire. I’m a junior at University Laboratory High School in Urbana. In my time in high school, I have participated in cross country, track, madrigals, and 3 different clubs: Spring Initiative, Pediatric Cancer Awareness Club, and United for Uganda. Outside of school, I’m very active at my church, working in the early childhood department and the elementary school department. I have a passion for working with children and helping them grow. I love being able to see that I’m helping the next generation to rise up and become influential and powerful teachers, students, and citizens. I believe that in order to make the world a better place, we need to instill courage, love, and a sense of morality into the rising generation, so that they can show that courage, love, and morality to the people around them as they become adults. I think it’s important to balance fun and learning for all children. If I’m accepted into this program, I plan to do all of this for children that I wouldn’t normally get the chance to do this for and with.

Needs Assessment:

            I am currently receiving no financial aid for my study abroad. I am a working high school student. I come from a family that is not wealthy. Both of my parents have jobs, but they are not extremely well-paying jobs. I will be paying for the entirety of this trip with scholarships and my own monetary funds. In order to study abroad, I would need to pay to fly to South Africa, pay for my tuition, room and board, and all expenses while I’m there. Before the trip, I am planning to be a working college student, so while I will have money, I won’t have enough money to pay for my college loans and a study abroad trip.