Young Leader Gets Involved

Taylor Clark attended the National Young Scholars Program (NYSP) in the summer of 2009 and has been applying her newfound leadership skills since returning home. Other than making great new friends at the Program, Taylor’s favorite experience was learning to take responsibility for herself. She said that this was her first experience with real independence and she was proud of how she handled the little things, such as keeping her room neat and how well she and her roommates at the Program were able to get along. Taylor learned a lot about leadership, but the two most valuable pieces she took from NYSP were that you have to listen to others’ ideas and also that great leaders share responsibility with others. Working in teams taught Taylor a valuable lesson about which she shared, “great minds working together can accomplish so much more than one person can alone.”

Since returning home, Taylor’s mom notes that she is much more inquisitive and has begun thinking more critically. “She asks so many more questions; some of which I don’t have the answer to, but she takes pride in researching her inquiry and finding the answer.” When asked how Taylor has grown since attending NYSP, Taylor’s mom stated that “she developed a more mature responsibility in taking care of herself since attending the Program. I don’t have to remind her to do things that seemed to come naturally. She’s much more independent.”

At school, Taylor is a member of the Peace Club, the co-ed Cheer Squad and will participate in Girls on the Go in the spring. She also takes ballet, tap, jazz, tumbling and performing arts. In addition, Taylor has assumed a leadership role by becoming one of the founding members of the Peace Club at her school. The group was started as a result of the ongoing violence in Chicago, most notably toward the city’s youth. The students involved are working on positive ways to avoid violence and resolve conflict peacefully in their schools and communities.

Taylor's mom reflects that, “Taylor truly enjoyed her time at NYSP. It has been amazing to see her growth and maturity expand from a one week experience.”