Tania Tavira
Myself Third Spirit of New York 2005 Scholarship Winner
High School of Economics and Finance
Hunter College
"What has impressed me most about Tania's extracurricular endeavors is that she has gotten involved in each activity out of an honest sense of responsibility. While other students have spent many hours in activities with their sole intention being to pad their resume for college admission, Tania … gives back to the community around her because she feels it's the right thing to do, and because she enjoys it, even though she is well aware that her community will not always be able to give back to her."
—Jeffrey C. Makris, Guidance Counselor & College Advisor
Work, Volunteer, and Extra-Curricular Activities
- Volunteer, Project Reach Youth
- Intern, Museum of Modern Art
- Participant, Partnership for After School Education
Excerpts from Tania's Essay
My goal is to become far more than what my parents could have hoped for and my dream is to acquire a job in which I can help the community that has given me so much. I felt lucky to be part of Project Reach Youth since I was in the 4th grade. This nonprofit organization not only helped my mother learn English at night, but it gave my brothers and I the opportunity to go to summer day camp where children could have fun and learn at the same time.
I had thought that my life at Project Reach Youth had ended at the end of the summer, but luckily my junior high school had a program called Peer Leadership. In this program, mentors from Project Reach Youth came and trained select 8th graders to teach other students about the dangers of drugs, unprotected sex, and violence. I had become a Peer Leader at age 14, which enabled me to teach others what I had learned. Helping my peers was rewarding because I felt that my knowledge could help others deal with issues that surround the lives of teens.
Just when I thought my participation at Project Reach Youth would end, I was given the chance to be a part of a group that helped the elderly. The group helped senior citizens who could not do shopping for themselves. We also held a Thanksgiving dinner at a senior center. Dancing, laughter and fun were enjoyed not only by the senior citizens but by the teens involved as well.
