The 16-year-old from Corner Brook is currently in the United States taking part in a youth ambassador program through the U.S. Embassy, in conjunction with State University of New York College at Plattsburgh and Fulbright Canada.
One of only three Atlantic Canadians chosen, Edwards and the other students were picked because of their proven commitment to leadership and community involvement.
For the last two weeks, they’ve attended workshops in the state of New York that explored themes of civic education, community service, leadership development and social inclusion. Staying with a local family, they also got to experience what life is like in the American communities they are visiting.
This week, the last five days of the experience involve a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet senior officials of the Department of State and the Embassy of Canada, along with more sightseeing.
When she enters Level 2 at Corner Brook Regional High School this fall, Edwards has a plan to improve and expand her school’s breakfast program and another plan to help bring students together to make school a more welcoming and comfortable environment.
She helped out with the school’s breakfast program this past year and knows it can be more effective. She believes more students can avail of the service provided if it was more visible within the school and more students would volunteer if they realized the important service it provides.
“I have seen what goes on behind the scenes and I feel the breakfast program is struggling a bit and could be better,” she said.
Edwards has also noticed there are many students who don’t seem to have many friends or interactions with fellow students. She believes something can be done to bring people together in school.
To do this, she plans to form a small group that will search out students they wouldn’t normally talk to and strike up conversations to find out what they do have in common.
“I think it’s really important for students who are fortunate enough to have friends to talk to and people to sit with to step outside of their comfort zone and just try to communicate with other people,” she said.
The hope is that others will see this group’s example and take on the challenge to go out of their way to forge new friendships.
