Kamaria Green of Clinton Township and Sammi Samim of Warren were among five high school students who devoted a portion of their summer vacation working for Focus: Hope.
Green and Samim were selected as Bank of America Student Leaders, joining other youngsters taking part in an eight-week paid summer internship supporting a charity where they live.
“Youth employment is the first step to developing job and leadership skills that are crucial for young adults’ long-term success,” Matt Elliott, president of the Bank of America Michigan said, in a news release. “These promising, community-minded young people represent our future workforce, and our program is designed to cultivate their burgeoning leadership skills.”
The students earned $17 an hour while developing leadership and civic engagement skills at Focus: Hope, a nonprofit organization based in Pontiac that provides supplemental food distribution, technical training programs, early learning opportunities, a community arts program and economic development programs for individuals in Southeast Michigan.
“I think the Bank of America student leader program is a great opportunity for high school students,” said Sammi Samim, a senior at Hamtramck High School who is also a youth ambassador for her school’s Leaders of Environment Awareness or Preservation (LEAP) club, which organizes a charity drive for flood victims in Bangladesh. “It’s a great initiative that provides students with professional development, community engagement, and leadership skills.”
Samim, who is also president of the Social Justice Club at her school, which she co-founded and whose future plans include attending Harvard University, said she would recommend the program to any student interested in gaining valuable skills and insights through nonprofits and community service.
Green said she would recommend the program to others, especially someone whose ultimate goal is to make a change in their community for the better.
“They truly do an amazing job of ensuring that you walk away from the program impacted and inspired,” said Green.
Among the things she valued are the lifelong connections she’s made.
“To be in such a supportive environment with so many like-minded individuals whose goals are to make the world a better place is very fulfilling. I was given the opportunity to understand highly respected perspectives, enabling me to further open my mind and improve my leadership skills,” said the senior from Clintondale High School, a volunteer with the Gordon Food Drive and C2 Pipeline, a community action group, and member of Clintondale’s student council and the National Honor Society.
Every year, several hundred students nationwide participate in the student leaders program, which began in 2004.
“The most impactful segment of the program has been being able to connect with so many experienced leaders and influential role models in various different work fields and being able to network with them,” Samim said. “My personal highlight was meeting U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten and discussing various issues in our education system today. It was honestly an enriching and memorable experience that I will never forget.”
“One of the main things I took from that lesson which I now apply to my everyday life is that the smallest actions can go a long way,” Green said. “By taking the time to shake a stranger’s hand and getting to know them, you could learn so much, not just about them, but potentially your career path or something as simple as a hobby.”
Samim remarked her experience definitely taught her about the skills that you need to be a great leader, which she realized is not just about efficiency.
“It’s also about carefully listening to those around you and making a more informed decision that is helpful to everyone around you,” she said.
Both girls join three other Michigan students including Khalil-Lullah Ballentine, Sakai Bradley and Makari Sample-Harris as members of the Class of 2023 Metro Detroit Bank of America Student Leaders attending the leadership summit in Washington, D.C.
The weeklong, all-expenses paid trip is the icing on the cake for the hardworking students attending the summit where young people will discuss the importance of civic engagement and meet with members of Congress.
“You get to meet hundreds of amazing people including politicians,” said Green.
For more information visit about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/student-leader-eligibility-criteria.
Source: macombdaily.com
