Vote Chance - The Teacher's Pet

Just keep swimming.

A little About Chance:

My High School Superlative: Most Academic

My Favorite Subject: Math

My Favorite Classic TV Show: The Golden Girls

My Favorite Song from High School: Lady Marmalade

Signature Fashion Fad: Hoodies

On Wednesdays, we vote for Chance. That's hot.

So why am I supporting the Campus Y? Supporting the Campus Y for me is all about giving young leaders the same opportunity I had as an undergrad. The Campus Y provided my first true experience in leading, taking risks, and contributing to a worthwhile cause. As a program leader for Y-Read (now America Reads), I helped connect work/study students at Wash U with local after-school programs and elementary schools to provide tutoring and mentorship support. I learned how to process HR requirements, training and gathering I-9s for around 80 participants each fall. I worked with site contacts to gauge participants' successes and struggles. And all the while, I had the support of the Campus Y Program Director who provided guidance and a calm place to come and rest when things went bananas.

This type of experience helped shape my future, inspiring my choice for graduate school and sending me on the career path I have today. The two are completely disparate when viewed out of context, but for me, I see the things I first experienced in the Campus Y come up every day. The challenges I face with ease now and the successes I get to experience are all based in the growth I experience as a Campus Y program leader.

For the young leaders out there, every person is the expert on their own life. No matter how much experience you have and how much you think you know about a situation, you will never know more than the person experiencing something themselves. Learn from them, and partner with them to see how your strengths can bring more good into the world.

If I were a prospective Campus Y student leader today eager to actualize my passion, my program would resolve around financial security, which is something that has been invaluable for me. I would be interested in reaching out to local community credit unions to see how volunteers might be able to assist in their financial planning outreach initiatives to assist unbanked and underbanked individuals in reaching stable ground.

Snag your tickets to the event and cheer me on!

Learn more about the Campus Y and its 2024 programs.

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More about Throwback Prom:

Throwback Prom is an annual event that brings together 200 attendees, including university leadership, current students, and alumni from Washington University, as well as connections across the St. Louis community. Through this event, we aim to foster a sense of community - picture all ages dancing to “Y.M.C.A.” together on the dance floor - while also benefiting the work of the Campus Y.

The Campus Y guides and advises 60 student leaders to coordinate 25 community volunteer programs engaging 800 volunteers in 25,000 hours of service each year. Three staff and the seven member Student Executive Council provide a sounding board for student leaders to ensure community engagement is well-informed and guided by the community engaged.