Young Adults and Students Doing Good In the World

Students Involved In Non-Hedonistic Activities (Yes, Its True)

Karis on 07.20.10 at 7:38 PM | 2 comments |

Clean cut, demographically equal, and doing good. Young adults of 2010! (Source: http://theriverreporter.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/college-kids-main_full.jpg)The end of high school and college can seem like the time most young adults kick back, relax, and enjoy a beer (or two or ten) as they party through the best years of their lives. The new found independence paired with an allowance from mom and dad seems to create an environment of carefree fun rather than productivity. Quick, get an image of a college student in...

1 of 5 Next image Previous image

In this gallery

More images | left

More images | right

Derrius Quarles lost his father to violence at age four, had a mother that struggled with drugs, and became a foster child at age 5. However instead of becoming a statistic, he perservered and used his past as a way to learn for the future. He began living on his own at age 17 and quickly proved he was financially intelligent by creating an effecient budget. His clear work ethic and focus shone through to colleges, and by the time he chose Morehouse College in Atlanta he had been offered over $1,000,000 in scholarship money from dozens of schools. He is studying medicine, and hopes to one day help solve the problems that plague Chicago and become the Surgeon General.
Have you ever flipped through Seventeen Magazine and thought to yourself, "I want to do everything this magazine tells me to!" Probably not, but this is where Jamie Keiles steps in. For the last month of her senior year, including prom and graduation, she followed every piece of advice in the June/July 2010 issue of Seventeen Magazine. Her daily blog about the project is insightful, witty, and a fascinating exploration of the messages teenage girls are recieving from magazines. Another cool fact: Jamie will be an incoming freshman at the University of Chicago this fall.
When Kelsey, Sierra, and Maddy's best friend Sydney died at age 11 from a rare brain tumor, they decided they needed to help prevent this tragedy from happening to any other kid. So they created the Pink Polka Dot Guild, named after Sydney's favorite pattern. The organization hosts events and sells merchandise in order to raise money for brain tumor research. Since creating the organization in 2006 (when they were only in 6th grade) they have raised over $100,000 in funds for research at the Children's Hospital in Seattle.
Kevin Roose was a student at one of our nation's most notoriously liberal institutions: Brown University. So why did he choose to spend one semester at the ultra conservative Liberty University created by the televangelist Jerry Falwell? The answer and full story of his experience can be found in his hilarous, but insightful, book "The Unlikely Disciple". What I like most about the book is he doesn't take this opportunity to smash the students as fanatical bible thumping Jesus lovers. Instead he describes them exactly as they are: normal confused happy rebellious pious college students (with a special appreciation for Jerry Falwell of course).
Even the most eco-conscious of us is guilty of using Styrofoam more often than we like. Its used in nearly every package and takes thousands of years to break down. 24 year olds Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre are here to change that. Their company, Ecovative Designs, has created an alternative using crushed up seed husks and mushroom glue. Its organic, biodegradeable, and made of abundant materials. Why didn't anyone else think of this?

Derrius Quarles- Victim of Chicago's South Side and recipient of $1,000,000 in scholarship money

Derrius Quarles lost his father to violence at age four, had a mother that struggled with drugs, and became a foster child at age 5. However instead of becoming a statistic, he perservered and used his past as a way to learn for the future. He began living on his own at age 17 and quickly proved he was financially intelligent by creating an effecient budget. His clear work ethic and focus shone through to colleges, and by the time he chose Morehouse College in Atlanta he had been offered over $1,000,000 in scholarship money from dozens of schools. He is studying medicine, and hopes to one day help solve the problems that plague Chicago and become the Surgeon General.

2 Comments

Jackie Tithof Steere said:

Beautiful piece! I'm passing it along to my kids. Thanks!

Posted on July 21, 2010 11:51 AM

Karis said:

Thanks for your feedback! Hope they enjoy it.

Posted on July 21, 2010 12:56 PM

What your comment will look like:

said:

what will you say?

Posted on date

Notes From North Sheridan