Farah Amanullah

To Farah and parents,
I've truly been inspired by you over these last three months.
The intensive part of the Ivy League Challenge has now concluded, and I hope you stay active in our community. Access to the community (including monthly impact project support workshops and masterclasses from me) is included in your tuition for the next 9 months, after which you can choose to stay involved for a low monthly fee.
In an attempt to capture your thoughts at this stage of the journey, I asked you a few questions during week 12. Enjoy revisiting these answers below.

 

 

 

YOUR NEXT STEPS.

12 weeks went by so fast! But that was just the beginning. Be sure to stay on track-- even when life gets crazy. We can do this, together.

Engage in the Community

Most students get knocked off track at some point due to academic and other demands.

Commit to join the workshops and masterclasses as often as possible. 

Make it a priority, and let us all help you stay on track.

Join the Global Impact Council

Complete the Starter Stage in your Impact Project Guide so you can be nominated to join the Global Impact Council.

Then request one or more mentors who can guide you through your own meaningful impact.

Become a Mentor

Far too many teens are overwhelmed and frustrated with their unhealthy approach to college prep. 

It's not right, and you can help.

1. Share your experience with friends or family who might benefit from joining the Ivy League Challenge. 

2. Execute a meaningful impact project and then apply to become a mentor in the Global Impact Council

In your words...

I took some time to grab your answers to the questions I asked in our last class. Here is what you said:

Your progress in the Starter Stage.

 

 

1. Your 7 viable impact project ideas

1. Most Impossible: work with local dentists to create a free fluoride clinic for the less fortunate.

2. Least Impossible: create baskets for sick kids that includes activities they can do from their bed, toys, personal cards, etc. (based on personal experience); the items used would be obtained through a drive/fundraiser

3. Work with my school board (it's not a school district, it's just one school) to encourage more diversity in the teachers they hire (there are only 2 international teachers in my school even though my school is a boarding school and bases its advertisements on its diversity and representation of 20+ countries). I have heard students complain about how they don't feel represented in terms of faculty and how they wish they saw someone who looked like them and understood them a little bit more.

4. Work with my school principal to incorporate ASL (American Sign Language) into my schools curriculum (whether taught in-person or through an online school program which we work with a lot) because it is a skill that can become very helpful in the future.

5. Work with my local public library (that I volunteer at) and pitch them the idea of getting more cultural books in other languages. We currently only have one cultural shelf which only has Spanish books but it is important to obtain books for other parts of our community that will help them feel more welcomed (I.e., books in Mandarin, etc.).

6. (this is also kinda impossible) Work with the local hospital's pediatrics floor to create a peer mentorship program in which groups of teens can provide an environment for kids that allows them to feel like they are in school (whether its by playing games with them or tutoring them). I have a friend who was in a hospital for years and wasn't able to go to college becase she missed out on so much school, and she inspired this idea because I would hope that it would help out kids in her situation (even if it just helps them a tiny bit).

7. Work with my local school district to implement a day off for the muslim religious holiday called "Eid". There are 400+ students in this school district that celebrate this holiday and have to miss school just to take part in their celebrations. Public schools in big cities such as Philadelphia and NY incorporate this into their school calendar, but my school district doesn't

2. Core Values

Gratitude, Ambition/Curiosity, Leadership, Dedication, and Compassion

3. Your organizations

New Brunswick Specialized Children's Hospital & Ohio State University

4. Presented Solutions

The second institution has held peer mentorship programs but this wasn't specifically for children and it was specific to people who have been in that position before. So, it didn't create a school-type environment, instead it created a space for talking (which is also a great step to take but it isn't the main focus I had in mind). Also, a problem with this attempt was that patients who were already sick, were re-admitted (within 30 days) at a rate that was 12.6x higher than before, which means that the contact to other people was a risk for them.

5. Your first action step

Write a detailed plan of the project and pitch it to the director of the pediatrics floor

6. Date and Time

The detailed plan has already been made and I will email the director this week and schedule a time to meet