Rustic Spirit Spotlights: Caroline, Ca'Tina and Sam

Rustic Spirit shines within young leaders around the world. These individuals are community-oriented and positive impact-minded.

They inspire you with their actions and motivate you to do good too. Teens with Rustic Spirit protect our planet, help others and make the world a better place!

Caroline Fairman
Age 18
C.K. McClatchy High School
Sacramento, California

After befriending a new refugee student, Caroline became aware of how much her new friend struggled to keep up at school. With this student as her co-lead, Caroline started an initiative called the Refugee Alliance. Caroline fundraised for interpreters for these students, organized peer tutors for homework and English help, and helped develop communication channels between newly-arrived students and their teachers. This year she expanded the club and they also now host dance parties, soccer scrimmages, and cricket games once a week.

When thinking about the future, Caroline is sure that she wants to make a change in the world. She has had some experience making changes on a smaller scale by translating for Spanish-speaking children and on a larger scale by co-heading a book drive to provide books to low-income schools in Ghana. With these experiences, she may want to pursue a career as a social worker or manage an NGO in her home country of Peru.

Caroline has recently begun playing Rugby and through this has enjoyed learning new skills, hanging out with cool people, and learning about Fijian culture.

One of the most valuable lessons Caroline has learned is to help someone on their own terms. She emphasizes that they need to share how they need help and then follow their lead. This approach will yield the most success.

Ca’Tina Maye
Age 18
Sumter Central High School
Bellamy, Alabama

Ca’Tina makes a positive impact in her community by helping those around her. She’s always willing to help if she’s able to, even helping those she just met. Ca’Tina goes out of her way to sit by one’s side, listen or share a fun distraction.

While she’s not sure what she wants to major in yet, Ca’Tina has always had an interest in psychology and a love of writing stories. In her future career, she aspires to be a mental health therapist and an author. Ca’Tina loves to read, write, listen to music, and spend time with her friends and family.

For those wanting to make big changes and leave their mark on the world, Ca’Tina says start small. She emphasizes the saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Change will come slowly, but surely.

Sam Canady
Age 17
Guntersville High School
Guntersville, Alabama

Sam serves others in any way he can through actions big or small. He’s a role model who’s inclusive and always helps his peers. Sam is involved with several organizations and loves to make everyone around him happy.

In college, Sam plans to major in political science and then law school to pursue a career in law. Sam enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing football and baseball, and serving his community.

Sam stresses that impacting just one person is a big accomplishment and a source of pride. Getting recognition doesn’t matter – people remember actions.

Nominate a Student

Do you know a student doing valuable work that deserves to be recognized? Nominate them here! Are you making an impact? Tell us about your work here.

Make Change

Interested in creating change in your community? Check out our guide and learn how to make an impact as a student.

At Rustic Pathways, our goal is to make positive contributions to the communities we visit through responsible travel operations and community service projects that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.